Roman Reigns

Some stories have gone on for so long that they begin to take on a life of their own. It’s starting to feel like The Rock vs. Roman Reigns has reached such mythical status.

Over the last few years, the hope for a dream match featuring the two WWE superstars has reached a fever pitch.

As of today, it’s hard to remember when the suggestion for the match even originated. Nevertheless, it becomes a talking point ahead of WrestleMania just about every year. Of course, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see why WWE would like to see these two generational stars face off on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

This unparalleled marquee matchup is the type of promotional tool the company used to build its biggest pay-per-view event of the year. It would undoubtedly draw millions of views and generate more ticket sales, but is it really possible at this point?

One could argue that the possibility of one last match from the most successful crossover star in pro wrestling history has become a white whale. Sure, The Rock has said he is open to it, and Reigns is the perfect opponent for this generation for several reasons. However, when do we start discussing whether that window is closing?

As the saying goes, never say never when it comes to wrestling. We’ve seen much more seemingly improbable outcomes come to fruition in 2022 alone. After all, Stone Cold Steve Austin wrestled in the main event of The Show of Shows in April following his retirement in 2003.

So, The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment could still step into the ring again to take on The Tribal Chief. Many believe it will happen at SoFi Stadium next year as WWE returns to Hollywood. For now, let's break down the timeline of this ongoing rumor and the most recent updates.

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An Idea That Blossomed Into An Inevitability To Some

As far as we can tell, the fantasy book for this star-studded match tracks back to 2018 when rumors surfaced online ahead of WrestleMania 35. Supposedly, The Rock was set to return, win the Royal Rumble, and challenge Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at the event.

In December, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter debunked this claim as an unsubstantiated rumor. According to the respected pro wrestling historian, the company planned to book the match even before Reigns went public with his leukemia diagnosis. He later confirmed that it was "not true at all” on the F4WOnline message board.

The Big Dog eventually made his triumphant return on the Feb. 25, 2019, episode of Raw and went on to wrestle Drew McIntyre at The Showcase of the Immortals. Still, the excitement around an encounter with The Brahma Bull didn’t die down. In fact, it ramped back up ahead of the next road to ‘Mania season.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to shut down, and WWE had to host its iconic event in an empty arena for the first time in the history of the company. Even more, Reigns pulled out of the show amid a build toward a clash with Goldberg at Raymond James Stadium. As a result, the Samoan star went on a five-month hiatus.

During that time, The Rock sparked interest in the dream match again. He seemed optimistic when asked about it as a part of a Q&A on Instagram Live.

"I think anything is possible," he said (h/t Kellie Haulotte of Wrestling Inc). "Sure, of course, I'm always open. That's the cool thing about professional wrestling: There is an adaptability to wrestling. You never say never in the world of pro wrestling.”

"You never say never to Vince McMahon, who has been one of my mentors in the business for a very long time. Very, very close friend and confidant. You never say 'no.' For something like that to happen, I think the venue would have to be right. The business model would have [to] be right. But I'm very close with Roman—he's family to me, so we will see."

An All-Time Great Character Change Adds Credence to Rumors

The rest–as they say–is history. Reigns came back to WWE at SummerSlam 2020 and surprisingly turned heel. The long-awaited character change turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to him. His transformation into The Tribal Chief will eventually go down as one of the best reinventions of all time.

It’s impossible to discount how much his shift into The Head of Table upped the ante for fans hoping to see him finally wrestle another famous member of the Anoa’i family. Now, this blockbuster matchup had a compelling reason for them to go head-to-head to match its hype and potential drawing power.

On Feb. 15, 2020, WWE announced that Hollywood would be the destination for The Greatest Spectacle in Sports Entertainment the following year. That seemed an ideal venue for this showdown.

According to WrestleTalk, the company hoped The Rock would return in late 2020 to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania next year. However, that would depend “on a variety of factors, including COVID and Rock’s movie schedule.”

In December of the same year, WrestlingNews.co reported that Vince McMahon didn’t think “that WrestleMania 37 would be the time for the match to happen.” Their source said the former CEO didn’t “know how many fans will be allowed to attend the show," adding: "He definitely wants fans there, and we will probably have to implement social distancing, but he would rather wait until WrestleMania 38 if Rock wants to do it, but we can’t do the show in [Los Angeles].”

On Jan. 16, 2021, The Granddaddy of Them All relocated to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fl. As a result, the event occurred at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, this year and was booked for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, for 2023.

Ultimately, the highly sought-after leading man’s busy schedule didn’t permit him to participate in the festivities. In November 2021, he told Andrew Freund there was no truth to the rumors of an upcoming match at WrestleMania 38 during an interview with Dish Nation to promote Red Notice.

That didn’t stop fans from continuing to get their hopes up as WWE promoted Survivor Series as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Rock's debut at the event. Nevertheless, viewers quickly became disappointed when he didn’t make an appearance at the show. Instead, we got some bizarre segments featuring a golden egg as a promotional tie-in for his aforementioned Netflix film.

In February, Meltzer reported that “the idea for next year's event at SoFi Stadium is to have Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson vs. Roman Reigns and Ronda Rousey vs. Becky Lynch as its two big showcase matches.”

The sitcom based on Johnson’s life, Young Rock, even made light of the dream match and gave fans a new tease in April. Meanwhile, Meltzer reiterated that The People’s Champ vs. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champions is “100 percent the plan.”

For now, we will have to wait and see if this highly anticipated match finally ensues as WWE hosts its first WrestleMania in Hollywood since 2005. This certainly isn’t the last time you’ll hear about it.

Can social media personality Logan Paul roll into Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and do what no professional wrestler has been able to for the last two years: defeat Roman Reigns and become the Undisputed WWE Universal champion?

It is the question on the minds of wrestling fans ahead of Saturday's Crown Jewel premium live event, in which Paul will compete in just his third match against the top star in the industry.

On the surface, he does not belong there. Even with the massive promotional machine behind him, he's a celebrity with two matches to his name who is now challenging and, potentially knocking off, Reigns. It's a tough sell.

But we have seen Paul exceed expectations at just about every stop in his partnership with WWE, particularly between the ropes. What happens if he lands that one lucky punch and does the unthinkable?

Ahead of his shot at making history and turning the wrestling business upside down with a stunning victory over The Head of the Table, Paul sat down with Bleacher Report to talk about the match, his journey in WWE, a growing love for the art of pro wrestling and the man behind the over-the-top online personality.

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Video contains NSFW language.

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Paul Previews Crown Jewel

"I think this match is going to be the best, excuse me, one of the best WWE matches we have seen in a very long time. You have to make that conscious decision: Do you want to watch it live as it's happening in front of your face, or do you want to see it afterward, you wanna see the highlight reel? I don't know, but you ain't gonna want to miss this match."

Paul knows there is a palpable interest in his return to the squared circle for his first match since August's SummerSlam, where he battled self-proclaimed A-Lister, The Miz, and was praised across social media for his performance.

"Hell yeah, man!" he said when asked if he was surprised by the fans' response to the Nashville performance. "This might surprise you, but the reception to me online hasn't always been positive. I don't know if I’ve ever done anything in my life where pretty much everyone was like, 'Ahh…I might not like the kid, but that was good. That was good. You gotta respect it.'"

That match gave him the confidence to challenge the biggest star in the industry for the top prize in professional wrestling. "That's why I challenged Roman Reigns. I saw back what I can do, I liked it a lot and I said, 'why not just shoot for the best,' and I baited Roman Reigns into a fight."

The contest not only presents Paul with an opportunity to win the championship in just his third match in a WWE ring, but also highlight his blossoming love for the art of professional wrestling.

"As an outsider and someone who considers himself an artist, to now see the artistry of the sport, it's beautiful. I’m glued." He's not the only one. "Like, my family and friends by default will come to the matches and watch, and they love it. They love it because they can see the beauty in what we're creating. It's Broadway physicality and I love it."

Brother Jake, fresh off a victory over Anderson Silva to extend his unbeaten boxing record to 6-0, will accompany Logan to the squared circle in Saudi Arabia, per Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio. He will look to keep Reigns' Bloodline teammates at bay and ensure his brother has the fairest shot at shocking the world and pulling off one of the greatest upset wins in pro wrestling history.

A win would put him in a position to be the face of the wrestling industry's top promotion and a spokesman for the business, a role he has embraced.

"I started doing it and I'm like, which part of this is fake because all of this stuff hurts? These chairs are metal. Like, where are the plastic chairs? Like, there's no plastic chair factory. The chairs are metal, the table is a hard, rigid table. The ladders are ladders. Where's the fakeness in this sport?"

Paul admits that beyond the loudness, glitz and glamour of the Hollywood lifestyle that he portrays for millions across his social media platforms, he is an introvert who relishes the opportunity to decompress and step out of the spotlight, something fans of WWE may not realize about the celebrity who has stepped off the red carpet and into the squared circle. "I'm a simple guy who lives a relatively simple life. I just work my f--king ass off."

The charismatic young star, who rose to fame first through social media platform Vine, then YouTube, credits his development as an in-ring performer over the course of his first two matches to former WWE Superstar and current official Shane Helms.

"He's constantly sending me stuff to watch. I told him, 'Dude, I'm a sponge, I'm a student. I have no ego, send me whatever you want,' and we exchange texts about what he thinks I can do, what I think I can do and how we can incorporate it into a match, so I do have to give credit to Shane Helms because he's been instrumental in helping me understand the nuances of the sport."

That hard work has him prepared to not only stand across the ring from the most dominant Superstar in WWE over the last two years in Roman Reigns, earn a major payday and see himself on the promotional materials for the 2022 edition of the company’s Crown Jewel extravaganza, but also beat The Tribal Chief and become, arguably, the most improbable world champion of all time.

"He's underestimating me and it's going to be the biggest mistake of his life."

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Paul-Reigns Analysis

There is a certain spectacle about Paul challenging Reigns that WWE is very aware of. The social media maven is controversial, and to borrow a phrase from Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff, controversy creates cash.

Paul is a major celebrity, recognizable around the world. The princes in Saudi Arabia know him, like him and wanted him to be part of the event, per Meltzer. His involvement in WWE from day one was designed to attract new viewers to the product and create awareness among potential new fans.

The WWE fans know this. They also know he was brought in and given high-profile spots on the show, and in their minds, he has stolen the spotlight away from full-time wrestlers. To them, he is the latest part-timer to find exposure at the expense of their favorites.

The boos have been loud, and the keyboard warriors, eager to target WWE for relying on a celebrity to sell a big-time main event, have been critical of his involvement.

Personal preferences aside, to suggest Paul has not put in the work to be in this position would be irresponsible.

He was recently spotted training with Shawn Michaels, and one simply does not make the leap that he did from his WrestleMania 38 tag team match to the SummerSlam encounter with The Miz without being serious about the business and the quality of his performance.

The match with Reigns will be the greatest test of Paul's evolution as a performer and a telltale sign of how serious he is about his in-ring role. There is a certain level of expectation when it comes to The Tribal Chief, who, barring the Brock Lesnar series, has crafted a historic title run by delivering a series of bangers against opponents of all sizes and backgrounds.

If Paul shows up like he did in his previous in-ring outings, his words may prove prophetic and the match with The Tribal Chief may be one of the best Undisputed WWE Universal Championship matches in recent memory.

A stumble, on this stage and against that guy, could undo all the goodwill he has acquired based on his previous efforts.

Based on his body of work and the energy and focus he has exhibited in the lead-up to this match, there is reason to believe he is about to etch his name alongside the likes of Lawrence Taylor, Bad Bunny, Andy Kaufman and Stephen Amell as the best celebrity competitors in WWE history.

Reigns retains, obviously, but do not be surprised if the talk of the wrestling world Saturday afternoon is another expectations-exceeding performance from Paul.

WWE returns to Saudi Arabia for the latest Crown Jewel pay-per-view on Saturday, and the sports-entertainment giant is bringing a stacked card along with it.

Multiple championships will be on the line in Riyadh, including the undisputed WWE Universal Championship, which Roman Reigns will defend against Logan Paul in what will be the social media star's third pro wrestling match.

The Raw Women's Championship and both sets of tag team titles will also be on the line, plus a battle of behemoths will rock Mrsool Park when Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley clash for only the second time in a singles match.

Here's everything you need to know about when and how to watch Crown Jewel, as well as a full rundown of the match card and a closer look at the top bouts to watch.

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Where: Mrsool Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

When: Saturday, Nov. 5 at 12 p.m. ET

Watch: Peacock

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WWE Crown Jewel 2022 Match Card

• WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Logan Paul
• Raw Women's Championship Last Woman Standing Match: Bianca Belair (c) vs. Bayley
• Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley
• Steel Cage: Drew McIntyre vs. Karrion Kross
• WWE Tag Team Championships: The Usos (c) vs. The Brawling Brutes (Ridge Holland & Butch)
• WWE Women's Tag Team Championships: Asuka & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky)
• The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) vs. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio)
• Braun Strowman vs. Omos

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Top Crown Jewel Matches to Watch

Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley

Lesnar and Lashley have been two of the most dominant forces in WWE over the past few years, but something has to give at Crown Jewel.

In the only one-on-one meeting between the two men thus far, Lashley beat The Beast Incarnate for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble in January, but it was largely due to interference from Paul Heyman and Reigns.

There doesn't figure to be any outside involvement in Saturday's match, which will pave the way for Lesnar and Lashley to take the fight to each other.

They have already done precisely that during the build toward Crown Jewel, brawling on multiple episodes of Raw and leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

Lesnar vs. Lashley may not be a long match, but they figure to pack plenty of action into whatever amount of time they are given.

Regardless of who they face, Lesnar and Lashley are always must-see attractions, and that will certainly be the case Saturday when they go head-to-head.

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Bianca Belair vs. Bayley

In what could be the final chapter of their rivalry, Bianca Belair and Bayley will meet again at Crown Jewel with the Raw Women's Championship on the line.

The Role Model already had one title opportunity, but she squandered it despite help from her Damage CTRL stablemates, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, in a ladder match at Extreme Rules.

In order to earn another shot, she defeated The EST of WWE in a non-title match on a recent episode of Raw, thanks in large part to interference from Nikki Cross.

Given the heated nature of their feud, the two women weren't merely placed in a normal contest at Crown Jewel. Instead, their match was given a Last Woman Standing stipulation, ensuring it should be a hard-hitting and violent affair.

Belair and Bayley are two of the best female performers WWE has ever had, and both of them tend to step up and deliver on the big stage.

They've already proved they have strong chemistry together in the ring, and if that holds true Saturday, they could deliver the best match of the show.

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Roman Reigns vs. Logan Paul

Reigns has smashed, stacked and pinned every opponent he has encountered during his nearly 800-day run as world champion, but Paul presents a unique challenge.

All of The Tribal Chief's previous wins came against veterans of the ring, whereas the YouTuber is still a novice, wrestling in just two matches, with only one being a singles bout.

Even so, Paul has been hugely impressive in limited action, and the overwhelming narrative surrounding him seems to be that he is a natural for the pro wrestling business.

The 27-year-old also happens to have one of the biggest podcasts in the world and is one of the most recognizable stars on social media, which gives WWE plenty of incentive to push him to the moon.

Still, it would be a major upset if he beats Reigns, who is in the midst of arguably the greatest title run in WWE history and has been positioned as the clear face of the company.

If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how WWE presents Paul and keeps him looking strong in a presumed loss.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Social media star and undefeated professional boxer Jake Paul is reportedly expected to be in the corner of his brother, Logan Paul, for his WWE Universal Championship match against Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson was the first to report the news, and it was later confirmed by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Gunjan Nath of Ringside News), who noted that Jake Paul will be present while The Usos and Solo Sikoa will be in Reigns' corner.

Jake Paul's involvement was also teased by WWE head of creative Triple H, who mentioned him Wednesday on the WWE Q3 earnings call (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), saying:

"This Saturday we will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Crown Jewel, where one of the world's most famous influencers Logan Paul will face off against The Tribal Chief Roman Reigns. Undoubtedly Roman will have the entire Bloodline with him, which would make one wonder if Logan will have his very famous brother, Jake Paul, fresh off his win against Anderson Silva, in his corner to help even the odds."

Both Logan and Jake Paul have become household names thanks to their work on YouTube and other platforms, but Jake differentiated himself when he decided to get into pro boxing in 2020.

Since then, Jake has posted a perfect 6-0 record with four knockouts, and he has scored victories over a trio of former UFC stars in Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.

Paul's most recent fight occurred on Oct. 29 in Glendale, Arizona, when he beat Silva by unanimous decision. Silva is 47 years old, but he is a UFC legend, owning the longest title reign in the history of the promotion at 2,457 days as middleweight champion.

Logan has had a couple of amateur fights in his own right, including an exhibition against legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., but he is now making a name for himself in pro wrestling instead.

While Logan only has two matches, he was highly impressive both times and looked like a natural, which led to him being given a massive opportunity in the form of a main event match against Reigns for the world title.

Reigns is about to cross the 800-day mark as world champion, which is something few people have accomplished in the history of WWE.

Although Reigns is not expected to lose to Logan Paul on Saturday, the involvement of Jake Paul would make things more interesting and perhaps get more eyes on the product as well.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Logan Paul is set to challenge Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship this Saturday at Crown Jewel, but he already has his next opponent in mind if he's victorious.

Paul recently was asked who he'd want to defend the title against at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles in April, and he didn't hesitate to name one of the biggest stars in all of entertainment.

"Dwayne 'The Rock Johnson' baby," Paul said in an interview with SportBible (h/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful). "It has to be because we have so much history. We go way back, and he's larger than life, man. I like taking on those types of personalities. So it has to be Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson at WrestleMania."

The Rock has long been rumored to be a potential opponent for Reigns at WrestleMania 39. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported in August that a match between the two superstars is "100 percent the plan" for WWE's marquee event next year, but he noted that it will only be possible if The Rock's busy schedule permits.

While nothing is official, fans will continue to dream about the possible return of The Great One to the wrestling ring. However, similar to Paul's chances of defeating Reigns on Saturday, it's more likely that The Rock won't be lacing up his boots again anytime soon.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Sami Zayn Discusses Making The Bloodline Crack

Sami Zayn takes pride in his ability to make members of The Bloodline crack during segments but also doesn't want to overdo it.

Following his involvement in one of the best WWE moments of the year on last week's episode of SmackDown, Zayn spoke to BT Sport (h/t WrestlingInc's Fernando Quiles Jr.) and discussed his dynamic with The Bloodline:

"We genuinely enjoy doing this"

"Once or twice I'm going out of my way to get them to crack" 😂@SamiZayn gives some insight into how much he enjoys working with The Bloodline 🩸 pic.twitter.com/PIaJjsWbW3

— WWE on TNT Sports (@wweontnt) October 28, 2022

"People have made a big deal out of that, about the fact that they're seeing little chinks in the armor, but to be honest, I think the reason it's standing out so much is because it just reminds the fans that the performers are really having fun doing this. I think it's something they sometimes forget that we're enjoying doing this too. There is a real-life chemistry between myself and that family, and we always have gotten along splendidly.

"I mean, I'll admit once or twice I'm going out of my way to get them to crack, but generally I think that's something you have to tread cautiously because if you overdo that it becomes you're just not being professional."

After miscommunication caused Zayn and Solo Sikoa to lose a tag team match to The Brawling Brutes on SmackDown, WWE universal champion Roman Reigns confronted and addressed The Bloodline.

Things got heated, and Jey Uso eventually blurted out that he didn't care what The Tribal Chief thought, leading to an audible gasp from the crowd.

Zayn tried to protect Jey by telling Reigns that he hadn't been "Ucey" lately, which caused both Jey and Reigns to start laughing in the middle of a serious segment.

For the past few months, Zayn has been trying to get in with The Bloodline, and Reigns finally threw him a bone a few weeks ago when he officially made Zayn the "Honorary Uce."

While Reigns, Sikoa and Jimmy Uso have all seemingly embraced Zayn, Jey has remained opposed to his inclusion in the group, which has led to some highly entertaining moments and segments.

Zayn's comedic relief has worked to near perfection alongside the serious nature of The Bloodline, and while it is likely that the relationship will ultimately end with Zayn getting betrayed, fans are happy to enjoy the ride for now.

SmackDown to Be Moved Back to Fox This Week

The reshuffling of the World Series schedule will reportedly ensure that this week's episode of SmackDown airs on Fox on Friday night.

According to Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline, WWE received word that SmackDown will be back on Fox rather than FS1 since there is no longer a World Series game scheduled for Friday.

Last week's SmackDown was moved to FS1 to accommodate Game 1 of the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros on Fox.

There was a possibility of the same thing happening this week if the World Series went to at least six games, but a rainout on Monday changed things.

With Game 3 getting rained out and postponed from Monday to Tuesday, there is now an off day scheduled for Friday in between Games 5 and 6, meaning Fox is free and clear to air SmackDown.

While this week's SmackDown is pre-taped, it is a significant episode since it is the go-home show prior to Saturday's Crown Jewel premium live event in Saudi Arabia.

That event will be headlined by a WWE Universal Championship match between Reigns and Logan Paul, which suggests there may be one final confrontation between them on SmackDown prior to their bout.

Quincy Elliott Shuts Down WWE Release Speculation

Amid rumors of forthcoming NXT releases, Quincy Elliott denied that he was among them Monday night.

In response to someone speculating on his release, Elliott tweeted the following:

https://twitter.com/Quincy__WWE/status/1587236744939937795

Word of potential NXT releases began making the rounds Monday when Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer tweeted there would be "a few" NXT cuts.

If there are any releases, it is possible that wrestlers who are utilized on television could be part of it, but the cuts could also be from the talent pool at the WWE Performance Center that hasn't made it to the TV product yet.

After wrestling several matches on NXT LVL UP, Elliott made his NXT debut in a squash match on Sept. 13. He followed that up with a victory over Xyon Quinn a couple of weeks ago.

Elliott also served as the co-host of the NXT Halloween Havoc premium live event along with SmackDown star Shotzi.

While Elliott hasn't gotten much of a chance to establish himself yet, he has a huge personality and plenty of potential.

As for the releases, WWE has yet to confirm any departures from the company as of Tuesday morning.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).