This WWE Pandemic-Era Release Is Still Contracted To Company
Surprising superstar still collecting check despite not being on screen for two years.
The global pandemic was an extremely unpleasant time for billions, including the literal hundreds of WWE personnel released during those dark days.
While Triple H has moved to rehire several of these superstars during his time in charge, many others have not returned. However, at least one of those still-released wrestlers is still collecting a check from WWE.
Fightful Select reports that Tyler Breeze, who was released alongside his tag team partner Fandango in June 2021, is under a WWE deal specifically tied to the UpUpDownDown brand. While it's unclear how long he's been under this contract or whether it has any wrestling restrictions, a WWE source told Fightful that the deal prevents him from appearing on AEW programming.
Breeze was with WWE from the FCW days in 2010, becoming something of a cult favorite in NXT in 2013-15 as the selfie stick-wielding pretty boy. One of his most notable moments came at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015, when he wrestled Jushin Thunder Liger. An underwhelming main roster run led to a trip back to NXT at the end of 2018, where he and Fandango remained until they were released.
Fightful notes that Breeze's return to the ring has been announced for Prestige Wrestling on September 1. Tyler also helps run Flatbacks to train wrestlers. Flatbacks' website lists notable alumni such as current WWE and AEW wrestlers Colten Gunn, Xia Li, Kiana James and Cezar Bonini.