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Eli Drake, a former Impact World Champion, announced through his Twitter account that he’s no longer under contract with the company.
This past April, Drake was reportedly frustrated with being booked in an intergender match against Tessa Blanchard over WrestleMania weekend. That match never took place, and Drake was replaced by Joey Ryan.
“After 4 years with Impact Wrestling, some ups, some downs, I would like to thank them for the overall great experience,” Drake wrote. “Through those years, I had the fortune of carrying 3 different title belts, having my own talk show (Fact of Life), and was always given the trust to craft my own promos, virtually from day 1. I appreciate the chance that was taken on me and the trust I was given, as well as the friends and experiences I gained along the way. I wish Impact Wrestling nothing but continued success and growth going forward.
“Today, I am OFFICIALLY a FREE AGENT.”
Drake joined Impact in 2015 after his 2014 release from his WWE developmental contract. He debuted as part of Drew Galloway’s “The Rising” stable. He won the World Title — then called the GWF Global Championship — in 2017 after the title was vacated when Alberto El Patron was suspended for a domestic incident at an airport involving his former fiance, Paige.
If Joey Ryan wrestled a woman, was it still classed as an intergender match?
As long as Eli stays away from WWE, he’ll be just fine. I hope he signs with AEW. He is so good that he would be a cornerstone of that company for years to come. How WWE missed on him is amazing, but not the least bit surprising.
Eli Drake is very entertaining and would be a great addition to AEW. If he goes to the E then he will never be heard from again. The dummy catchphrase is one of the best in the last 10 years.