Luke Harper Announces He Has Requested His WWE Release

Luke Harper took to Twitter today to announce that he has requested his release from WWE.

Harper previously tweeted about being concerned or unhappy with his position in WWE going into the WrestleMania 35 Axxess events, where he wrestled Dominik Dijakovic for the Worlds Collide tapings. That match aired this past Sunday on the WWE Network, Harper’s first WWE TV match since last summer. Harper noted in today’s announcement that he is proud of his 6 years with WWE, but asking for his release felt right for himself and WWE.

There’s no word yet on if WWE will grant the release, but we will keep you updated. It was recently reported that WWE was not interested in granting releases due to competition from AEW and other promotions, but some Superstars have been released this year.

“As of this evening, I have requested a release from WWE. The past 6 years have been a simply, amazing journey around the world and back with lifelong friends and family. I am proud of it all and proud to say I shared the ring with my co workers.This decision, as difficult as it was, feels right for myself and WWE. My goal in the future is to continue to grow as a performer and person and continue to make my family proud.

Thank you. From the top to the bottom of WWE. Thank you to the fans for your undying support. Thank you everyone.”

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Harper’s contract is up in November. It was noted that WWE could theoretically hold him for six months after that by freezing his contract for the amount of time that he was out with his recent injury, although it is unlikely.

Last summer Harper elected to undergo surgery on his wrist after Rowan suffered a torn right bicep. This was after the two were repackaged as The Bludgeon Brothers. Harper was cleared for action back in February but has been used sparingly. He competed against Dominik Dijakovic at WrestleMania Axxess and was a participant in this year’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

As far as what would be next for Harper if he is released, Meltzer stated it is a possibility that he ends up in All Elite Wrestling. One of his closest friends is Chris Harrington, who is now AEW’s Vice President of Business Strategy.

Harper became a pro wrestler in 2003, working as Brodie Lee. He made a name for himself in places like Chikara, Squared Circle Wrestling, All Jersey Pro Wrestling, Dragon Gate and Ring of Honor. While he gained recognition as a singles competitor, Harper has been best known in recent years as one of the members of The Wyatt Family.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage Update On Alexander Wolfe’s WWE Status, Possible Roster Change To WWE NXT?, Nikki Cross, SAnitY

Alexander Wolfe took to Twitter earlier tonight and said goodbye to WWE, also confirming the end of SAnitY. Wolfe’s statement came hours after Killian Dain posted a similar message and one night after group leader Eric Young was sent to RAW from SmackDown in the 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup, with no mention of his partners.

It’s worth noting that Wolfe and Dain are both still listed on WWE’s roster page. Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Wolfe is still under contract. There is talk of Wolfe going back to WWE NXT, which could explain why he said goodbye to WWE in his statement.

Wolfe and Dain re-tweeted each other’s statements but Young has not acknowledged them on his own feed, as of this writing. Former SAnitY member Nikki Cross, who is married to Dain, also posted a goodbye message to SAnitY, which you can see below.

Below are the original statements from Wolfe and Dain:

“We (SanitY) made out TV debut October 2016 for NXT at Full Sail University in Orlando,FL. We had a great time in NXT and we accomplished a lot:- NXT Tag Team Champions
– NXT Tag Team of the year 2017
– 1st ever NXT/WWE WAR GAMES Match
– performed in front of about 15k people at a sold out Takeover PPV
– Growing together as athletes and performers

The whole group is like a family to me. I made 3 good friends over the last 3 years and I am really grateful for that. It was without a doubt a great time. Thank you guys for everything!

Thank you to the entire SD locker room. Thank you for the good vibes, laughs and wisdom. I appreciate all of you and I wish you all the best for your future careers.

Thank you to the fans who supported us and never stopped believing in us. I appreciate you as well and trust me I speak for all 4 of us.

It’s time to leave this behind and walk a different path.

RIP SAnitY
Goodbye #WWE”

Dain’s statement:

“Good luck @TheEricYoung Good luck @TheWWEWolfe I’ll miss you both terribly. Had the time of my life as part of Sanity!! You are phenomenal in the ring and outside of it. Thanks to everyone who supported us”

https://twitter.com/KillianDain/status/1118117597881483264

Nikki Cross’s tweet:

https://twitter.com/NikkiCrossWWE/status/1118272246487879681

There is no brand listed for Nikki Cross on wwe.com

Updated WWE RAW And SmackDown Live Rosters

Here are the updated RAW and SmackDown Live rosters from wwe.com as of this writing:

RAW
AJ Styles
Akam
Aleister Black
Alexa Bliss
Alicia Fox
Andrade
Baron Corbin
Becky Lynch – RAW & SmackDown Women’s Champion
Bo Dallas
Bobby Lashley
Bobby Roode
Braun Strowman
Bray Wyatt
Brie Bella
Brock Lesnar
Cedric Alexander
Curt Hawkins – RAW Tag Team Champion
Dana Brooke
Dash Wilder
Dean Ambrose
Dolph Ziggler
Drew McIntyre
EC3
Eric Young
Erik – WWE NXT Tag Team Champion
Fandango
Goldust
Gran Metalik
Heath Slater
Ivar – WWE NXT Tag Team Champion
Jason Jordan
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Jinder Mahal
Kalisto
Konnor
Kurt Angle
Lacey Evans
Lince Dorado
Lio Rush
Mojo Rawley
Naomi
Natalya
Nia Jax
Nikki Bella
No Way Jose
Rey Mysterio
Rezar
Rhyno
Ricochet
Ronda Rousey
Ruby Riott
Sami Zayn
Samir Singh
Sarah Logan
Sasha Banks
Scott Dawson
Seth Rollins – WWE Universal Champion
Sunil Singh
Tamina Snuka
The Miz
Titus O’Neil
Tyler Breeze
Viktor
Zack Ryder – RAW Tag Team Champion
Zelina Vega

SmackDown Live
Aiden English
Alexander Wolfe
Ali
Apollo Crews
Asuka
Bayley
Becky Lynch – RAW & SmackDown Women’s Champion
Big E
Big Show
Billie Kay – WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion
Buddy Murphy
Carmella
Cesaro
Chad Gable
Charlotte Flair
Daniel Bryan
Elias
Ember Moon
Epico Colon
Finn Balor – WWE Intercontinental Champion
Harper
Jeff Hardy – SmackDown Tag Team Champion
Kairi Sane
Kane
Karl Anderson
Kevin Owens
Killian Dain
Kofi Kingston – WWE Champion
Lana
Lars Sullivan
Liv Morgan
Luke Gallows
Mandy Rose
Maryse
Matt Hardy – SmackDown Tag Team Champion
Mickie James
Otis
Paige
Peyton Royce – WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion
Primo Colon
R-Truth
Randy Orton
Roman Reigns
Rowan
Rusev
Samoa Joe – WWE United States Champion
Sheamus
Shelton Benjamin
Shinsuke Nakamura
Sin Cara
Sonya Deville
Tucker
Xavier Woods

WWE Superstar Shake-Up Moves At Last Night’s SmackDown Live and Moves Announced After

Last night was the second night of the annual WWE Superstar-Shake-Up and as usual there was some big changes.

It wasn’t made clear Monday night, but last night on SmackDown it appears that Ricochet and Aleister Black are on the RAW roster.

Last night Vince McMahon made his announcement of the biggest SmackDown acquisition in history. Vince named Elias. Roman Reigns came out and interrupted and laid out Vince and Elias claiming SmackDown as his yard.

Below are a list of names that has joined the SmackDown roster:

  • Roman Reigns
  • Elias
  • Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor
  • Lars Sullivan
  • Ember Moon
  • Bayley
  • Kairi Sane (who is part of Paige’s new tag team with Asuka)
  • Buddy Murphy

After the show there was some more roster changes announced:

  • Liv Morgan
  • Mickie James
  • Chad Gable
  • Apollo Crews
  • Heavy Machinery

With these roster moves we saw the break up of The Boss and Hug Connection, Liv from The Riott Squad and Gable and Bobby Roode.

It’s believed that WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe will be sent to RAW later this week as more moves should be added on the WWE website and social media. As noted, Joe was backstage at this week’s RAW in Montreal, but he was very sick and his segment was removed from the show. It’s likely that this was his RAW roster move as Balor brought the WWE Intercontinental Title to SmackDown.

There has been no mention of what brand Nikki Cross will be apart of.

Kevin Owens Becomes Honorary Member of The New Day

Last night on SmackDown Live, Xavier Woods & WWE Champion Kofi Kingston was guest on the Kevin Owens Show. The New Day mentioned that Big E is out with a injury. Owens offered to be the third member of New Day. Owens said they can call him Big O. They made sure if he could wear a crop top and swivel his hips.

Later in the back they made Owens eat a big tray of pancakes.

Owens did the live ring entrance intro just like Big E.

Owens got the win for The New Day against Rusev , Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro with a stunner on Rusev.

Roman Reigns Takes Out Vince McMahon & Elias on SmackDown Live

Last night on SmackDown Live Vince McMahon announced that Elias as the biggest acquisition in SmackDown history. Roman Reigns came out and interrupted Elias. Reigns his Elias with a Superman Punch then laid out Vince with a SuperMan Punch then laid out Elias with a spear. Reigns claimed SmackDown as his yard.

WWE NXT Superstar To Get New Name And Darker Gimmick

WWE NXT Superstar Punishment Martinez is being given a new name and character – Damien Priest.

The “even darker character” change for the former ROH TV Champion was revealed in the new WWE developmental profile from Sports Business Journal. It was noted that he will receive new outfits, new entrance music and a new persona.

Martinez told SBJ that the new gimmick is a perfect fit for him.

“I’ve always been into the weird, the odd, the dark, so that’s the character I’ve always represented,” he said.

The new name for Punishment has not been reflected on the WWE roster or social media. There’s no word yet on when he will start using the new gimmick at NXT live events. Punishment signed with WWE in October 28 and later made his debut as a heel. He has received rave reviews since arriving.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 4/16/19 Superstar Shake-Up

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Final night of the Superstar Shake-Up

* Mr. McMahon to reveal the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE history

* Who will join Team Blue in the Superstar Shake-up?

* Who is Paige’s new tag team?

* What’s next for WWE Champion Kofi Kingston?

* Will any team step up to The Hardy Boyz?

Vince McMahon To Announce “Biggest Acquisition In SmackDown History” Tonight

WWE has announced that Vince McMahon will appear on tonight’s Superstar Shake-Up edition of WWE SmackDown Live to announce the biggest acquisition in blue brand history.

On last night’s episode of RAW, AJ Styles, The Usos, The Miz, Rey Mysterio and Naomi were moved from SmackDown to RAW.

Below is the official announcement on Vince’s appearance:

Mr. McMahon to reveal the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE historyThe first night of the Superstar Shake-up was thrilling, to say the least. Although SmackDown LIVE is saying goodbye to Superstars like AJ Styles, The Miz, Rey Mysterio and Naomi, there is still plenty of intrigue as to who will be joining Team Blue.

The mystery has been heightened by Mr. McMahon, who will be revealing the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE history tonight. Who has the WWE Chairman secured for the blue brand?

Killian Dain Comments On SAnitY Breaking Up In The WWE Superstar Shake-Up

It lookes like SAnitY was split up during last night’s WWE Superstar Shakeup edition of RAW as leader Eric Young was sent to the RAW roster from SmackDown. There was no mention of Killian Dain or Alexander Wolfe.

Dain took to Twitter today and thanked everyone for supporting SAnitY. He wrote, “Good luck @TheEricYoung Good luck @TheWWEWolfe I’ll miss you both terribly. Had the time of my life as part of Sanity!! You are phenomenal in the ring and outside of it. Thanks to everyone who supported us”

Wolfe re-tweeted the comments from Dain and also commented on the Shakeup.

Wolfe wrote, “#SuperstarShakeup very interesting… What do YOU want?”

Young has not publicly commented on the Shakeup or the status of SAnitY. The group came up to SmackDown from WWE NXT in June 2018 but they are rarely used, on TV or at live events. They lost to The Undisputed Era on the NXT vs. NXT Alumni Worlds Collide special on the WWE Network this past Sunday.

You can see their tweets below:

https://twitter.com/KillianDain/status/1118117597881483264

https://twitter.com/TheWWEWolfe/status/1117961419519971328

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

Nikki Cross tweeted about the split up of SAnitY:

https://twitter.com/NikkiCrossWWE/status/1118272246487879681