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FootballWWE wrestlers fired: A list of 10 of the best WWE superstars who were fired and where are they now?
The world of professional wrestling has seen its fair share of surprises, including WWE wrestlers fired unexpectedly. Their departures shocked fans and led to lots of discussion among enthusiasts. These stars made great impacts at WWE, giving fans unforgettable moments.
Table of Сontents:
Reputable sources like interviews, WWE announcements, and respected wrestling news outlets provided accurate info for this list of the WWE wrestlers who got fired. These sources include interviews, WWE official announcements, and well-regarded wrestling news outlets.
Top 10 WWE wrestlers who got fired
Name of the wrestler | Year (s) fired |
Emma | 2014, 2023 |
Rick Boogs | 2023 |
Frankie Kazarian | 2005 |
Shanky | 2023 |
Matt Hardy | 2005, 2010 |
Mr. Kennedy | 2009 |
Enzo Amore | 2018 |
Matt Riddle | 2023 |
Brad Maddox | 2015 |
Robbie McAllister | 2008 |
Some WWE firings are real, while others are scripted to entertain the audience. Sports Brief highlights the strangest firings in the wrestling world and reasons behind the decisions to let go of the superstars, according to information from Essentially Sports, Knel Now, and other credible sources.
10. Emma
- Full name: Tenille Averil Rallis
- Nationality: Australian
- Born: March 1st 1989
- Place of birth: Boronia, Victoria, Australia
- WWE debut: 2014
- Height: 5 ft 5 in
Tenille Averil Rallis made her name as Emma in WWE. She also performed in Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling, known as Tenille Dashwood.
Her first exit in 2014 came after security cameras at Walmart caught her 'shoplifting' a $20 iPad case, as reported by the Daily Mail. Once informed, WWE held Emma accountable, resulting in her release from the company. After later making a return, Emma was released on September 2023 following the merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Group Holdings.
9. Rick Boogs
- Full name: Eric Bugenhagen
- Nationality: American
- Born: December 21st, 1987
- Place of birth: Franklin, Wisconsin
- WWE debut: 2017
- Height: 6 ft 2 in
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FootballEric Bugenhagen, nicknamed Rick Boogs, wrestled in WWE from 2017 to 2023 and had his final appearance at SummerSlam 2023 in the Slim Jim Battle Royal. The company released him on September 21.
Later, in an interview with Chris Van Vliet on January 4th, 2024, he shared his decision to retire from wrestling after leaving WWE, stating that he no longer wishes to wrestle anymore. In a video, he suggested someone behind the scenes purposefully arranged his release, as published by Cinema Band.
All right, fellas, we are back, and let me tell you, it has been an interesting time in my life with my job in WWE being terminated due to backstage political power play. At least, that is my opinion of it. Now is not the time to talk about that. I will get into detail about that when the time is right.
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Football8. Frankie Kazarian
- Full name: Frank Benedict Gerdelman
- Nationality: American
- Born: August 4th, 1977
- Place of birth: Palm Springs, California
- WWE debut: 2005
- Height: 6 ft 1 in
Frankie Kazarian first joined WWE's developmental area, Ohio Valley Wrestling. In July 2005, he debuted on "Velocity" as "The Future," beating Nunzio. He stayed undefeated against wrestlers like Scotty 2 Hotty and Paul London until August.
Despite this early success, Kazarian left on August 13th 2005. His website cited creative differences as the reason. Initial reports claimed his departure stemmed from non-cooperation with management.
However, Kazarian clarified he requested release himself. He felt that WWE lacked proper support and direction for the cruiserweight division.
7. Shanky
- Full name: Gurvinder Singh Malhotra
- Nationality: Indian
- Born: June 19th 1991
- Place of birth: Jagadhri, Haryana, India
- WWE debut: 2020
- Height: 7 ft
The wrestler Gurvinder Singh Malhotra, known as Shanky in WWE, had his contract terminated on September 21st, 2023. His release was a result of unsatisfactory in-ring performances that failed to meet expectations.
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WWEDespite this setback, Shanky maintained a positive reputation backstage. Given WWE's keen interest in the Indian market, speculation suggests he may potentially return to WWE programming at some point in the future.
6. Matt Hardy
- Full name: Matthew Moore Hardy
- Nationality: American
- Born: September 23rd, 1974
- Place of birth: Cameron, North Carolina
- WWE (WWF) debut: 1994
- Height: 6 ft 2 in
Hardy first parted ways with WWE in 2005 amid personal troubles after an off-screen relationship scandal during injury recovery. He returned to WWE later in the same year and revived his on-screen rivalry with Edge.
His 2010 exit connected to eccentric actions, peculiar YouTube clips featuring the "Broken" character. However, Hardy's eventual WWE comeback highlighted the promotion's willingness to mend fences.
5. Mr. Kennedy
- Full name: Kenneth Anderson
- Nationality: American
- Born: March 6th, 1976
- Place of birth: Two Rivers, Wisconsin
- WWE debut: 2005
- Height: 6 ft 2 in
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Other SportsRandy Orton's view of Mr. Kennedy in his time with WWE was low. During a 10-man tag team match on Raw in May 2009, Kennedy performed a back-suplex on Orton.
This move appeared risky to The Viper, who later raised concerns with WWE's higher-ups. Orton also persuaded John Cena to complain to Vince McMahon about Kennedy's in-ring performance. Vince McMahon, in an unfavourable mood that day, upon Orton's complaint, made the call to release Kennedy from WWE.
The wrestler was, however, not fired immediately after a match. He was released on May 29th 2009, just four days after his return.
4. Enzo Amore
- Full name: Eric Arndt
- Nationality: American
- Born: December 8th, 1986
- Place of birth: Hackensack, New Jersey
- WWE debut: 2013
- Height: 5 ft 11 in
Enzo Amore rose to fame by teaming up with Big Cass from 2013 to 2017. He talked fast in promos and had unique charisma. But Amore's WWE career ended suddenly in 2018.
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WWEHe was fired due to issues backstage. These included a sexual assault claim that was later disproven. Still, Enzo's exit left fans were shocked, and it showed how a bright future could end in an instant.
3. Matt Riddle
- Full name: Matthew Frederick Riddle
- Nationality: American
- Born: January 14th, 1986
- Place of birth: Allentown, Pennsylvania
- WWE debut: 2018
- Height: 6 ft 1 in
Matt Riddle is among the WWE wrestlers who got fired recently. A strange incident happened at JFK Airport in New York where Riddle claimed a police officer sexually assaulted him. He shared a photo of the officer but later removed the post.
After that, Riddle did not appear in the last two Raw episodes, and his future with the company was uncertain. Riddle confirmed he left the company in a post on X (Twitter):
"Just wanted to inform everyone that I am no longer with WWE. Thank you for the memories and opportunities. Also, thank you to all the fans for the support and love you give me every time I go out to the ring. See you all soon."
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Football2. Brad Maddox
- Full name: Joshua Tyler Kluttz
- Nationality: American
- Born: May 4th, 1984
- Place of birth: Tega Cay, South Carolina
- WWE debut: 2008
- Height: 5 ft 11 in
Brad Maddox competed in his ultimate match versus R-Truth. In November 2015, a dark game occurred pre-SmackDown, with Maddox addressing attendees using an unauthorized term, a word prohibited by WWE. Rather than imposing a monetary penalty, Vince opted to terminate Maddox's employment.
Months later, an ironic situation arose when McMahon uttered an expletive on Monday Night Raw, leading fans to denounce WWE for their inconsistent approach to profanity.
1. Robbie McAllister
- Full name: Derek Graham-Couch
- Nationality: Scottish
- Born: September 20th 1974
- Place of birth: Oban, Scotland
- WWE debut: 2005
- Height: 6 ft 3 in
Half of The Highlanders duo, Robbie McAllister, erred by attending a TNA event as a viewer in March 2008. Television cameras captured his presence, quickly grabbing WWE's attention - one of their performers had visited a rival promotion.
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Other SportsRobbie's appearance on TNA programming offended WWE management, resulting in his release in August. Robbie's partner also lost his job.
Trivia
Wrestlers quitting makes people wonder what is next in their careers. How does this affect wrestling? Here are some frequently asked questions.
Why do WWE wrestlers get fired?
WWE cited 'budget cut' as one of the reasons for releasing wrestlers, as reported by Essentially Sports. The company is also known to release wrestlers who it feels cannot reap benefits proportional to their allocated resources. In 2021, 18 wrestlers were fired one night.
Who has been fired from WWE recently?
On September 21, 2023, the company let go of well-known wrestlers like Dolph Ziggler, Elias, Mustafa Ali, and Shelton Benjamin. NXT wrestler Matt Riddle also got fired on September 22. The wrestlers were released after WWE's merger with UFC under TKO Group Holdings.
Which female star was fired from WWE?
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FootballAmong the female wrestlers released as of March 2024 were Melanie Brzezinski, Dana Brooke, Emma, Aliyah, Yulisa Leon, Alexis Gray, and Brooklyn Barlow. These releases were part of a larger group of talent let go from the company.
Final word
WWE wrestlers who got fired made lasting imprints on pro wrestling's core. Fans and athletes were reminded that the business can shift unexpectedly. However, their legacies still inspire and impact wrestling.
READ ALSO: Here is a comprehensive list of 10 of the best WWE wrestlers who went to AEW
Sports Brief published an article about 10 of the best WWE wrestlers who joined AEW. These athletes, once WWE stars, sought fresh paths at All Elite Wrestling, a young but fast-rising promotion that has existed since 2019.
Their switch breathed new life into their careers, intensifying rivalry between companies, and their journey features major wins, title reigns, and unforgettable fan-thrilling moments. Click the above link to read more!