On Wednesday, the WWE released several wrestlers in the wake of COVID-19, including Rusev, Zack Ryder, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Ethan Carter III, and more. While these wrestlers won’t appear in WWE anymore. There are many companies as soon as they can get back to producing shows will come knocking on their door. So where will these wrestlers end up next, let the speculations begin?
Rusev
It’s no secret that Rusev has wanted to get released by WWE for quite some time. Rusev is a fan favorite, and WWE has failed to capitalize on his popularity. With him now officially gone from WWE. I think Rusev will either end up in AEW, ROH, or NJPW.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
The original members of the Bullet Club stable in NJPW, Gallows, and Anderson left NJPW in 2016 to join AJ Styles in WWE. Gallows and Anderson were massive in NJPW, capturing the IWGP tag team titles three times. NJPW will make a hard push to bring them back, and I can see that happening. But I also won’t count out AEW and ROH too.
Ethan Carter III
Ethan Carter III, originally was known as Derrick Bateman in NXT, was released by WWE in 2013. He made a name for himself in TNA as Ethan Carter III. He became a two-time World Heavyweight Champion over there before heading back to WWE in 2018. EC3 got off to a hot start in NXT before making his way to the main roster, where he was barely used. He was buried after a match with Dean Ambrose (Jon Moxley) and wasn’t on television much. While many want to see him in AEW, Carter should return to Impact Wrestling, where he is a legend there. Carter would immediately be back in the title picture and would bring more fans to watch Impact Wrestling.
Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins
Originally known as the Major Brothers, Ryder and Hawkins have build a nice brand for themselves. They have a YouTube channel called “The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast,” where they talk about the history of wrestling figures and other figures. Hawkins, real name Brian Myers was released from WWE back in 2014 before returning in 2016 for the relaunch of the WWE brand split. Myers was doing fine on his own in the indies and now will have his best friend Matt Cardona with him. I think these two could return to WWE once things get going again. If not, I think they will end up in AEW. Imagine these two in a feud with the Best Friends.
Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis
Both Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis made names for themselves in Ring of Honor. Before ROH, Maria spent time in WWE before her release back in 2010 before returning to WWE in 2017. The couple has two children, and I think they will take some time off before deciding what’s next. I can see either Bennett or both return to ROH, Impact Wrestling, or join AEW.
Primo and Epico
Primo and Epico have been with WWE for over ten years. The two real-life cousins began to team up in 2011 and are one-time tag-team champions. They underwent a name change to Los Matadores for two years before settling for The Colons. Primo and Epico are a good tag team when given a chance. I’m going to go on a wild guess that they will head back to Puerto Rico and wrestle for World Wrestling Council. If they decide to remain in the states. I think MLW, NWA, or ROH are great choices.
Erik Rowan
A former member of the Wyatt family, Rowan and Luke Harper (now Brodie Lee in AEW), won the NXT tag team titles and the Smackdown tag team titles. After the Wyatt family split, Rowan went solo for a while before reuniting with Harper again for one final run. After Harper was released last year, Rowan was on his own. Now that he is a free agent, he will have a place shortly. I think he will either end up in AEW, NJPW, or ROH.
Sarah Logan
Sarah Logan was a member of the Riott Squad before disbanding last year. When she became a singles wrestler, WWE did not do much with her except being in squash matches. During her time in the indies, she wrestled as Crazy Mary Dobson and competed with promotions like Shimmer Women Athletes, ROH, ICW, and JCW. Logan, real name Sara Bridges will make a great addition to any company. I think she will most likely end up either in AEW, Stardom, Impact Wrestling, or ROH.
Eric Young
Eric Young was a leader of the faction Sanity, where they were a one-time NXT tag team champion. Before arriving at WWE, Young was a stable in TNA for twelve years, winning multiple championships, including a one-time TNA Heavyweight Champion, four-time tag-team champion, one-time X-Division Champion, and more. Young left TNA in 2016 for WWE. While his stable Sanity for a hit in NXT, like many other names to come up from NXT, they barely did anything in WWE, and the group disbanded for good. Like EC3, I think Eric Young should return home to Impact Wrestling. He is beloved there, and a return would insert him into the championship picture.
Heath Slater
One of the last remaining members of the stable Nexus, Slater has had quite a ride. He was a three-time tag team champion with Justin Gabriel (now PJ Black in ROH) and a one-time Smackdown tag team champion with Rhyno (now in Impact Wrestling). Since losing the tag titles, Slater has been all over the place and also won the WWE 24/7 title. Slater will have options out there, and I think he could end up in Impact Wrestling, ROH, NWA, or AEW.
Lio Rush
Lio Rush is an incredible athlete in the ring. Before signing with WWE, Rush was with CZW and Ring of Honor. While he was at CZW, Rush won the Heavyweight Championship and a two-time CZW Wired Champion. When he left for ROH, Rush made a name for himself, spending a couple of years there. After competing in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic, Rush signed with WWE and was placed in NXT and 205 Live. Rush then headed to the main roster where he managed Bobby Lashley. Rush didn’t do much up on the main roster and initially requested his release, which was denied. Rush would return to NXT and capture the NXT Cruiserweight championship before dropping the belt to Angel Garza, ending his 63-day reign as champion. I think Rush will more likely head back to ROH, but I also wouldn’t rule out AEW, MLW, NJPW, or Impact Wrestling.
Aiden English
Aiden English was one half of the member tag team stable The Vaudevillians with Simon Gotch (now in MLW) and captured the NXT tag team titles once. The team had a unique entrance that was awesome. After dropping the NXT tag team titles, they headed up to the main roster in 2016. The stable was short-lived as Simon Gotch was released in 2017, and English became a singles wrestler.
English would be partnered with Rusev to create Rusev Day, which was a hit with the crowd before he turned heel on Rusev. English then transitioned into a commentator and did an outstanding job. With his exit, I can see him and Gotch getting back together again in MLW, but I also wouldn’t rule out NJPW, ROH, and NWA.
No Way Jose
Before No Way Jose made his way to the WWE, he was known as Manny Garcia in CWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, where he was a two-time CWF Mid-Atlantic Television Champion. When he left for the WWE in 2015, Jose was given a similar gimmick to Adam Rose with people dancing with him around the ring before matches. Jose hasn’t done much in WWE and is in a similar position as CJ Parker (now Juice Robinson in NJPW). Once he rebrands himself, I think he is going to do big things wherever he goes. I think he will most likely end up in NJPW or ROH.
Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle has been wrestling for over twenty years in the WWE and TNA. Angle came back to the WWE in 2017 after spending eleven years in TNA. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 and was the Raw General Manager. He returned to the ring teaming up with former UFC fighter Ronda Rousey in WrestleMania 34. After that, Angle was used to getting other wrestlers over and did his job. Simply, I think Angle will continue to make some appearances in Impact Wrestling and other wrestling promotions while remaining retired from in-ring competition.
With these wrestlers no longer in the WWE, it will be interesting to see where they will end up next. Where do you think these wrestlers will go next? Leave a comment down below.
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