Jim Cornette on The Future For WWE's Released Wrestlers

[@jesterr7133]

I want something good to happen for Dolph. I went to Raw a few years ago, and I ran into him outside the arena. He was in street clothes, and was just out walking around and goofing off. I bumped into him, and it took a second for it to register who he was, but I ended up shooting the shit with him for about twenty minutes, and we didn't even talk about wrestling. It was like we had known each other for years. He's a good dude, and I wish the best for him. I hope he is able to get a fresh start in AEW, and eventually reinvent himself and finish his career on a high note in WWE.

[@dmac3183]

When I still watched wrestling he was one of the guys I wished had been around 10 years earlier, Dolph and most of the spirit squad were done dirty by creative. Fans respect Ziggler.

[@Saddler1944]

I like Dolph he was just missing that lasting "it" power that guys like Randy Orton or HBK had. He did almost everything and still just never stuck with the people as a top guy.

[@moopert86]

I honestly he had a job there for life. He's been there so long, even though he's not been used well for the better part of a decade.

[@andychristensen2947]

Honestly, he's the guy I thought would also go Hollywood. Standup is not easy (at least to be good at it), and he is professionally funny, great timing. Being a road comic would be a grind, but it would be easier on him than doing 250 house shows in a year. He knows a lot of folks in that industry already.

[@YOUSUCKONE666]

Him and his brother can be the Hollywood hunks 😎

[@wilcee238]

Cornette was right about IMPACT being a better hiding place than witness protection. I just found out RVD worked there. I though he retired after WWE until his AEW return.

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Lol google rvd and Katie Forbes only fans segment it was wild last thing I remember was rvd and Katie Forbes were aligning themselves with Joey Ryan. Then Ryan got the me too and all 3 disappeared lol

[@TheManOfTheHourEveryHour]

His gimmick in Impact was literally the best work of his career, too 😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣

[@StrongStyleShooter]

@@TheManOfTheHourEveryHoursame with Kurt angle 😂 it’s a shame he didn’t stay in wwe longer cause he was amazing I just didn’t go out my way to watch tna

[@pleaseshutup7053]

@@TheManOfTheHourEveryHourhow great would that gimmick be in the attitude era

[@john_blues]

Oh sh*t, I thought he was retired. 😂

[@jimtell716]

AEW is just WCW when they got Bret Hart. You could literally give AEW Austin, Lesnar, Cena, and Reigns, and they would have no idea what to do with them. There would be an immediate pop in the ratings, and then it would quickly go back to being a complete mess. AEW doesnt have a talent problem, they have a structure problem(just like WCW)

[@pleaseshutup7053]

At least wcw had real Stars hogging the main event like the nwo macho man flair Luger sting and they still made new stars with Goldberg booker t and Steiner

[@wilcee238]

This just in.

[@asurlybarber3620]

You could give this company young Ric Flair, Ernie Ladd, Randy Savage, Sherri Martel, and Andre The Giant and Tony would still screw it up.

[@16dwreck]

Andre would have to do the job for pockets!

[@WyattHolliday]

That’s a great analogy.

[@Kono_D._Oda]

Shelton was put up with a manager. In fact he was part of a pretty hot and dominant stable for a good while before WWE unceremoniously broke them up.

[@dmac3183]

Wrong time for that gimmick, was it not around the time of riots over a crime? They were probably scared of blowback from having a heel stable of one colour, bloody shame because what an impressive group. Lashley, Benjamin and MVP if still together as Hurt buisness would have been ruling one of the shows, and probably adding younger guys into the group to give them the rub. Benjamin should have been a massive name in the buisness but WWE screwed up again.

[@MikeJr9284]

That's the problem. WWE created the Hurt Business during the Pandemic Era. Viewership was on the decline during that time.

[@jdspreest]

It has always amazed me that the WWE couldn’t do a goddamn thing with a talent like Shelton Benjamin. The guy is probably, if not is, THE best wrestler in the world for the last decade or two. People say that he isn’t a good promo. Then, As Jim has suggested,,give him a manager! But really, with a guy like him, if you’re a wrestling fan, do you care if he can talk or not? I wouldn’t give a shit, personally, because I’d want to see him wrestle. Could care less about his promo skills. Just a damn shame that such a top class wrestler like him wasn’t ever given the opportunity to be the champeen.

[@dmac3183]

Benjamin and Haas were an under appreciated team also.

[@nooneinparticular5273]

​@@jdspreestI feel like the problem was him coming up with Brock. Not knocking Shelton at all, but if you were running a wrestling company and had to choose either Brock or Shelton as the next big thing? Who do you pick? Not to mention the others who came up with him. Cena, Orton, Batista and then Shelton unfortunately just fell by the wayside, through absolutely no fault of his own. He just came up with the most impressive, promising bunch of young talent that wrestling had ever seen up to that point and still has not topped.

[@psychobluesfxt]

Jim and Brian going through the NXT names had me DYING

[@benjaminheld3874]

Yes, this! 😂 I just posted somewhere here: Abdul "The Body" Fitzgerald is probably the greatest name ever. 😂😂

[@awzthemusicalreviews]

Brooklyn's name has to be a fucking rib of some kind. Before Jim said it, I was wondering why they were named after the Brawler

[@poovanna4284]

Shanky Singh should not been released

[@greenbasterd9425]

Matt Riddle was definitely featured at a "high" level.

[@austindanquer2936]

LOL😂

[@HessenUK]

Did a lot of high spots, weeded out his issues and had high potential. But his future has gone to pot.

[@akgstone]

@@HessenUK lolol

[@akgstone]

@@HessenUK He couldn't weed his way out of the airport situation unfortunately 😢

[@asurlybarber3620]

Riddle will love it in AEW. They are all about "high" spots.

[@luisg.407]

Everyone always wanted a Taker vs Sting or vs Bray Wyatt feud for nothing more than they all had dark gimmicks. That said, give me Flop Dolla vs Bearcat Keith Lee in AEW.

[@georgenelson8284]

Lmao 😂😂😂😂

[@robertnapier624]

Who would be AEW’s Michael Cole? The one making fun of top Dolla not going over the top rope?

[@yusufgazi7]

I love how entertained by Flop Dolla Jim is lmao

[@peterlee6374]

I think Jim appreciates that while he’s not the best he goes out and gives it his all and is more then willing to be a guy that puts guys over Hit row was a good tool for la knight to get over

[@mickeylamb4956]

"Maybe they found human skeletons underneath his house" Jim never fails to make me laugh

[@EnergyFitnessCX]

I missed that, who was he talking about?

[@mickeylamb4956]

@@EnergyFitnessCX Madcap moss

[@wesleymcneese8554]

For me personally I don't want to see anyone lose their job but Shelton Benjamin was the only one who really hurt. That dude shouldve been a world champ in WWE

[@Sahil-pc2kr]

Time to dish out the big bucks for CM Punk. Hopefully MJF and Ricky Starks follow suit in the following year.

[@JMHStudioproductionsLLC]

They will destroy MJF Let him stay on AEW

[@bl00dkillz]

Alongside jade Cargill whom already at the PC, they were interested in Ricky Starks a month ago to getting him when his AEW contact expires

[@Boogiechiha977]

If aew lose mjf and starks they are fucked they can’t lose mjf or starks

[@fayerson]

They will send mjf to nxt to “learn to work wwe style” then they will change his name to something silly . Then will come up and get in a meaningless back and forth trade wins and losses matches with Otis .

[@Sahil-pc2kr]

@@fayersonI don’t think they’re that stupid to send a generational talent like MJF to NXT. They had AJ Styles debut at Royal Rumble immediately.

[@cubanpete6764]

it really baffles me how they released Dolph Ziggler but kept baron corbin

[@phabiorules]

I haven’t watched wrestling in a long time, but it surprises me how long Baron Corbin has been on the roster, and how relevant he is. He was always the most boring wrestler to me.

[@mikawhofan]

Same here.

[@yawsrko]

Not even one exec: "but Dolph Ziggler has a belly button! Release Corbin instead!"

[@goodday2760]

@@phabiorules He changed his character.

[@DONKEYKONG260]

Hot take: I liked Rick Boogs and I think he just wasn't used properly.

[@TBtheking405216]

I think Shelton is probably gonna stay gone a few months then end up back in wwe as a trainer

[@robertnapier624]

He is what 50 or almost 50? It wouldn’t be surprising if he became a trainer but then he might do a bit more wrestling wether it’s in aew, impact or even just work the indie circuit.

[@pendafen7405]

He could also go into WWE producing and talent relations, like Billy Kidman has.

[@dandoorhanger]

Matt Riddle was on the indies with a few guys in AEW, in places like EVOLVE, so I think it depends on what relationships he may have built at that time. With his personality, I’m not quite sure how people took to him.

[@trippytradingcards7852]

I was out with the painted nails

[@gm2998]

A few? He wrestled with almost half of AEW roster in CZW, EVOLVE, Beyond and PWG. But yes, can't say about his relationships with them.

[@badladyami]

A drug-addled immature screwup will have no problem going to Jacksonville and befriending the other drug-addled immature screwups.

[@JobberJerry]

I wondered if anyone would mention this I think he will go to AEW I think he only failed for weed and that's not a big a deal really these days it's legal almost everywhere

[@ZzzzJesse24]

@@JobberJerryhe failed for cocaine

[@walterclark3198]

Cornette talking about Kurt Angle reminds me of that little run he had in Vince's ecw with that ecw mouth guard. It was similar to Bret Hart going to wcw.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

I would rather Ziggler, Benjamin, & Ali go to IMPACT than AEW honestly. I'm really ready for IMPACT to push against AEW for the #2 spot.

[@misterelom]

Even though Impact is looked at as wrestling purgatory to the majority of fans, I"m personally finding them enjoyable right now. Their booking makes way more sense than AEW's and they have some actual structure there. All 3 would fit in there but I wouldn't be surprised if Ziggler either goes to AEW with his brother or doesn't wrestle full time anymore.

[@Saddler1944]

I kinda hope Dolph and Benjamin go to AEW. They can Milk the Billionaires kid for a lot of money and all they have to do is one run in a month. Seems like a Kush gig for ageing Stars.

[@TheMrAlgoh]

I predict.. AEW = Ziggler, Riddle Impact = Shelton, Ali NWA = Riddick Moss, Boogs

[@jesuszamora6949]

@@misterelom I tuned out of Impact when they started pushing Tessa Blanchard as a men's competitor, are they reining in the nonsense now?

[@pendafen7405]

TNA RISE!!!!!!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@DannyBoy426]

Shelton Benjamin and Ali would be great additions to Impact.

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

What did they ever do to you?

[@projectgraham414]

Ali would be a great addition to Impact or NWA. If I'm Billy Corgan, I'm counting down the days

[@Kono_D._Oda]

​@@projectgraham414isn't that home to the shambling mound of waste named Tyrus?

[@projectgraham414]

@@Kono_D._Oda he's retired, they're healing lol

[@lolimadethisvid]

​@@Kono_D._Odayou mean the guy who retired after losing the NWA heavyweight title? L take

[@CaliNative510]

I find it hilarious how Jim sighs when he hears a wrestler’s name he despises 😂

[@guaromiami]

He sighs all the time.

[@klawstecno2083]

Ziggler will be in AEW for sure, because Tony will not lose the opportunity to use this to push Ryan Nemeth and reward him for his altercation with CM Punk, and the AEW Marks will love this.

[@deathproofpony]

It's funny that you're so obsessed with AEW marks.

[@wilcee238]

FACTS

[@wilcee238]

Darkstard don’t start with me today. Just run along.

[@badladyami]

@@darkstars-torpedoes-of-truth Did you find a job yet, defect? By the way, obsessing about Donald Trump and furries does not count as a valid vocation.

[@Jarulara]

@@wilcee238console war nerds basically

[@sbz88]

There's rumors about Edge being close to going to AEW. Oh joy. Look forward to seeing him and Christian wrestle what's left of the Hardy Boyz. 🥱 Erasing months of great heel work by Christian just to feed the nostalgia marks. Tony Khan 101.

[@klawstecno2083]

Can you imagine Edge and Christian working a program with The Young Bucks? It's only on my imagination and i already feel bad.

[@TheFailedmessiah]

I can definitely sew Christian talking to Edge and saying this shit is easy money. This money Mark Tony Kahn is easy you'll work 4 matches a year and get PAID. I think Edge will be tempted. Also they'll do the nostalgia act. Hardys vs Edge and Christian and the Bucks will realize that Edge and Christian were the biggest tag team at one point. I see the bucks being very interested.

[@ralph8677]

If this happens, I imagine it would only be a matter of time before Tony signs a blank check to bring in the Dudleys. I could see Tony salivating over booking a TLC match in 2024, but hopefully E&C & the Dudleys would be smart enough to shoot that idea down (the Hardy's would absolutely be for it, though).

[@robertnapier624]

I’m sure Edge would rather spend time with Beth phoenix and their children than go to aew.

[@userjim83]

We’ve seen this movie before. AEW will sign a few of em, they’ll get a pop and fade into the background within a month.

[@yusufgazi7]

Elias, Mustafa Ali, and Matt Riddle had so much more to do in WWE. Shelton Benjamin could’ve got a backstage job or just BRING THE HURT BUSINESS BACK

[@roachasaurus2020]

You can tell Corny skipped through all the vignettes where Elias was walking everywhere

[@grud8495]

I feel WWE didn't give Dolph the spotlight he deserved. The guy was an A player through and through. Went with everything they threw at him. They guy has so much skill, he's one of the few they had that could actually legitimately reach top levels. Dolph could have done what Daniel Brian did. Face of the people, the underdog.

[@newbichote7178]

He should of use that Dolph “The Spotlight he Deserved” Ziegler

[@primitivehorde537]

Didn't Triple H have a problem with him cause he thought he was trying to be the next Shawn Michaels?

[@Markleadguitar]

I feel bad if anyone ends up in AEW. They'll get a big debut pop and then have a disjointed, start-stop push for 3 weeks and then they'll end up on Rampage or Collision fighting with jobbers. No one from WWE has been booked properly on AEW, and the closest is maybe Danielson, who should've been their world champion 2 years ago.

[@raveoreynolds6049]

By 'booked properly' you mean, 'wins all the time'? But by all means, continue painting a company not hotshotting new employees over the existing ones, as a negative.

[@kinginthenorth1437]

I don't know. AEW and Flop Dollar seem perfect for each other.

[@mikawhofan]

​it's a negative. Because like so many said "Tony is a kid playing wrestling federation "

[@Justin-bo5pg]

​@raveoreynolds6049 how about puts them on television at all?

[@DisastrousIntentionally]

Jon Moxley is from WWE, probably the only exception to what you said.

[@ReverseSkeleton]

I don't know what this video is gonna be about, but I'm laughing REALLY hard because I really hope that art is about TopDolla lmfao

[@wombwellred8574]

I want a Corny Christmas Carrols album and/or a deep dive on all of his angelic singing 😂😂😂

[@johnnygrind77]

I can see Adeel Alam (Mustafa Ali) going to AEW since he's an Illinois guy with parents from the middle east like TK. He pretty much fits the bill like Corny said that he's a smaller guy who flies all over the place. I personally liked him and hope wherever he goes and whatever he does that he's happy n healthy.

[@1stKindChris]

He doesn't fly that much.... even going back to the cruiserweight classic

[@badladyami]

The fact that he's from Illinois is now mostly irrelevant, since Tony killed his biggest market there.

[@johnnygrind77]

@@badladyami Hey, I'm from Philly and the location where AEW has their shows can literally kill you. Seems like they like massacring their audiences! I mean, they show Mox doing it to himself week after week haha All jokes aside, you do have a very valid point.

[@teecakes]

​@johnnygrind77 yup. They were in Moxley's hometown Cincinnati and the arena was half-empty for his main event singles match for the IN title on Dynamite.

[@valeriye5018]

Since when Pakistan is considered Middle East lmao? It's South-Eastern Asia But yeah, both his and TK roots are from Pakistan

[@joeytocd]

“He has trouble getting over.” 😂😂

[@edgarmalone7694]

Jim Cornette is so real that he could do stand up somewhere

[@williamthomas5215]

I’d be interested to hear Jim respond to Eric Bugenhagen’s (aka Rick Boogz) comments on his release. They were interesting. He basically inferred that Vince wasn’t in power in creative anymore and due to that, and some dislike for him by some executives, he was let go. I’ve followed Eric for almost a decade since before he started training in WWE. He’s extremely interesting and has a KZbin channel under his name. He seems like an extremely genuine and real guy so these comments from him carry a little more weight, I would say.

[@jesuszamora6949]

Well, it's hardly a secret that Vince is more a figurehead at this point, but yeah, I imagine there's more than a few people who are happy as all hell to clean up the mess he made in his later years of power.

[@12ozmouse99]

Boogs’ gimmick was pretty weak, but it’s hard to deny that he has a certain charisma. Pair that with his size and absolutely beastly strength, it seems like WWE missed an opportunity. Same with Riddick Moss, there is something there. I’m holding out hope that someone will eventually decide to bring them back.

[@Sky_Blaze]

HHH and VINCE suck andall the people that's been in the business running this shit for so long are out of touch. I wouldn't have kept boogz cause his run sucks..but wverything in that company and in aew suck!! Why people going to keep ignoring ALL OF IT SUCKS

[@scottmicken9793]

They really fucked up with ric. His gimmick was awful they just took a portion of his mad persona and ran with that instead of letting him just be himself and be more real. I know Jim's slated his in ring work before, but the guy was a legit college wrestler. He had the size, strength, charisma and he can talk but he never got to show it

[@XombieLejon66]

​@jesuszamora6949 Vince McPalpatine is anything *but* a figurehead. No matter how much power you think Triple Paul has, Vince is that Phantom menace that pulls all the strings and has ultimate final say on the company. That was one of the requirements for the TKO deal.

[@TheBorwig]

I think Impact would be a great option for some of these folks

[@CreatureOTNight]

Thats akin to saying their better off swallowing a 9mm bullet ejecting from the rear of their cranium.

[@judyhopps9380]

"Donald Zeigler? What's he doing in the impact zone?!"

[@ReactwithRespect-i5i]

​@@CreatureOTNightgo for it

[@richardsmith9615]

@@judyhopps9380 "Oh my god! That's... That's Lund Dolphgren!" *3 people start enthusiastically clapping*

[@jesuszamora6949]

They'd get paid a decent enough wage and not have to embarass themselves by putting Pockets over. Get your game up, impress the E and try to get back in.

[@NerdieTurtle]

Brian pronouncing the NXT/Developmental talent had me dying

[@danielburger1775]

If only...

[@mjdf122]

Shelton Benjamin would do well in AEW IMPACT MLW NWA or ROH

[@robchuk4136]

Like always, these are all understandable releases. I don't think AEW 'needs' any of em, but Mustafa Ali might get better love because he'd put on great matches with the folks over there. And I'd be thrilled to see Dolph Ziggler using his talent working under a name that isn't damn "Dolph Ziggler."

[@TD1021-]

Yea all those releases were just a trimming of the fat. People that were takin up space in catering that just weren't needed n won't be missed

[@leaderofatrueschool3]

He’d most likely go by Nic Namath and team with his brother Ryan since he’s already in AEW

[@reginaldshort8486]

Benjamin and Dolph would be better in Impact than AEW simply because they won’t be punished for being good workers. Odds are AEW goes after Riddle

[@whitemamba0089]

Would be interesting to see him with a different gimmick

[@reginaldshort8486]

@@whitemamba0089 Riddle wouldn’t need a gimmick he’s a legit stoner and dumb as a box of rocks.

[@soultheinterrogator]

Dolph Ziggler was one of my favorite wrestlers on that list. He was so misused. They pushed him to the moon and back to the earth at an astronomical speed. I'm worried he will go to AEW and become a face in the crowd like Jake Hager.

[@onyxsylvian]

He can also team with his brother, Ryan Nemeth and they could make an interesting team

[@fabian4023]

I'm near the end of the video and just now realizing that it's Top Dolla's manatee skeleton in the crawl space. 🤣

[@SamcroSon]

Unexpected Queen of the Damned references was not on my list of things Corny was pulling out of his ass today 😂

[@maskedsuperstar7601]

A segment of wrestling twitter will complain no matter what WWE does. Bloated roster? Complain. Release talent not being used or getting main tv time? Complain. Everyone not being WWE Champion? Complain. Sign Jade? Complain. Now if I'm Impact, I make offers to Shelton, Dolph, Emma, Moss and Ali as those are the main five to sign, especially now that Callihan (thankfully) and PCO are gone. Riddle needs to step away from wrestling and get his life together. Aliyah has gotten into equestrian contests over past year. Quincy Elliott: shouldve been fired 10 months ago when he got busted on his burner account trashing his colleagues. Will not be missed. Boogs: Quickly becoming Ryback 2.0 and not in a good way. Elias: He was hurt the most by crowdless shows as it exposed the gimmick needed the live crowd interaction on concerts. Dana: Funny how wrestling twitter suddenly became her biggest fans after trashing her in-ring work for years. Ikeman: probably going back to Japan. Dabba-Kato: writing was on the wall when Tyler Bate pinned him clean couple weeks ago. Yulissa: she's been gracious, thanking the company and saying she requested her release. Top Dollar: I commend him for losing all that weight but he'll be remembered for his botch and being called Uncle Phil by LA Knight. Shanky: I personally liked Shanky but not being on tv since last July was telling. At least he went out in a slugfest against Gunther in India a couple weeks ago. MMM: writing was on the wall when Maxxine was paired w/Alpha Academy. That said, in sports terms, WWE made a big splash in free agency by signing Jade. And not to sound mean, reality is none of those released will generate the same buzz/headlines that Jade did.

[@Klusterfunk]

When Brian says “TOP DOLLA” corny just laughs 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@squiddmann6319]

AEW will not care that half these people are not over with the fans, Tony only cares if they can get the crowd to chant we want tables and can put them in friendship gimmicks

[@samoanjoseph1457]

I refuse to believe they didn't know Ikeman Jiro for the simple reason that would mean they never made fun of Jacket Time. And everyone did that.

[@ducklife420]

Impact could make a power play

[@relltilly]

Dana and Ali were making main roster money on NXT.

[@jonathanbohm6489]

Can’t wait until he hears about Jade

[@wildnight8776]

So Kevin Owens was right about Ezekiel all along!!!

[@jamesgroover4643]

Riddle would do great in a new Encino Man ✌️✌️✌️

[@kingsportsone1010]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@pendafen7405]

wEeze the JU-Uice!

[@jasonfisher0317]

Case in point: Chris Jericho being talked about on NBA Twitter some time back 7:57

[@FerretJohn]

AEW doesn't need Talent, they have Talent, the management just doesn't know how to USE the Talent.

[@Saddler1944]

Oh come on now AEW knows it's totally worth it to sign a guy for a lot of money. Just to have him do a run in and get a HUGE pop from a 25% filled arena.

[@FirstLast-yh7gj]

Elias was on the indies but you might as well say he was brought up in WWE he didn't really do anything beforehand

[@JUYAN16]

This is the perfect time for Madcap/Riddick Moss to go somewhere else and rebrand himself.

[@kidray7818]

Nick and Ryan Nemeth could be a great tag team just off of Dolph talent

[@pleaseshutup7053]

They need to feud against each other first Ryan be mad dolph never assisted him or told the world he had a brother

[@awzthemusicalreviews]

​@@pleaseshutup7053You just know AEW would have them do a stand-up comedy version of the old pose-offs

[@MikeRosadoGaming]

Why does the thumbnail give me Scooby Doo vibes?... Weird... Must be the flashlight.

[@WyattHolliday]

Matt Riddle would be one of my favorite wrestlers ever if he went to AEW, snorted up all of Tony’s stash, and then beat up the Bucks and Jungle Boy.

[@FirstLast-yh7gj]

Riddle is actually pretty good

[@acealexandermccloud2024]

To be fair at one point Elias was getting LA knight pops to the point he was in the main event on raw once and it was a gimmick match but he went over like a monster baby face…then in like two weeks he was turning heel and doing jobs

[@lcummings5287]

Shelton just wasn't used and appreciated the way he should've been. Jim Ross. Jim Cornette and many others have all called him the best athlete once he stepped into any pro wrestling locker room or ring. Personally one of my top five favorites. He, Randy Orton and Chad Ganle may be the most natural pro wrestlers ever in my opinion. And then there's Mustafa Ali. First off give respect to him being a former Chicago cop. I was in law enforcement in chicago for 7 years. It deserves respect. He also had talent. Both would be very interesting picks for AEW.

[@zlinedavid]

2 time NCAA All American, NJCAA National Champion in both wrestling and the 100 meters in track. Dude’s amateur resume a speaks for itself, let alone what he did as a pro.

[@robertnapier624]

Mustard Ali was a Cop?

[@chaka1061]

@@robertnapier624Yup, I think he posted it on ig. He also made fun of Chicago for all of the violence. As a Chicagoan I can confirm that this place is indeed awful in certain areas.

[@LimaKiloRomeo]

If Dolph ever wrestled anywhere else, he could just go by his real name 🤷🏿‍♂️. I wish guys like him, Benjamin, hell even guys like Mark Henry & Big Show came along during the territory days so they could truly blossom in the wrestling business.

[@mjdf122]

Mustafa Ali would do well in AEW IMPACT MLW NWA or ROH

[@mxes5938]

I'm just here for the Manatee

[@bradpaton3927]

If Matt Riddle is ALL Elite, Bro, I wanna see him wrestle Daniel Bryan before he retires.

[@christhornycroft3686]

I would say Tony Khan would pick these guys up, but after how CM Punk was received in AEW, I think he and his EVPs will be unlikely to want to bring in guys who might have a different perspective on wrestling. We're almost seeing in 2023 what happened between WWF and WCW, only accelerated. Starting in 1994, WCW went on a tear, signing as many older ex-WWF stars as they could to huge contracts. Granted, they'd done that to a smaller degree already with guys like Rick Rude in the early 90s. At least WCW had the NWO. AEW, like WCW, hasn't been able to figure out what to do with ex-WWE guys and worse, they don't even have a group like the NWO that captures the imagination of people culturally. Wrestling was a cultural phenomenon in the 90s. Now, it's a niche thing for nerds.

[@asurlybarber3620]

And it ain't the kind of thing that attracts girl nerds, either. You see female Star Wars and Final Fantasy fans here and there, but AEW shows are pretty much sausage fests.

[@badladyami]

@@asurlybarber3620 All sausages, and most will never find a bun without drugging it, first.

[@Jarulara]

@@asurlybarber3620lol have you been outside?

[@juicyfartsofjimcornette1154]

@@Jarulara - Have you been inside a 13th letter 15th letter 18th letter 7th letter 21st letter 5th letter? Because that is where you will end up, Tony Khan addict!

[@drg5352]

That's a good point. After the CM Punk issue, and word most certainly spreading around the industry about what really happened, will those exiled WWE stars risk AEW? More importantly, when the Elite are still EVPs? I'd go to Impact or MLW or NJPW, or hell NWA long before I'd go to AEW.

[@markabboud4855]

I wanna see Moshpit Jones

[@LawrenceW78]

Mustafa Ali has Impact Wrestling written all over him, I can see him challenging Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship

[@cryptomnesiac]

The Sisters of Mercy's version of Emma is great, was just listening to it earlier

[@pendafen7405]

Gods, I miss classic old-school goth.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Man they were such a great band. Vision Thing is one of the great albums that came out of the late 80’s/early 90’s.

[@shadowwinland6116]

Comparing top dolla to Uncle Phil from fresh Prince was priceless😅

[@AWX_Wrestling]

Uncle Phil would have whipped Flop Dolla's ass.

[@zlinedavid]

“Who’s hotta than Top Dolla? A lotta lotta! YEAH!”

[@Will_kid_cortez]

​@@AWX_Wrestlingdamn straight always drop kicking Jazz every week, Phil would be ready 😂

[@gavrielchaya2796]

Shelton Benjamin was very good between 2002-2008 Dolph was very good as well

[@vonVile]

- Tenille Dashwood - re-signs with Impact - Riddick Moss - Impact being Tenille's fiance - Mustafa Ali - Impact. He'll be lost in AEW just like WWE - Elias - Impact. - Rick Boogs - Impact. Hoss types will waste their time in AEW like Wardlow and Hobbs - Shelton Benjamin - Impact. Have him join Kenny King and Sheldon Jean. Bring back the Beat Down Clan (aka the original Hurt Business). - Flop Dolla - AEW. Can reunite with Swerve. - Dolph Ziggler - AEW to tag will his brother.

[@phabiorules]

I could see Elias going to AEW and being in a stable with pockets.

[@ArtLeeThree]

Where do you see impact getting all this money?

[@robertnapier624]

Correction: Flop Dolla - no matter where he goes he’ll never go over the top rope.

[@QAZ-OMEN]

Ali has a good chance of getting over in aew or impact

[@gman2015z]

Matt Riddle’s match vs Roman on Smackdown was the best Riddle match imo.

[@jaimeperez8486]

Tag Riddle up with RVD. A vet like RVD might can get another run. Start them in a feud with Nemeth bros. Stones vs Preps.

[@JaculaDudek]

Only guy i could be sad about being released is Dabba-Kato or Babatunde if you will. He was the best option for Poland to become our ambasador, the big star in WWE, especially since he is a giant, he is exotic in terms of ethnicity (polish&nigerian, Afro-Polish as we called him)... Oh well. Sad.

[@XombieLejon66]

If any wrestling company ever decides to sign Flop Dolla. I hope they give him a Shockmaster-style entrance. Hell, at wrestling cons, have him sign autographs next to Fred Ottman.

[@Jackalblade9]

....I'm sold on Top Dollar going to AEW now. I want to see him on all three of their shows.

[@johnnywonderful7951]

Rick Flair, Stone Cold .. and MJF Such praise 😂

[@jayduncan758]

Who ever gets the Velveteen Dream who can single-handedly save professional wrestling.

[@plannein]

I don't understand how the non-compete clause even applies if the company releases them from their contract. Doesn't make any sense to me. Kinda fucked up, legally.

[@whynotbrosay]

Mansoor unironically should go the streaming route consider his history with the HWNDU event if he still some ball to go all out again.

[@nabilanwar3625]

Dolph Ziggler will definitely go to AEW because his brother is there. Shelton Benjamin probably not. He has more of a structured wrestling mindset. Matt Riddle is a 50-50 chance. He apparently has worked with all the friends that are currently in AEW

[@mutibillonaire]

My best spots for the biggest Dolph Ziggler-AEW Matt Riddle-Back To MMA Shelton Benjamin-Impact Wrestling Mustafa Ali-Impact Wrestling

[@bl00dkillz]

Dana white don't want matt riddle even though it's same parent company now

[@vonVile]

@@bl00dkillz Bellator.

[@streetdog75]

I don't watch MMA at all, but would Riddle even be competitive after his years off?

[@BagYourHoe]

Spoken like a true casual, riddle is almost 40 and hasn't fought in a decade, and bellator is being bought out by the PFL

[@DannyHBHH]

Imagine in that ring introduction Making her way to the ring from wherever she’s from. She just happens to be a wrestler Aaliyah.

[@mikem10481]

I think WWE would hire Riddle back again once he gets his personal life and problems together. With Ziggler, he has other interests outside WWE, but if he goes to AEW, I think he'll just be another name within weeks.

[@akgstone]

Riddle, Elias, Boogs, Ziggler and Ali no doubt would make me watch AEW. In fact if they picked up Drew since he's rumored to leave that would be huge too

[@andisuge]

AEW needs the Grayson Waller rub. The only way those pieces of 💩 become relevant again.😂😂😂

[@ducklife420]

Boogs is the man

[@Bunterino]

@@PEYTONTHEPROTAGONIST I forgot about that run. boy that was fucking awful television

[@pleaseshutup7053]

You Lyin

[@akgstone]

@@PEYTONTHEPROTAGONIST Haha that was probably one of the worst, if not worst stables ever. I don't blame the failure of it on Ali entirely though, his stable mates were awful. Ali should have been given that hacker gimmick they teased and ended. It would have been interesting.

[@embe9322]

Trying to figure out what Abduele abduele a-Body Fitzgerald is will forever be in my mind lmaoo

[@benjaminheld3874]

Abdul "The Body" Fitzgerald is probably the greatest wrestling name I've ever heard. 😂😂😂

[@TheMadmage]

I am going to miss LA Knight and Michael Cole shitting on Top Dolla. Riddick Moss and Emma just suddenly dropped from the face of the earth when they were finally doing something with Moss. Hope they get an opportunity in Impact. Boogs screams potential and hopefully gets a chance elsewhere. Dolph was probably let go because of his salary and him being barely used at this point. He could easily be a guy who works with main eventers anywhere but he needs to change things up. He's been the same character for a long time. Shelton is a notch below Ziggler due to age but can still go. Riddle needs to get his personal life in order. Hopefully he can get that done and return to prominence. He's very talented in the ring and he has a character unlike a lot of the indy flipper #453. MMM was a joke gimmick with a very low ceiling and they are better off doing something different elsewhere. Dabo Kato and Shanky were barely featured and that tells me they probably couldn't do much in the ring and redundant with Omos and Strowman (despite being injured) being around.

[@zacharytaylor3399]

Riddle was a great athlete.

[@sladewilder]

calling it now, Matt Riddle debuts as a secret partner for RVD and they go by the name "Whole F'n Bros" or something

[@Hypno_BPM]

Last missed an opportunity to remind Jim that Emma was with Santino doing the goofy dance 😂. imagine you and your fiancé getting fired on the same day

[@MeNoSpeakJibberish]

Tony will sign Riddle so he has someone new to smoke with 😂

[@jesterr7133]

When you look at the releases, there is a lot for AEW to take a look at. I think Riddle, Ziggler, and Ali will debut as soon as their non competes are up. Riddle and Ali were indie stars before WWE, and Ziggler will be extremely popular with that audience, on top of the fact that his brother is already there. Shelton Benjamin and Elias are wild cards. Benjamin would be a good fit, but he will have a lot of options, so it depends on what he wants to do at this stage of his career. Elias may not fit from an in ring perspective, but he is highly charismatic and was under utilized in WWE, which will likely get him over with that audience. Boogs and Moss are worth a look as well. Boogs has a lot of personality, and Moss could be a diamond in the rough.

[@moaziz23]

basically all of them should go to AEW and get lost in the shuffle. Riddle might go to AEW. Ali might not wrestle. Ziggler might retire. Shelton will be back in WWE in a backstage capacity. Elias may go to the indies or TNA. Boogs may end up in NWA. Moss might also end up in AEW

[@marvinleong5902]

I can see Shelton return to WWE as PC coach

[@AWX_Wrestling]

Flop Dolla defeats EC3 for the NWA title under the name Tyrus Jr.

[@steveg2251]

Time someone took a closer look at Vince's contracts. These don't look like proper independent contractor paperwork. I'd question the legality of the clauses given his restraints on other things.

[@Dbanks700]

At the 7 min mark I can relate with Jim if they isn’t in the wwe I don’t know them 8:38

[@KD_SWAGGER]

I expect many of these releases to be in AEW, Impact, NWA or ROH by the spring of 2024.

[@carriedunn950]

Moshpit Jones would be a great name tbh

[@jasonfisher0317]

Jim and Brian aren't even getting paid for these FREE NAMES... Fuck Colin Thomson

[@Getwright-]

Dolph should just switch to doing stand up(maybe open up a comedy club), Shelton should start coaching college wrestling (get a couple more national titles under his belt), and Riddle should open up a dispensary (and try not to use up all his product) -everyone else should just go to AEW

[@EricMentore]

Some Talents We'll see in other Promotions and Some Will Carry on with Other Endeavours

[@pendafen7405]

The time has come. TNA RISE🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥