Tag: release

WWE comes to terms with Alberto Del Rio on his release

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ahead of a press conference he has scheduled in Mexico later today, WWE officially announced that they have mutually come to terms with Alberto Del Rio on his release from the company.

The company’s statement: “WWE and Jose Rodriguez (Alberto Del Rio) have mutually agreed upon the terms of his release as of today, September 9, 2016.”

Del Rio tweeted on Friday morning: “My business relationship with @WWE has come to an end in good terms…thanks for the opportunities they gave me. Termine mi relación con WWE.”

Dave Meltzer reported on August 30th that Del Rio would not be returning to WWE even after his 30-day suspension for a wellness policy violation was over, and that Del Rio and the company had agreed to terms on his release. Meltzer wrote that Del Rio would be free to work for other promotions internationally imminently and that he would be able to work in the United States in a few weeks.

Both Del Rio and his girlfriend Paige (Saraya-Jade Bevis) were suspended for 30 days on August 17th for violating WWE’s wellness policy. No news has come out on what caused either test failure.

Meltzer has covered Del Rio’s contract situation extensively in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Del Rio was unhappy with his position within the company and had an option to opt out of his contract later this year.

Joey Styles released by WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

F4WOnline has confirmed that Joey Styles was released by WWE last week.

Prior to being released, Styles served as WWE’s Vice President of Digital Media content. He transitioned to a behind the scenes role for WWE.com in 2008 after a lengthy career on commentary for both ECW and WWE.

The release comes at an interesting time after Styles took part in a noteworthy Facebook Live Q&A with WWE broadcast correspondent Cathy Kelley in late July.

Styles was outspoken in the session, and even jokingly speculated that it would be the reason he would be fired. During the Q&A, Styles spoke candidly about why WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has felt the need to push Roman Reigns as a babyface, not liking the name of the WWE Universal Championship, and other topics. Video of the Q&A was later taken down.

Styles is most famous for anchoring ECW broadcasts during the company’s heyday, and he later served as a member of the commentary team for both Monday Night Raw and WWE’s ill-fated ECW revival.

In an interesting note, Chris Harrington discovered that Styles registered his wrestling name as a trademark in 2013.

News that Styles had been released was first reported by Pro Wrestling Sheet.

Per his request, Adam Rose released from WWE

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Ray Leppan, known as Adam Rose, was officially released by WWE Monday as he requested it, according to the company.

Leppan was on an indefinite suspension from the company after being arrested on both tampering with a witness and domestic battery charges on May 11 involving his wife at their home in Lutz, FL. During the proceedings it came out, it was a second incident involving Leppan.

He was already on a 60 day suspension, announced on April 16, for a second wellness policy violation. He wrote that the violation was for testing positive for Adderall XR to treat ADHD.  He put up a doctor’s note on Twitter, took it down, and then put it up again. WWE never responded to questions regarding the nature of the suspension, but did not change its ruling.

Leppan started his career working in South Africa as a tag team partner of Paul Lloyd Jr. (P.J. Black in Lucha Underground, Justin Gabriel in WWE). He worked for the local promotion there and was one of its top stars when signed to WWE in 2010, where he worked as Leo Kruger and later Adam Rose, highlighted in the ESPN E:60 Behind The Curtain documentary. The latter gimmick got him a 2014 call-up but the character never got out of prelims. He was a member of the Social Outcasts group at the time of his first suspension.

We’ll discuss this more on Wrestling Observer Live today and on Wrestling Observer Radio tonight.

Cody Runnels requests his release from WWE

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Cody Runnels on Twitter today said that he requested his release from WWE earlier today.

“The past ten years have been quite the trek, but as of earlier today, I have asked for my release from WWE.  I’ll speak further on the matter shortly.  Thank you to all the pro wrestling/sports entertainment fans worldwide. Thank you.”

Runnels, 30, the son of Dusty Rhodes, was a two-time state champion high school wrestler in Georgia and at first studied to be an actor before going into pro wrestling.

He started with the company in 2006 and was on the main roster in 2007 with a push.  His biggest run was early on as part of The Legacy with Randy Orton and Ted DiBiase Jr. Once the group broke up, Runnels was used as more of a lower and mid-card wrestler in a number of changing roles. He was Dashing Cody Rhodes talking about grooming, Team Rhodes Scholars and he and his brother Goldust formed a strong babyface tag team.

Ever since the team split up and he became Stardust, a parody of his brother, his career had gone nowhere and he hadn’t been used well.  For whatever reason, the company decided against changing him after the death of his father, or since even though he constantly would tease going back to Cody Rhodes.

It is also possible this is an angle.