WWE is and has always been the major leagues when it comes to professional wrestling. Prior to all the alternatives that we see today, there was only one real juggernaut and for 95% of the aspiring wrestlers in the world, WWE is indeed their destination. While every superstar goes in with the objective of becoming World Champion, the reality is naturally that everybody has their place.
Just like there are only a few spots for top stars, there are spots for superstars in the midcard and lower card as well. If you view it like any other job, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, everybody is getting a consistent paycheque that allows them to keep their families afloat while also securing their future post-retirement.
Many superstars have come and gone in WWE and there have been quite a few who have been known to be more interested in collecting a paycheque while happily sitting on the sidelines. Then we have cases like Shinsuke Nakamura, where he signed much after his prime. His glory years were undoubtedly behind him and he spent a good part of his career as a top star in Japan, headlining the biggest shows, winning the biggest championships, facing some of the greatest opponents and more.
For him, WWE represented a place where he could work a safer style until retirement and secure a good future financially while doing what he loves. Now, he resides in Florida where he has his family, he gets to surf and can likely finish his career without any major long-term issues. It’s hard to blame him in a situation like that, where he probably isn’t as bothered about his place creatively.
However, his case is different from most WWE superstars. In 2019 alone, we’ve seen multiple reports and rumors of unsatisfied WWE superstars requesting their release. If you notice a common pattern – it was never due to financial reasons or wanting more money. It was due to creative dissatisfaction. Even Fightful mentioned that WWE superstars who they talked to never had issues over not getting pushed or not winning championships. The issue was that they wanted a consistent creative direction.
Isn’t it interesting how WWE superstars seemingly want the exact same thing that fans do? For a while now, fans have been complaining about the creative direction in WWE, particularly on RAW. One of the biggest gripes is the underutilization of top talent. Fans do understand that not everybody can get pushed, but consistent storylines isn’t too much to ask from a creative team that’s constantly on-the-go.
Even with WWE superstars, the money might not be an issue, but if they’re not happy with their job, why shouldn’t they be allowed to look for alternate options? After all, we need to remember that the superstars too, are fans of WWE and want to apply their art and trade as best as they can.
Given that they spend so much time on the road, one can only imagine the frustration that many might face when there’s so much inconsistency from a creative standpoint. From feuds being canceled to ridiculous storylines, WWE superstars have to be professionals in front of the camera and do what they’re told.
But ultimately, in a new wrestling world where there are several alternatives (and one particular alternative looking more promising than ever), it’s very likely that an increasing number of WWE superstars will ask for their release so they can go where they feel valued professionally. WWE’s strategy is normally to offer bigger figures to prevent talent from going to outside promotions, but things are certainly changing.
We’ve already seen a bunch of superstars publicly state that they’ve asked for their release. It’s easy to assume that they just ultimately want to collect the paycheque, but many know that the further they dampen creatively, the more it will affect them long-term. While they still have the opportunity, they’re more than likely going to seek options where they feel they can become the best version of themselves.
After all, there are quite a few stories of former WWE superstars finding more success outside. When you are able to thrive creatively and are enjoying yourself when wrestling, it shows and translates in the fan reactions.
