Every Major WWE Black Wednesday Release Ranked From Least To Most Successful
Deonna Purrazzo, The Good Brothers, and others who've gone from rags to riches.
One year later.
15 April 2020 saw WWE cut numerous wrestlers, producers, and other staff members from their payroll as a result of the ongoing global health crisis. Dubbed Black Wednesday, the mass releases saw some truly talented people lose out on a regular paycheque simply because WWE had failed to utilise them to their full potential.
Where those talents have since moved on to, though, is a whole other story. Some have completely reinvented their careers, while others have become champions in major promotions.
Now, you'll notice the title of this list says every major release from Black Wednesday. In this instance, the term major applies to those who have actually gone on to something of note since being let go. This means the likes of No Way Jose and Aiden English won't be mentioned in here, as they've merely made one or two appearances in minor companies, while Drake Maverick obviously won't be included since he was re-signed only weeks later.
In full, the released names not mentioned here are as follows:-
Aiden English, Alexander Jaksic, Dorian Mak, Drake Maverick, Edgar Lopez, Epico and Primo Colon, Faisal Kurdi, Hussain Aldaga, Jerry Soto, Kassius Ohno, Kurt Angle, Lance Storm, Marcos Gomes, Mars Wang, Mike Chioda, Mike Rotunda, MJ Jenkins, Mohamed Fahim, No Way Jose, Sarah Logan, Sarah Stock, Scott Armstrong, Shawn Daivari, Tino Sabbatelli, and Yifeng.
As for the rest?
15. Cezar Bononi
Cezar Bononi has only recently done something of note in wrestling since being let go last April.
This is a guy who did bugger all under WWE contract. Remember how he was deemed the Future Star of NXT in the 2017 NXT Year-End Awards? Thought not. He genuinely received the award, though, something that never came close to fruition.
The Brazilian must have seen his release coming. Sure, he's a beefier boy - standing six foot six, weighing 259 pounds - but he's not great. WWE had no reason to keep him employed.
Having wrestled his debut match for All Elite Wrestling on the 29 September edition of Dark, Bononi has since formed an alliance with 'Pretty' Peter Avalon dubbed The Pretty Picture. Cezar has since had some matches vs. high-profile AEW names, such as 'Hangman' Adam Page, Eddie Kingston, and former World Champion, Jon Moxley, alongside making his pay-per-view debut at March's Revolution event.
Bononi is fine in AEW. He'll likely never lift a championship unless Tony Khan really gets behind he and Avalon, but it's a fine place for him to hone his craft for the time being.