Ashante “The You” Adonis has officially departed WWE after the company decided not to renew his contract. The reasons behind this and the release of other Hit Low members have now become clearer.
According to Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE’s decision not to re-sign Adonis was financially motivated. Even though Adonis only appeared on NXT, his contract was a main roster deal, which came with higher pay compared to a standard NXT contract.
Meltzer explained that WWE found it more cost-effective to let his contract run out naturally instead of paying him for an additional 90-day non-compete period. He noted that if the contract had been cut early, the expiration would have happened around the same time, effectively just covering the last few months of his deal along with the non-competition clause.
While with WWE NXT, Adonis was involved in a romantic storyline with Karmen Petrovic that ran for several months before quietly ending in early 2025. Now a free agent, Adonis has the freedom to sign with any promotion he chooses, whether that be AEW, TNA Wrestling, NJPW, or another organization.
Fan Take: This news is significant for WWE fans because it reflects the financial and strategic decisions behind talent management in the company, shedding light on how contracts and storylines can be unexpectedly affected. For the sport, Adonis’s release opens the door for him to potentially make a big impact elsewhere, creating new rivalries and fresh opportunities outside WWE.
