WWE Release Rusev, Zack Ryder & No Way Jose
Even more superstars are let go by WWE.
Today is a day that will go down in wrestling infamy for the sheer jaw-dropping number of people that WWE has released. And now, there is yet another update on further releases that have now been confirmed.
As of this writing, the latest names to join the list of released WWE talent are Rusev, Zack Ryder, and No Way Jose.
When you look at these three superstars, Rusev is the one who really jumps out as being a top, top talent. If handled correctly, the Bulgarian Brute could have been a mainstay of the WWE main event scene for the next decade. Instead, the company decided to do so many false-starts with Rusev that it became tiresome – regardless of the former US Champion’s undeniable charisma.
Whereas Rusev’s WWE departure has been rumoured for months, it’s a little more surprising to see Zack Ryder released. Granted, Ryder’s long-time BFF Curt Hawkins was one of the many released by WWE earlier in the day, but the Long Island Iced Z seemed a solid candidate to stay with the company. Instead, Ryder’s 15-year WWE career has been brought to an end.
For No Way Jose, the 31-year-old entertaining performer has seen his WWE journey brought to an end for now after spending five years with the company. Jose was an undeniably entertaining presence in NXT, yet WWE ultimately did him a disservice during his time on the main roster. Following the lead of Drake Maverick, Jose – real name Levis Valenzuela Jr. – took to Twitter to give his thoughts on this news.
Rusev, Zack Ryder, and No Way Jose join Drake Maverick, Heath Slater, Lio Rush, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, EC3, Curt Hawkins, Eric Young, Sarah Logan, Erick Rowan, Aiden English, Kurt Angle, Pat Buck, Sarah Stock, Billy Kidman, Shane Helms, Lance Storm, Mike Rotunda, Fit Finlay, Shawn Daivari, Scott Armstrong, Epico Colon, Primo Colon, Mike Kanellis, Maria Kanellis, writer Andrea Listenberger, and long-time referee Mike Chioda as today’s confirmed WWE departures.