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WWE is the pinnacle of sports wrestling or pro wrestling, whatever you may call it, and to sign for Vince McMahon's promotion is probably the goal of most pro wrestlers. But it never really works out for every Superstar that is signed with WWE. Due to the number of talented Superstars in the company, not everyone gets television time, week in, week out.
Other Superstars may not be happy with the storylines and feuds that they have been involved in, which could also cause them to become unhappy and disillusioned with WWE.
The easiest way to get out of it is by asking for a release from the WWE. While some may be granted the release by Vince McMahon and WWE, others will be denied it, mostly because they still hold some value to the company, or WWE may not want to lose a Superstar to one of their rivals, like AEW.
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Let's take a look at 5 times Vince McMahon denied a Superstar's release:
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#5. Harper
Luke Harper, or Harper as he is known now, asked for his release from WWE earlier this year in April, and went public with his release, thanking WWE as well as the fans.
But WWE and Vince McMahon did not grant him his release, as per WrestlingInc, and instead added six more months to his current contract, for when he was out of action due to an injury.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer said that Vince McMahon was not happy with Harper since his return from injury: “Vince said that he didn’t ‘get him’ and complained that he couldn’t even do a Southern accent (that was from them wanting him to do a Southern accent four years ago).”
Harper has been with WWE since 2012 and is a two-time SmackDown Tag Team Champion, and held the Intercontinental title once.
#4. Lio Rush
Lio Rush has had a whirlwind year or so in WWE. He first appeared in 205 Live last year after being at NXT for a year, and then was moved to the main roster to be Bobby Lashley's hype man/manager.
But it all went sour earlier this year when reports emerged that Rush had huge backstage hear with the Superstars in the locker room and that he had an attitude issue. He tried to clear the air and explain his side of the story in an interview with Fightful, where he complained about being broke.
Rush hasn't been seen on television for a few months, but was offered a new five-year contract with better pay, as per PWInsider, which he reportedly rejected and asked WWE to release him from his current contract, which hasn't happened yet. The report further states that Rush's current contract with WWE expires in 2020.
#3. Mike and Maria Kanellis
Maria Kanellis is in her second run with WWE, having been a part of the company between 2004 and 2010, and returning in 2017, this time along with her real-life husband, Mike Bennett, who is now known as Mike Kanellis in WWE.
The duo were initially on the main roster before they moved to 205 Live, where Mike had quite a few matches. Earlier this year, the couple reportedly asked for their release from WWE, as per Pro Wrestling Sheet.
They were reportedly unhappy with how they were being used in WWE and requested their release in January 2019. But they weren't released from their contracts, and months later, they finally featured in a feud (of sorts) with Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins.
WWE not only rejected their release request, but gave the couple a new contract a few months after they asked for their release, reportedly signing a five-year contract, as per Pro Wrestling Sheet.
#2. The Revival
Around the same time that Mike and Maria Kanellis asked for their release, The Revival also reportedly asked for their release after being unhappy at how they were utilised and the dismal state of tag team wrestling in WWE.
Bodyslam.net reported that the tag team asked for their release in January 2019 and were "frustrated about the lack of promos, backstage segments and direction of the division" as per Pro Wrestling Sheet.
The Revival signed with WWE in 2014 and became two-time NXT Tag Team Champions before moving to the main roster in 2017, where they have won the RAW Tag Team titles twice as well.
Months since their release request, The Revival are still in WWE, which indicates that Vince McMahon and WWE rejected their request, and could be in WWE for another year which is when their contract will expire, as per WrestlingInc.
#1. Sasha Banks
The biggest name in this list who asked for her release from WWE, as per various reports, is Sasha Banks, who was rumoured to be unhappy at life in WWE.
Banks hasn't been on WWE since WrestleMania 35, where she and her tag team partner Bayley, lost the Women's Tag Team titles to The IIconics which seems to be the bone of contention and which reportedly led to Banks asking for her release, as per Bodyslam.net.
She and Bayley were informed late in the day that they would lose the titles, which did not please Banks, who wanted her and Bayley to have a "strong title run to help bring credibility to the titles".
Fightful reported that it is unlikely that WWE will release her from her current contract, and that seems to be the case as months since she reportedly asked for her release, she is still with WWE. Banks was recently advertised for the RAW Reunion, which she was pulled out of from once again.
