Chris Jericho: WWE Releases Won't Happen Because Of AEW
"Nobody will ever get their release from WWE again."
AEW's marquee star Chris Jericho has dramatically stated that WWE will never release another wrestler again, owing to the nascent competition coming out of Jacksonville.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Y2J opined that anyone unsatisfied with life in Stamford can now expect to be "put in the corner", as the company simply will not countenance the possibility of a star migrating to Tony Khan's group.
"[Shawn Spears] is the last one that will [get a release]. Nobody will ever get their release from WWE again," Jericho mused. He went on to lavish praise on Spears, noting that he was lucky to escape the machine before it clamps down on their potentially profitable talent.
Spears was granted his release from WWE on 22 February. He made his AEW debut in Double or Nothing's Casino Battle Royal, before announcing himself as a top heel within the company with a vicious chairshot to Cody's bonce at Fyter Fest this June.
A month before Spears left WWE, Hideo Itami was allowed to seek pastures new. He has since joined NJPW under his old guise KENTA, enjoying a splendid G1 and featuring in a stunning angle alongside Katsuyori Shibata.
No prominent WWE star has been released since. In April, a disgruntled Luke Harper sought an exit from WWE. He was not granted it.