Former WWE talents face professional challenges following releases

Reports have emerged regarding the professional challenges faced by former WWE talents Gable Steveson and Matt Riddle following their departures from the promotion.

Journalist Dave Meltzer reported that Gable Steveson faced backstage resentment during his tenure at WWE. According to Meltzer, the resentment stemmed from Steveson receiving a high salary relative to his perceived lack of progress, charisma, and microphone skills. While WWE reportedly initially intended to book the Olympic gold medalist similarly to Brock Lesnar, Steveson was released in May 2024 after limited televised appearances.

Separately, former United States Champion Matt Riddle has been seen wrestling at independent shows, including a recent no-disqualification match for Awesome Championship Wrestling. Riddle previously addressed his 2023 release from WWE, noting that he had issues with Human Resources and admitted to making mistakes during his time on the road.