Is WWE facing a Mass Exodus?
An impressive amount of WWE Superstars, including big names, is rumoured or confirmed to leave the company. Something like this has not happened since WCW gained steam and was able to sign off various stars. 19 Years WWE was able to reign on the top of the business, far off everyone else. But now it seems that talent and fans are uniting to take a stand. In past cases like TNAW or NJPW-ROH, WWE was just able to laugh it off. This time: Not so much. WWE is struggeling in ratings and ticket-sales. Not even the Royal Rumble did sell out.
Also WWE lost long time business-partners like the Madison Square Garden, a venue they are not the exclusive promotion for anymore.
The FOX TV Deal and the Saudi-Arabian Deal, makes you believe that WWE will be in a very good financial state, but will people buy your product, when you failed to make stars you can care for and your biggest ones are either injured, part-timers or leaving?
2019 was set out to be the biggest year of change for wrestling since the year 2000, when WCW folded.
In the last 19 years WWE has grown into the ONE super entity of the business, the destination, basically what Disney is for the movie business, WWE is for for the wrestling business, not only becoming synonymous with the term 'wrestling' itself, but outgrowing it by putting their own name on it, calling it 'sports entertainment'. With a decades long expierence, all put forward by Vincent Kennedy McMahon, the man behind the madness, WWE reached from Hulk Hogan, to Stone Cold Steve Austin, to the Rock, to John Cena and to the present day, now WWE went on to conquer the world by forming NXT as their strong developmental brand, 205live as a home for the Cruiserweights and NXTUK as the first step abroad, planing to own the entire wrestling world.
That massive talent pool is now in jeopardy. The empire begins the crumble. But do not think for a minute, that the mass exodus will destory WWE or change their Top 1 position any time soon.
But alternatives are on the rise and loosing massive amounts of stars is going to atleast hurt them.
Now im sure you wanna hear who is confirmed to leave or is atleast rumoured to go.
Before i tell you that, the question is: What makes wrestlers wanna leave WWE, even if getting offered an incredible paycheck?
Reasons, of course, differ to every individual but most times is a mixture of various things.
There is the gruelling schedule with up to 350 wrestling matches per year, which in itself alone brings a lot of issues with it, especially to wrestlers that have a family at home. Another point is repetitive, strange, awful or non-existent storylines for the talent, often causing the audience to care less and less for the the wrestler. Stop-and-Go-Pushes that leave the talent frustrated and the feeling of walking on egg-shells backstage make WWE are horrible employer for a a group of wrestlers, especially for those who come from the indies and have seen the other side of the curve.
But the business has changed. With AEW there is an alternative. Not only for the fans, but also for the WWE Superstars. And not only AEW, also NJPW or just traveling the world on your own, fills the pockets of a wrestler these days and, most importantly, wrestling is the main attraction and they can do what they love.
And now let's answer the question and list some of the people who are in discussion to leave WWE:
1. Dean Ambrose
Status with WWE: Confirmed by WWE to be leaving in April 2019 after his contact expires
Reason for leaving: Unwilling to do 'hokey' storylinesSigned to WWE since: 2011
Accomplishments in WWE: Founding member of The Shield, 3x Intercontinental Champion, 1-time United States Champion (the longest reign in WWE history with 351 days), 2-time WWE/RAW Tag Team Champion (with Seth Rollins), 2016 Mr. Money in the Bank and 1-time WWE Champion.
Rumoured Destination: Unknown, however it has been reported that he is great friend with Cody Rhodes and Chris Jericho, key figures in AEW
2. The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)
Status with WWE: Asked for their release after RAW two weeks ago, which was not granted. Still tied with WWE until April of 2020.
Reason for leaving: Upset with the state of the Tag Team Divisions
Signed with WWE since: 2012 (Dawson), 2014 (Wilder)Accomplishments in WWE: 2-time NXT Tag Team Champions
Rumoured Destination: AEW, after constant teasing on social media
3. Goldust
Status with WWE: Under contract
Reason for leaving: Retirement
Signed with WWE: 1990, 1995, 2001, 2005, 2008 and again now since 2013
Accomplishments in WWE: 3-time Intercontinental Champion, 9-time Hardcore Champion, 3-time Tag Team Champion (with Booker T and Cody Rhodes/Stardust)
Rumoured Destination: AEW, joining his brother Cody Rhodes, maybe as a producer
4. Zack Ryder
Status with WWE: Under contract
Reason for leaving: Frustration, not being used
Signed with WWE: 2005Accomplishments in WWE: 1-time Intercontinental Champion, 1-time United States Champion, 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion (with Curt Hawkins)
Rumoured Destination: AEW, to join his friend Cody Rhodes. In fear, WWE teamed him again with his best friend Curt Hawkins, trying to make both guys happy and stay with WWE
5. SAniTY (only Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe)
Status with WWE: Under contract
Reason for leaving: Frustration, not being used
Signed with WWE: 2016 (Dain), 2015 (Wolfe)
Accomplishments in WWE: 1-time NXT Tag Team Champion (Wolfe), first german champion in WWE history (Wolfe)
Rumoured Destination: Unknown, Wolfe might go back to WXW
6. Mike & Maria Kanellis
Status with WWE: Asked for their release, not granted. Still under contract since 2020
Reason for leaving: Frustration, not being used
Signed with WWE: 2017
Accomplishments in WWE: -
Rumoured Destination: Unknown, probably AEW as they haven't tested that one out yet
7. Hideo Itami
Status with WWE: Asked for his release, it was granted.
Reason for leaving: Frustration, not being used to his full potential
Signed with WWE: 2014
Accomplishments in WWE: -
Rumoured Destination: Japan (promotions could be Dragon Gate or NOAH)
8. Shinsuke Nakamura
Status with WWE: Under contract
Reason for leaving: Frustration, not being used, even while holding a title
Signed with WWE: 2016
Accomplishments in WWE: 2-time NXT Champion, 2018 Royal Rumble Winner, 2-time United States Champion
Rumoured Destination: AEW or New Japan Pro Wrestling
9. Brock Lesnar
Status with WWE: Under contract, can leave when ever he wants
Reason for leaving: Money, Interest in New Things, we don't really know, but Heyman is in talks with AEW
Signed with WWE: 2000 and 2012
Accomplishments in WWE: 2002 King of the Ring, 2003 Royal Rumble Winner, 4-time WWE Champion, 2-time, current and longest reinging Universal Champion
Rumoured Destination: AEW
Right now WWE is doing everything in their power to stop this from happening, but will they be able to change enough to keep people there? Only the future will show.
Disagree with any statements? Wanna chat about it? Tweet me @Walu2go
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