Published: Feb 3, 2026 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: Feb 3, 2026 by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE
A former WWE star has confirmed their current free agent status, having parted ways with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
A WWE star from 2016 until his release in November 2021, Shane Haste (fka Shane Thorne & Slapjack in WWE) would head to NJPW, becoming IWGP Tag Team Champion and two-time NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions with Mikey Nicholls (FKA Nick Miller in WWE).
Haste recently shared a recent video on Twitter, referencing TMDK Ronin and featuring the message:
“You must understand that there is not just one single way to reach the top of the mountain.”
Haste would provide further insight into the cryptic message, suggesting a redefinition of his free agent status, tweeting:
“I was prolly a little too cryptic with this post but “free agent” sounded too fancy pants for me 🧐
“Maybe I should have gone with “funemployed” 😅”
Shane Thorne was called up to the WWE main roster in March 2020 and would go on to be repackaged as Slapjack in the short-lived Retribution faction.
With Retribution disbanded, he would transfer to SmackDown in April the following year, but would only compete in dark matches before his release in November.
I was prolly a little too cryptic with this post but "free agent" sounded too fancy pants for me 🧐
Maybe I should have gone with "funemployed" 😅 https://t.co/3OQQduejDx
— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) February 1, 2026
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