“Creative Issues” is one of the major reasons circumscribing a wrestler’s departure. They just can’t accept their modus operandi.
They could have done wonders if they controlled their character a little more. So, they left WWE with this notion.
Here are five recent wrestlers who were released from WWE due to creative issues.
Note- When we say recent, we mean the last four years. So, wrestlers who were released before 2014 are not included in this list.
#5 Austin Aries
Let’s start with the only entry from 2017. Austin Aries had been one of the most “over” characters of TNA when he arrived in WWE. So, the fans who had watched him perform in ROH and TNA expected a lot out of him.
But, how do they book him on the main roster? Instead of going after the World Championship, the Creative Board made him chase the Cruiserweight Championship.
Still, he pulled a series of spectacular matches with Neville. However, that didn’t satisfy ‘The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.’ Here is what he said on Talk is Jericho after his release:
The Creative Board didn’t have any clear plans after his losses to Neville. Aries was unmistakably unhappy learning that. Soon after, Aries had been released and put under a 90-day non-compete agreement.
#4 Wade Barrett
Wade Barrett looked set to be a future star when he had won the first season of NXT. Terrific mic-skills plus a commanding personality made him a capable candidate.
Initially, he was booked tremendously. He led Nexus and created havoc in the locker room. If you thought Shield had been the most dominating faction of the WWE, you definitely didn’t witness Nexus.
After his World Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championship pursuits, he debuted his new gimmick “Bad News Barrett.” It was one of the most extraordinary gimmicks WWE had pulled.
However, problems started after that gimmick was over and King Barrett had come into the picture. Here is what he told Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso after his release:
On 6 May 2016, WWE announced that King Barrett had been released.
#3 Ryback
Under the name of Skip Sheffield, Ryback debuted in the main roster as a member of the Nexus. He annihilated the locker room under the leadership of Wade Barrett there. However, a broken ankle halted his run and he had to be taken out of action.
After returning, he donned the role of a human wrecking machine. He would squash various jobbers and lead the audience in chanting “Feed Me More.” This gimmick even landed him a match against CM Punk for the WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell.
In the following four years, he feuded with the likes of Shield, Chris Jericho, Authority, Bray Wyatt, Rusev, and Kalisto. On May 2, 2016, WWE sent him home from television due to a contract dispute. Thereafter, we came to know that they had been on bad terms. Ryback wasn’t happy with WWE’s pay structure and vented out his creative frustration by posting this on his Tumblr page the next day:
On August 5, Ryback announced on his Instagram that he and WWE had parted ways. WWE confirmed so by announcing it three days later.
#2 Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes, or simply Cody, is one of the biggest names in independent circuits right now. But, before that, he had a somewhat forgettable run in the WWE. He debuted in the WWE by feuding with the ‘Legend Killer’ Randy Orton. Surprisingly, a year later he had aligned himself with Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase and formed the ‘Legacy.’
After the faction had been disbanded, he was drafted over to Smackdown. There, he had prominent feuds with the likes of Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, and Big Show. However, he was demoted to the lower mid-card after that.
The rope had reached its end when he lost four times to Apollo Crews and one time to Zack Ryder. The following is an excerpt of the lengthy tweet which he issued:
Citing creative frustrations and positions within the company as reasons, he requested his release. On May 22, 2016, WWE granted him so.
#1 CM Punk
If you are surprised in seeing his name crop up on the list, please consider yourself as a pro-wrestling fan again. CM Punk was one of the biggest names to leave WWE in 2014.
He had debuted under a straight-edge gimmick and won the ECW and World Heavyweight Titles numerous times. He even led some notable heel factions like the “Straight Edge Society” and the “New Nexus.” Cutting a shoot promo on June 27, 2011 episode of Raw, he broke the fourth wall. He had vented out his frustration over Vince McMahon in it and perfectly created the hype for his match at Money in the Bank.
The match received five-star ratings from Dave Meltzer. Moreover, it cemented his status as the “Best in the World.” He would later have a 434-day reign as the WWE champion before dropping the title to Rock.
Now, this thing irked CM Punk a lot. Why should he turn heel and lose his championship to a part-timer? Why should the part-timers main event Wrestlemania when the fans tuned in their television sets for him?
He vented all of this frustration at Colt Cabana’s podcast. Just displaying an excerpt of it would be an injustice. His last appearance had been at the 2014 Royal Rumble where he was eliminated by Kane. The final nail in the coffin had been hit when he was handed his termination papers on the wedding day!
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