Mike Kanellis Explains Why WWE Refused To Release Him

Mike Kanellis requested to be released from WWE on October 14, but unfortunately for him, Vince and his officials were in no mood to let him go, despite the fact he’s been booked like a joke.

The request came soon after he signed a 5-year deal with the company, and many have criticised him for signing it if he wasn’t happy in his position.

Kanellis has spoken to the Smarks and Stripes podcast about why he wasn’t granted his release.

“As far as not giving me my release, I think it’s like anywhere. Like, the Patriots aren’t going to trade or release a player that they think the Jets are going to pick up. And I think we have to think of it like that. It’s not a negative, it’s just how it works. It works in sports, it works in wrestling.”

It appears that WWE may be softening up regarding releases, as it appears Oney Lorcan may have been released after he posed with famously independent wrestler David Starr while wearing and “Independent” t-shirt.

Jordan Myles was recently let go from his contract, but WWE had very little choice after the former NXT star accused the promotion of racism.

Kanellis also went into detail about why he asked for his release in the first place.

“It was all personal. It had nothing to do with the company. From the minute I got to WWE, they treated me, my wife, and my daughter great. When I came out and said I had an addiction, there was no negativity from anybody, just constant support. For me, personally, having been almost two and a half years sober, it got to the point where I reflected on my past and what I did. It became very hard for me to reflect on the fact that I blew four years of my life doing drugs.

“Now, I felt like my mind was clear, my head was clear, and I just wanted to work. I just want to wrestle. I feel like I can do and have my best matches right now. It’s extremely difficult when there are so many people on the roster and you just don’t get that opportunity. Everybody wants to come at me negatively — I’m not mad at anybody. I’m genuinely not. If WWE called me tomorrow and said, ‘We’re going to put you on TV,’ I’d do it. I’m not mad. I just want to work and I want to work a lot. It’s incredibly difficult for me to go on social media and preach, ‘You have to work hard, you have to work your ass off,’ and then not do it myself. I’ve always been a worker. I’ll go wherever that opportunity exists.

“There are so many talented guys on the roster right now. I’m not saying I’m not or that I wouldn’t be a good fit. What I’m saying is, if those guys are getting the opportunity and doing their job and are successful at it, then [WWE] won’t be looking for ‘next man up.’ There’s no need. You hope that you’re ready if someone goes down. Wrestling right now is loaded with talent. It’s the best I’ve ever seen in any company. My opportunity hasn’t existed. I’m 34; I have 10 or 12 years left in me. I don’t want to waste them.”

Thanks to Fightful and Smarks & Stripes for the quotes.

• Mike Kanellis
• Release
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