Inside Eric Young's BIZARRE WWE Return & Release

Crazy backstage circumstances surround Eric Young's WWE return, release, and jump to IMPACT.

by Andy H Murray
Eric Young
Impact Wrestling

Eric Young returned to IMPACT Wrestling at Slammiversary last weekend, rejoining the promotion he left to rejoin WWE in November 2022, having never re-debuted for the market leaders. Fightful Select has since published a new report on this strange set of circumstances.

As well as noting Young's pitched involvement in a "new" version of the old Wyatt Family stable, which would have put EY "in a pretty significant spot in the company," Eric asked for and was granted his WWE release in the spring. He then sat out his non-compete period before showing back up in IMPACT.

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Young had asked to be let go by WWE by the time the Wyatt Family pitches would have kicked in on television. Bray Wyatt's undisclosed illness is understood to be among the reasons for those plans never coming to life.

Per Fightful, "moral and creative reasons tied to working with Vince McMahon" were behind Young's WWE departure. McMahon, 77, returned to WWE's board of directors as Executive Chairman in January, having been forced to resign in disgrace amidst multiple sexual misconduct allegations last July.

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Young commented on his Slammiversary return earlier in the week:-

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.