Cesaro Leaves WWE
Cesaro and WWE have parted ways after failing to agree a new contract.
Cesaro has left WWE after turning down a contract extension, reports PWInsider's Mike Johnson.
Describe as a "quiet exit", Cesaro departs following the expiration of his previous deal, with him and the promotion failing to come to terms on a new one. WWE offered an extension - and the 41-year-old rejected it.
That he leaves WWE as a result of his contract expiring rather than being released with time left means Cesaro isn't bound by any kind of non-compete clause. He is legally free to start appearing for other wrestling promotions whenever he pleases.
Elsewhere, Fightful Select add that Cesaro had been given a one-year extension. While there were once plans for him to be booked on upcoming events, things changed. There was no long-term creative direction for him at the time of departure and this wasn't going to change unless Cesaro signed an extension.
It is noted that as a result of there being no indication of Cesaro re-signing with WWE, the promotion had no incentive to push him.
Barring a U-turn, it's likely that Cesaro will be regarded as one of the most under-utilised wrestlers of WWE's modern era. Though things had quietened down, clamour-wise, in recent years, his push never truly matched his world-class in-ring talents, with bouts like May 2021's clash with Universal Champion Roman Reigns few and far between.
A WWE wrestler since 2011, Cesaro hadn't wrestled on company television since losing to Happy Corbin on the 11 February episode of SmackDown.