SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
Two of the wrestler who were cut by WWE from the NXT roster last week have made public statements. Jake Atlas, who had tweeted hours before he was released that he was celebrating five years as a pro wrestler, said he “worked hard to play the game the way I thought they would have wanted me to. If in that time I was able to accomplish all that I ahve with a limited understand of who and what ‘Jake Atlas’ is, imagine what I’m capable of doing now that I get to do it MY way.”
Bronson Reed posted a video. He said he was shocked and upset. He said his wife has kept him positive. He said after taking time to process what has happened, he wanted to reach out to the fans who have supported him. He said it means a lot to him that he was trending on Twitter. He thanked NXT, including Hunter and Shawn Michaels, for believing in him. He thanked the coaches and the wrestlers, too. “It was a great locker room to be part of,” he said. He said he firmly believes he is the best super-heavyweight in the world. “As they say, one door closes and another one opens. For me, many doors are open. So now it’s just a matter of which one I want to walk through.”
For 5 years, I worked hard to play the game the way I thought they would have wanted me to. If in that time I was able to accomplish all that I have with a limited understanding of who & what ‘Jake Atlas’ is, imagine what I’m capable of doing now that I get to do it MY way.
— Jake Atlas (@JakeAtlas_) August 9, 2021
Just got released from @WWE
This monster is back on the loose … you don't know WHAT you've just done.#WWE
.@AEW .@IMPACTWRESTLING .@njpw1972 .@ringofhonor pic.twitter.com/9h5I2G4L1J
— Bronson Reed (@bronsonreedwwe) August 7, 2021
Just wanted to break the silence. pic.twitter.com/RLYyRMDV7Z
— Bronson Reed (@bronsonreedwwe) August 8, 2021
If WWE actually follows through with what it appears they are going to do with NXT, what a shame. It is the only thing they are doing well, and is the only thing they have ever done well with the exception of The Attitude Era. McMahon needs to admit that he is tired and that he is through. Father Time, after all, is undefeated. Hunter and Shawn have proven they can produce an excellent wrestling product and should be given full control of RAW and Smackdown. Then if they want to use NXT as strictly developmental, which will probably mean a return to something like Tough Enough in order to keep USA Network interested, that will be fine at that point.