It looks like the WWE is doing their yearly releases following their merger, and so far nine wrestlers have followed the hundred or so office employees that were fired last week.
While we’re used to the WWE releasing their stars regularly, a couple of the names were surprising given how long they’ve been with the company and another is probably over the moon happy after requesting his release several times over the years.
WWE Releases 9 Superstars Including Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, Elias, and Shelton Benjamin
The wrestlers that were released are Mustafa Ali, Emma, Riddick Moss, Emma, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Elias, Top Dolla, Shelton Benjamin, and Dolph Ziggler from the main roster.
More releases from NXT are expected to come as well.
Out of these, Ali may be the happiest since he’s requested his release multiple times over the years and has struggled with bad booking and being buried, but that can also be said of the rest.
They’re largely the lower mid card performers over the last year and some we’ve barely seen in action.
Moss seemed to be getting a good push but then disappeared, Aliyah set the record with the fastest win at 3.17 seconds over Natalya, and Elias seemed like a long term favorite of Vince McMahon, but whether injuries or other issues he never got a serious push despite fans liking him.
Some surprises
Two that shocked us were Shelton Benjamin and Dolph Ziggler given their time with the company and their ability to work with anyone.
Benjamin’s fate seemed destined when the WWE broke up the Hurt Business and decided not to reform them, choosing instead to replace Benjamin and Cedric Alexander with the Street Profits at Bobby Lashley’s side.
Benjamin’s been a consistent performer, but the WWE never seemed to know how to use him as he was always in the background but looked good when he was given a chance.
Dolph Ziggler is the biggest name on the list given he a former world champion and it was reported that he was viewed the best talent in the company due to his ability to work with anyone, like when he was fed to Goldberg and Goldberg’s disastrous match against the Undertaker.
While their time in the WWE is over, it gives everyone a chance to try somewhere else and we’re sure AEW will be looking at Ali and possibly Moss, though Moss could go to Impact Wrestling if his real life girlfriend Emma returns to the company.
Benjamin and Ziggler will get their fair share of interest as well, and it’ll be interesting to see where everyone goes. We wish all of them the best of luck and thank you for the memories.
Where do you think they’ll go? Let us know in the comments below.
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