Released WWE NXT Talent Returns To AEW

After being whacked on NXT 2.0 TV, this star returned to the AEW fold.

By Andrew Pollard /

WWE

Having been released by WWE last month, the former Troy 'Two Dimes' Donovan this weekend returned to AEW action.

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As per JJ Williams of the Wrestling Observer, the one-time D'Angelo Family member appeared at the latest set of AEW Dark tapings. There, under his Cole Karter name, the 22-year-old picked up a win over Mike Orlando.

This marks Karter's first match since his WWE exit shortly after NXT: In Your House this past June. With the door reportedly left open for a return to the company down the line, Cole was let go due to a wellness policy violation. In terms of on NXT 2.0 programming, Two Dimes was written off TV after Tony D'Angelo and Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo seemingly murdered(!) him.

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As alluded to, this wasn't Cole Karter's first appearance for AEW. Prior to signing with WWE, Karter actually competed in nine matches for All Elite Wrestling across Dark and Dark: Elevation. Those bouts saw him compete against names like Lance Archer, Death Triangle, Dark Order, the Factory, and the former Big Show, Paul Wight; bouts that Cole all lost.

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Whether Karter ends up becoming officially #AllElite remains to be seen, but the fact that this most recent AEW outing saw him pick up his first victory in the company is surely a positive step for the star.

Cole wasn't the only recently-released WWE name to wrestle for AEW this past weekend, for Parker Boudreaux, fka Harland, was unveiled as the latest member of Ariya Daivari's burgeoning Trust Busters faction.

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