Report: Eric Young Granted Release From TNA, Expected To Join WWE NXT In Player-Coach Role

TNA announced on Wednesday that they granted veteran star Eric Young his release from the company. Young may already have his next destination lined up.

Initial reports suggested Young had been working under a short-term agreement, but the former TNA World Champion quickly disputed that claim, stating that he had been under a “binding contract the entire time.”

While Young’s future has not been officially confirmed, new reports indicate that a return to WWE is expected.

Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez noted that Young’s next move remains unclear publicly, though WWE is widely viewed as the likely landing spot. Dave Meltzer added that WWE officials have discussed a role for Young that would mirror the position currently held by Shawn Spears in NXT.

“He’ll be on NXT as a player/coach is what I was told,” Meltzer said. “I heard September, but that could be wrong, but it was from people in WWE. But yeah, player/coach in NXT is the current plan for him.”

The report suggests Young would both wrestle and help mentor younger talent within WWE’s developmental system.

Young is no stranger to WWE. He originally joined the company in 2016 and became a featured performer in NXT before later moving to the main roster as part of the Sanity faction. His first WWE run came to an end in 2020 when he was released during the wave of talent cuts that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He briefly returned to WWE in 2022 and was reportedly set to be part of television plans. However, Young requested his release before making an on-screen return following Vince McMahon’s return to the company. Reports at the time indicated that Young signed a non-disclosure agreement as part of his departure.

After leaving WWE, Young returned to TNA Wrestling, where he resumed his role as one of the promotion’s most recognizable veterans. During his career, he has captured the TNA World Championship twice and remained a key figure both on-screen and behind the scenes.

If the reported plans come to fruition, Young would bring decades of experience back to WWE while helping develop the next generation of NXT talent. Neither WWE nor Young has publicly confirmed the move at this time.