7 Most Shocking WWE Superstar Releases Of 2017

However much criticism that may have been directed Swagger's way from the fans, WWE bosses have always had a lot of faith in the guy - probably because he reminds them of an off-brand Brock Lesnar.

He ran into a brick-wall after the climax of his maiden World Heavyweight Championship reign about seven years ago though. There just wasn't enough depth to his character to get the crowd on side, and his matches weren't anything to write home about either.

Still, he was still young, with plenty of years ahead of him in which to grow into a proper main event star, which made his asking to be released in March quite a shock. This is a view that WWE itself seemed to share, incidentally; they initially rejected his request, feeling that he still had plenty to offer them.

But, in the end, there's little to be gained from keeping an employee around if their heart is longer in it, and a few days later they announced that Swagger would indeed be heading for pastures new.