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Rumour and speculation have it that several WWE superstars want to leave the company. Here are four wrestlers who might leave WWE, and four who probably won't.
When it comes to working for the WWE, there are many perks and many restrictions, as there is with any corporate entity.
A huge perk that the WWE offers any pro wrestlers lucky enough to snag a contract is the largest possible platform on which to ply their craft. Like as not, the WWE is the big leagues, the NFL and MLB of pro wrestling. While other promotions exist and even thrive, they can't boast the numbers of fans that WWE reaches each week with their programs Raw and Smackdown Live.
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Another perk the WWE offers is a much higher pay scale. Not only do WWE superstars earn entertainer class wages, they also have a chance to make more money on merchandising.
But there are some realities about working for the WWE that do have to be addressed. For one, the success or failure of a superstar's career often rests on how much Vince McMahon wants to put stock in them.
This is totally fair because it's Vince's company, and he's been making wrestlers into mainstream celebrities for over thirty years. Still, without his tacit approval it's hard for a wrestler to make it past the mid card.
Of course, Vince McMahon, though he wields the ultimate say, is just one cog in the massive machine that is the WWE. The marketing department favorus younger wrestlers with a certain glamorous look, which leads to disasters like Eva Marie, and wild successes like John Cena.
So all seeds do not grow in all soils, and some wrestlers wish to depart WWE from time to time. Here are four that might be leaving the WWE, and four that aren't going anywhere.
Might be leaving the WWE #1: Dolph Ziggler
Year after year, when you hear wrestling fans and critics wax on about which wrestler is the most underrated, you hear Dolph Ziggler's name come up.
The former Spirit Squad member has enjoyed an excellent, highly successful WWE career from one point of view. He's held every title the company has to offer on Raw and Smackdown, including a brief stint as world champion. Unfortunately, his forays into the main event never last long, and he often seems to drift from one angle to the next with little direction.
Why he might be leaving the WWE: Dolph Ziggler is in a similar spot to what CM Punk was once in. Namely, he's a highly decorated superstar who keeps sliding back into the mid-card or lower. Reports of him being offered--and rejecting--a deal to be a backstage producer have come to light, and he's currently off doing a stand up comedy tour. As of right now, Ziggler claims he has a handshake deal with the WWE. These signs point to an end of Ziggler's WWE career.
Won't be leaving the WWE #1: AJ Styles
AJ Styles is a great reason to never say never. For years, almost a decade in fact, fans and critics said you would 'never' see AJ Styles inside of a WWE ring, in spite of his insane athletic ability and technical wrestling skill.
The reasons for his supposed exclusion from consideration by the company were the usual; AJ is 'too small,' and his gimmick revolves around his in ring performance rather than a larger than life character.
But AJ did get hired by the WWE, appearing at the Royal Rumble and skipping the mid-card altogether for the main event. WWE made the rare decision to keep him intact from his previous incarnations outside the company, and made sure to push him as a major star.
Why he won't be leaving the WWE: AJ Styles recently signed a new contract with the WWE. The company is quite pleased with him and relies on him to give star power and prestige to the Smackdown brand, and AJ is in the twilight of his career and has no reason to leave.
Might be leaving the WWE: Gallows and Anderson
The former Bullet Club founding fathers and AJ Styles's best buds haven't had a bad run in the WWE.
On the other hand, it hasn't been a stellar run, either. In New Japan Pro Wrestling, they were feared as a devastating heavyweight tag team who could both brawl and use technical wrestling. They defeated many of the top Japanese teams and claimed the IWGP tag team titles.
In WWE, their title reign felt obligatory more than revolutionary. Once their association with AJ Styles was ended, they have had little direction in a company that hasn't been invested in tag team wrestling for almost a decade.
Why they might be leaving the WWE: It's been reported that Gallows and Anderson turned down an offer to re-sign with the WWE. This fuels speculation that they could be headed to All Elite Wrestling once their contracts with WWE are through.
Won't be leaving the WWE: The Undertaker
Mark Calloway, better known as the Undertaker, caused a lot of speculation earlier this year when he removed mention of the WWE from many of his social media platforms.
Most of the rumours circulated around the Dead Man finally hanging up the hat and gloves for good, but a few believed he might head to All Elite Wrestling under his Mean Mark Callous gimmick.
Of course, as we found out on the Raw after Wrestlemania 35, neither of those rumours were true. The Undertaker is alive and well, and choke-slamming Elias for no apparent reason other than because he felt like it.
Why he won't be leaving WWE: Undertaker is rumoured to appear at an upcoming show in Saudi Arabia where he will likely face Elias in a grudge match.
Might be leaving WWE #3: Bayley
Bayley was part of the Women's Evolution movement from the get go. She, along with Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch are the Four Horsewomen of NXT. Through their in ring ability and charisma, the four women were able to make women's wrestling more than an afterthought, but a major attraction.
Bayley reigned as NXT champion before losing the belt to Asuka and being elevated to the main roster. She often seems to be overlooked in favour of more glamorous wrestlers like Alexa Bliss or larger wrestlers like Nia Jax.
Bayley and Sasha Banks seemed set to have a long reign as the first WWE women's tag team champions, but then they lost their belts to the IIconics at Wrestlemania 35.
Why she might be leaving the WWE: Bayley is said to be frustrated with her role in the company, though there are no signs she has actually requested a release from WWE. But given her close friendship with Sasha Banks, a case could be made that she might change her mind.
Won't be leaving the WWE #3: Kairi Sane
When it comes to great professional wrestlers who are not only athletic and fearless, but can tell a compelling story in the ring, you need look no further than the Pirate Princess, Kairi Sane.
The inSanely talented Japanese star made her debut during the first Mae Young Classic, and would win the tournament by pinning favourite Shayna Baszler in the finals. Since then she's reigned as NXT champion but it appears her time with the yellow brand may be coming to an end.
When Kairi Sane finished her match with Shayna Baszler at Full Sail, she appeared to take her final bows, lending creed to the rumour of her ascending to the main roster.
Why she won't be leaving WWE: The WWE is very high on Kairi Sane and have her for a multi year contract. Her elevation to the main roster was inevitable, and she is seen as an ideal babyface for the women's division.
Might be leaving the WWE #4: The Revival
Even before the duo reportedly asked for their release from the WWE, rumours have swirled about the Revival being courted by other wrestling organizations.
First there was the tweet. Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks tweeted "One day we'll wrestle the Revival, and everyone will rejoice. Remember this tweet."
This seemed to fuel speculation that when the much ballyhooed All Elite Wrestling promotion actually became a reality that the Revival would be first in line for a contract, provided they were available. Of course, then Scott Dawson paraphrased his own tweet about wrestling the Young Bucks, and speculation ran rampant.
The WWE have made some changes that seem aimed at keeping the tag division, including the Revival, happy, but are they enough?
Why they might be leaving the WWE: The Revival are tag team specialists, perhaps the best tag team of this generation, in a promotion that favours singles stars. They might decide to pursue obtaining their release after all.
Won't be leaving the WWE #4: Candace LaRae
You can call her a seventeen year veteran, you can call her Mrs. Wrestling, but whatever you do don't call Candice Larae just Johnny Gargano's wife.
The independent scene stalwart Candice Larae participated in the first Mae Young Classic, but didn't actually sign a contract with the WWE until 2018. For a time she appeared mostly as a prop for Johnny Gargano's feud with Tommaso Ciampa, but she has been making more wrestling appearances of late.
Recently she made her first Wrestlemania appearance as part of the women's battle royal, fuelling speculation she could be heading to the main roster.
Why she won't be leaving WWE: Not only is Larae being primed for the main roster, she's also married to Mr. Wrestling Johnny Gargano, whom WWE are very, very high upon at the moment. Candice Larae won't be leaving the WWE anytime soon.
There you have it; Four wrestlers who might be leaving WWE, and four who are't going anywhere. Questions or comments? Please leave them after the article, and as always thanks for reading!
