This isn’t a question of what WWE is doing with Cain Velasquez, he was released from the company this spring because of COVID-19-related budget cuts.
It’s more what happened with WWE actually using him when they had him. On SmackDown’s 20th anniversary show in October 2019, Velasquez made his debut in the company with a lot of buzz surrounding it.
Cain Velasquez and His Brief In-Ring WWE Career
His former UFC rival Brock Lesnar defeated WWE Champion Kofi Kingston for the belt moments before his debut. Yes, that match.
Velasquez took advantage of The Beast’s lowered guard to get revenge for the attack on an injured Rey Mysterio.
This appearance was meant as a significant note in the Mysterio-Lesnar feud as well as hype for his showdown with Lesnar at WWE Crown Jewel 2019 on October 31st.
I forget what expectations were for the match but it was brief at a little over two minutes. After this bout, Cain had another match with WWE in tag team action on a Mexico City house show a month later.
When COVID-19 slowed the wrestling business to a near crawl, WWE began releasing talent. Cain Velasquez was one of those cut from the roster.
So Why Wasn’t He One of Those Who Could Stay?
Perhaps WWE had plans for Velasquez but no concrete plans. The company probably knew where they wanted him positioned if it was business as usual but hadn’t prepped the road there.
Remember, he signed a multi-year contract with the WWE. To even be presented with a multi-year contract when there was just a vague threat that AEW would scoop him up is key.
He had wrestled AEW executive Cody Rhodes in a trios match at AAA TripleMania XXVII in March 2019. There’s a minor connection there but it was never enough to say “Cain might sign with AEW!”
Ultimately, the former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion was a victim of poor timing. He would still be on the WWE roster now if there wasn’t a need to cut costs.
He had an out to be sent to NXT for refining. Cain Velasquez could’ve just set beating Lesnar as his goal in 2020, trained in PC, wrestled in NXT to get in WWE shape, and had a rematch at the Crown Jewel.
Give this guy the nickname “El Cazador” and he’s hunting The Beast. His story in WWE would’ve been simple to execute. It wouldn’t even need to be the deepest of stories.
He wouldn’t be hunting NXT gold, he would be hunting competition, experience, and ultimately Lesnar. At least he’ll get an entry into the celebrity wing of the Hall of Fame.
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