5 fallouts from the recent wave of WWE releases

#2 WWE's competition will ultimately get better due to the releases

Moxley is a former AEW World Champion.

WWE and some of its fans may not consider a company like IMPACT Wrestling as competition. When it comes to AEW, however, WWE definitely battles the new promotion for the attention of wrestling fans.

The companies can deny that they are competing with each other, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening. Wrestlers that get released often mention the words "my former employer" during promos with a new promotion.

The biggest names that left WWE and helped AEW are Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho. Miro (the former Rusev) is the current AEW TNT Champ. While it might not be on the scale of AEW competing with WWE, several released stars have joined IMPACT over the last few years.

Deonna Purrazzo is the current Knockouts Champion while the Good Brothers won the IMPACT Tag Team Championship. Former WWE stars like Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Big Cass, and Tenille Dashwood have also joined IMPACT.

What a year.... #Virtuosa 👁 https://t.co/WIYiX8S32F

— The Virtuosa (@DeonnaPurrazzo) June 9, 2021

When it comes to the releases of 2021, however, the potential for a former star to become an even bigger one is much higher. With names like Aleister Black, Strowman, and Andrade, the promotion that signs those names will be gaining main-event talent. Black and Andrade were not pushed to the moon in WWE, but it doesn't mean that it won't happen in AEW or IMPACT.

Last night on #FridayNight #AEWDynamite @VickieGuerrero dropped a bombshell on @AEW with her announcement of @AndradeElIdolo signing with #AEW. pic.twitter.com/6OyGsRofoF

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 6, 2021

Multiple promotions will have bolstered their women's division following the WWE releases. Several talented stars like Ruby Riott, the IIconics, Chelsea Green, and Santana Garrett will improve any women's roster. Once the non-compete clauses end, multiple women's rosters could look much different by the end of the year.

It's just the nature of pro sports - athletes get released and some go to the competition. When an owner/promoter still sees value in a star - especially one that has untapped potential - they'll do whatever they can to sign that performer.

By releasing someone like Black, WWE misses out on adding another supernatural performer to its history. Black would have been a good foil for The Undertaker, Kane, or The Fiend but he was kept clear of those stars.

Despite having the in-ring skill and promo ability to go to the top in WWE, some reports claimed that Vince McMahon didn't "get" his style. These rounds of releases will ultimately lead to some big shifts in talent for promotions competing with WWE.