The REAL Reason WWE Released Goldust

Goldust Aew
AEW

Of all the stars to slap atop an AEW logo ahead of "HUGE TRANSFER NEWS", Goldust was probably the most obvious in hindsight.

Before even considering the obvious family ties, 'The Bizarre One' had been winding down for years in WWE to presumably move in to a role that made better use of his mind than his body. Said body had made up for last time after returning to the company finally free of the addictions that had blighted his prior runs. It was, ironically enough, in a series of matches alongside Cody and Dusty against The Shield where it became apparent how Goldie was in fact evergreen.

Time waits for no Sports Entertainer though, and it was that ticking clock that contributed to Cody's decision to strike out alone in the industry whilst he was young enough to do so. Few would have predicted how he transformed a wrestler wishlist into a wrestling organisation, but his journey into this brave unknown could yet be part of the industry's history if AEW is even around in five years, let alone a successful alternative.

Their impact has already been felt since an official January 2019 launch. Dustin Runnels wasn't the first to ask for his release, but he was likely the first to make his intentions crystal clear. A recent Wrestling Observer note on the deal suggested that Vince McMahon was keen to keep him before Triple H - back on his bullsh*t - convinced "nnnDadddd" that he wasn't worth fighting for, or fighting over.

Dustin's challenge to Cody dropped on April 20th following the conclusion of a 90-day non-compete clause triggered by a quiet January WWE release. If Triple H is controlling this narrative, he'd likely spin it as a magnanimous gesture to allow brothers to reunite. But - and as of writing, the War Raiders are about to get their third main roster moniker in as many weeks - were Vince's instincts somehow sharper here?

CONT'D...(4 of 5)

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett