BREAKING: Cain Velasquez Released By WWE

Former UFC Champion falls as part of WWE's mass cuts.

Cain Velasquez
WWE.com

Cain Velasquez has been released by WWE.

While the promotion is yet to officially confirm the news itself, Dave Meltzer broke the story on this morning's episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, stating that the former UFC Heavyweight Champion was likely let go because of the big-money contract he signed with the promotion in 2019.

Velasquez hasn't wrestled since losing a WWE Championship match with old MMA rival Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown on 31 October 2019. Though he'd spent time training at the Performance Center after that, Meltzer reports that he hadn't heard of Cain working out in Orlando anytime recently.

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It isn't clear if Cain was let go as part of 15 April's Black Wednesday cuts or if this is a new release.

Velasquez debuted for WWE on the 4 October episode of SmackDown, igniting the show's FOX debut by confronting Brock Lesnar seconds after 'The Beast's' squash of Kofi Kingston. He had teased participation in the 2020 Royal Rumble but the promotion went in a different direction, with Meltzer noting that WWE "hadn't thought of him since."

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Who knows what the future holds, but for now, Cain Velasquez's WWE run is over.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.