5 Interesting possibilities for Erick Rowan after WWE release

In a rather unfortunate turn of events, WWE had to release several Superstars as a result of budget cuts while dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the business.

The long list of Superstars who were seen bidding adieu to the company included the likes of Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Drake Maverick, backstage producer Kurt Angle and Erick Rowan among several other popular names.

Ever since the news about WWE’s recent releases went public, there has been countless speculation about the future of all those who had to exit from the promotion. Naturally, there has been a lot of talk about the possibilities for Erick Rowan, who started gaining momentum on the roster quite recently.

In this article, we will talk about five interesting possibilities for Erick Rowan after his WWE release.

From finding an old friend in a rival promotion to a shot at revolutionizing his career, there’s a lot that can happen for this WWE Superstar. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

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#5 Join AEW and reunite with Brodie Lee

We could see them working together once again

The most exciting possibility in this list is, in fact, quite an obvious one. One can’t be blamed for hoping that Erick Rowan will eventually end up in AEW, where he can reunite with his friend and old tag team partner, Brodie Lee, fka Luke Harper when he was working for WWE.

Any storyline involving the two Superstars, even if they stand as rivals, will be interesting to watch.

Before exiting WWE, Harper was last seen in a storyline involving Rowan. The latter was feuding with Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns. Rowan found himself against two deadly Superstars, and Harper returned to even things out.

But soon after that, Harper was released, and he recently ended up in AEW, where his promo went viral as it took a shot at Vince McMahon.

Both Lee and Rowan have a long-standing history, and their chemistry is evident. While some may believe that Rowan is less charismatic, Lee could be the one who will help evolve his friend’s character.

And who knows, maybe that’s exactly what Rowan needs to turn around his pro-wrestling career.

#4 Explore his prospects in independent wrestling

Ever wrestling promotion likes unusual stories

While a move to AEW and reunion with Brodie Lee seems more obvious, there’s also a high chance that Erick Rowan will have to explore opportunities in the independent wrestling scene.

The biggest reason behind this reason is the argument that even AEW will face the wrath of the COVID-19 crisis. Although they have not released any Superstar and are trying to cope with the growing economic crisis, they will still feel the pressure until the normal business resumes.

Give the fact that AEW will have a limited budget to bring in new Superstars after the pandemic is over, there’s a chance that they will prefer some of the other free names in the industry. In that case, it will be easier for Rowan to find a different promotion that is actively looking for fresh faces.

Rowan is well-built and can be easily used as one of the strongest men on the roster, provided he is booked properly. And while he is working as the toughest guy inside the ring, Rowan could simultaneously train himself to get better at mic skills. If he wants to explore his potential, he will have to look for unconventional opponents.

#3 Take a break from the pro-wrestling business

A break from the business might be helpful for Rowan

It’s not tough to imagine how difficult it would be for the recently released WWE Superstars, especially considering the current circumstances. Since we don’t have the exact details about the financial planning of those who were affected, it would be unfair to presume things.

But one can’t deny that the entire episode would have been stressful for those who were affected directly by the recent decisions.

The same goes for Erick Rowan. It's particularly difficult to accept the decision of being released after giving it your all to reach the very top. The toll that the constant grind takes on your body is both mentally and physically draining.

And Rowan must be definitely feeling the effects of the same. We know that the entire world will take more than a few months to recover from the effects of COVID-19.

Maybe, some of the people will take that time to take a much-needed break from their profession. It will also be helpful in allowing Rowan to spend some time reflecting on his career and work on other things that he would usually ignore during his busy days.

And who knows, maybe Rowan will find something he never knew he needed. He is a trained guitarist and music happens to be an excellent option to keep one occupied.

#2 Pursue television

Rowan will make for an interesting villain

The possibility of Erick Rowan pursuing a career in the movie and television industry should not come as a surprise to you. Before his WWE debut, Rowan featured in a reality TV Show – Alt For Norge, which gave Americans the opportunity to win a reunion with their distant Norwegian relatives. The show aired back in 2010 and Rowan has gained a lot of TV experience in the last decade.

Rowan can nail the roles of giant men often used in the plot of action movies or series. Moreover, he can use some time to prepare himself for an acting career before he even decides to switch to that field. Several WWE Superstars have been involved in acting projects in the past and Rowan can draw inspiration from any one of them.

This might seem like a drastic move but it can’t be ruled out entirely. Moreover, even if he starts with small acting roles, it will help him prepare a more convincing character with enough practice.

As previously stated in this article, Rowan could work on exploring different options and one of those could be acting.

#1 Spend time training rigorously before an eventual return to WWE

All Rowan needs is a compelling gimmick

Soon after WWE announced the releases last week, there were reports about these Superstars eventually returning to the company once the situation is back to normal. That essentially means that the talents will have some time on their hand to prepare themselves for another run with the promotion. And, Erick Rowan could make the best use of the situation.

Given his recent run with WWE, it is obvious that the creatives are not completely against the idea of granting him a push. Therefore, it is quite possible that for Rowan to return with a more compelling character after he has spent some time developing both his mic skills and his in-ring prowess.

There’s still a chance for Erick Rowan to explore his full potential and return to the business with a newly-found aggressiveness that will impress Vince McMahon.

He will have some time on his hand to identify the things that are usually missing from his gimmick(s). He can work on them once he understands what he needs to change.

Previously, several Superstars have spent their time away from the business to improve themselves and return stronger. That could be the case for Rowan as well and we hope he will consider this as one of his options.