David Otunga is still signed to a WWE contract, but hasn’t actually worked a match for the promotion since July 2015. Since then he has worked on commentary for WWE, and also served as a kickoff show panel member.
On his ARN podcast, AEW manager Arn Anderson spoke about why WWE didn’t do more with David Otunga. Arn also suggested a potential reason why Vince McMahon decided not to release the former Nexus member:
I don’t think he got enough reps to see what he was capable of. He looked as good as anybody. He was a handsome guy and a pleasant guy. He had a lot of class about himself. If my opinion matters, and I never heard this said in closed doors, but, I think in the back of Vince’s mind that Jennifer Hudson was going to sing the National Anthem at WrestleMania at some point. No disrespect to David, but that was the goal and to keep David happy during that period, because you’re talking about a coup for WrestleMania, how big would that have been? I’m sure if that was ever presented to her people, they said something along the lines of ‘Jennifer, you are a worldwide pop star. You are as hot as anybody on earth. You don’t need to be involved in wrestling. I get that your husband is trying his hand at that. You are somewhere else in some other stratosphere.’”
For those that don’t know, David Otunga was formerly married to Jennifer Hudson. The pair started dating in 2008, and were engaged that year. After several years together, the pair split in 2017. They also have a son together, aged 11.
It’s important to stress that Arn Anderson isn’t reporting this to be the real reason why David Otunga is still under contract and hasn’t been fired. This is merely speculation on his part, but is certainly an interesting theory.
Thanks to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
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