8 superstars WWE refused to release 

#3 Mike Kanellis

Mike Bennett, known as Mike Kanellis during his time in WWE, made his WWE debut in the summer of 2016.

The company never knew where to use him, which made Mike frustrated and led to him asking for his release in October 2019, just three months after he and his wife, Maria, signed a five-year deal with them.

Mike took to social media and wrote the following about it:

"Today I asked for my release from WWE. I want to thank everyone in the company who has helped me out and who I have shared a locker room with. I love you all. I've been with the company for almost 3 years and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity. However it is time for me to move on. I am only 34 years old and feel I have way too much left in the tank. Working 1 day a week is just not going to cut it for me. I came to WWE to work and that opportunity does not exist right now."

However, WWE did not grant Mike's request for his release for the next couple of months. He made some TV appearances during that time in which he was mostly seen losing matches he competed in.

In April 2020, WWE released Mike and Maria both, as they decided to make budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.