It has been a tough year for the WWE, but now matters are being made worse by the fact that they have real competition in the form of AEW. Not only this, but they are offering the current WWE employees with a very real opportunity.
While they may not be able to offer the same lucrative contracts that come with being a WWE superstar, they do have a range of other perks. One of the main ones is that they could have greater creative control on their characters. Also, there are no house shows in AEW which means the workload is much lower than you can expect if you work within the perimeters of WWE.
This has led to a widespread exodus of regarded WWE superstars over recent weeks, with the most notable of which including Luke Harper and Sin Cara. According to reports, this wave of superstars leaving the company isn’t going to slow down any time soon, and we could see more big names leaving by the time WrestleMania comes around. But, which superstars could be finally granted their release?
Elias
At one point, Elias was one of the most over superstars on the roster. The WWE dropped the ball with him and could have cashed in on his popularity by putting him in a main event feud. However, they didn’t, and it now appears that he is growing tired of sitting on the sidelines.
He has been used in multiple matches since 2017, but he has mainly been used to put over other superstars. Elias was eliminated by John Cena in the 2018 Royal Rumble before Cena attacked him at the following WrestleMania. He was also lost high-profile Intercontinental title matches against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. He is now locked in a storyline with Drake Maverick standing up for Dana Brooke. It isn’t exactly captivating stuff, and he could have been booked a lot better.
The Hardy Boyz
Matt and Jeff Hardy’s contracts are both due to expire in early 2020, and at this moment it doesn’t look like either will be sticking around. Jeff has endured a host of personal problems and is currently out injured, while Matt only appears on rare occasions. The pair could be set to leave and re-emerge as leading opponents for the Young Bucks.
Matt has constantly reiterated that he wants assurances if he is to resign with the company; stating that he wants more involvement on his character. However, whether the WWE are likely to agree to that remains to be seen.
Brock Lesnar
It seems like we get to this time of the year and Brock Lesnar’s contract is always up for discussion. His contract once again runs out this year, and it is unclear whether he will be signing a new one. It is unlikely that AEW would be on the cards for Lesnar, and instead, a return to the UFC might instead be his direction. However, the WWE typically throw a few more zeroes on his contract, and he reluctantly signs.
It will certainly be one to watch, but it’s unlikely that the WWE will be allowing Lesnar to walk out the door without a fight.