Real Reason For WWE Star’s Shock Release

One WWE star has been let go by the company and now the real reason for their exit has seemingly been revealed.

Fightful has reported that Duke Hudson was released by WWE in January. No reason was given for the release. The 35-year-old Australian was last in action back in November 2024 at an NXT live event where he defeated Anthony Luke.

Hudson’s time in WWE will best be remembered for his run as part of the popular Chase U faction. Originally a somewhat unwilling member of the group alongside Andre Chase, Thea Hail, and Riley Osborne, he eventually grew to be an integral part of Chase U.

Duke Hudson Not Seen As WWE Main Roster Material

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained exactly why he believes Duke Hudson was let go and it comes down to how Paul Levesque [Triple H] saw him after an abandoned run on the main roster in 2020:

This is the deal. He’s 34 years old, and I think the decision was we had him in developmental for 6 years and we just don’t think – he had his one shot on the main roster. Heyman saw a lot in him. He’s a big guy, a good look, moves well, he wasn’t ready but if you remember when Heyman started on Raw, his big thing was to bring in all kinds of new guys and push guys that weren’t pushed before.

[…] Duke was a guy he tried with for three weeks and then Vince [McMahon got the three-week thing and was like ‘Nah.’ That was that and he was gone. Vince is gone so that doesn’t matter. [Paul] Levesque is the one who makes the calls and for whatever reason, he didn’t see Duke as a main roster guy.

At some point when you’re 34 and they don’t see you as a main roster guy and you’ve been their six years, that’s the way it works.

WWE released Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox at the end of 2024 while Baron Corbin’s WWE contract was not renewed meaning he became a free agent at the start of 2025.

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