Lance Anoa’i recently parted ways with WWE, revealing that he was actually released rather than leaving due to contract expiration. Despite having two years left on his contract, the company chose to terminate it, largely due to his ongoing injury struggles. Lance shared in a discussion with Muscle Man Malcolm that although he was grateful for the opportunities and knowledge gained during his time with WWE, his injuries hindered his progress and ultimately impacted his career negatively. Upon receiving the news of his release, he knew he had to redouble his efforts outside of WWE.
Lance emphasized that his release wasn’t because of any performance issues or bad attitude; instead, injuries were the main factor, leading to higher costs for the company than the value he could contribute in the ring. In his first week at the Performance Center, he suffered a sports hernia, briefly recovered, but then suffered a shoulder tear. Although cleared of any wrongdoing at the end of September, he was released in October. Despite this, he noted that everyone at WWE supported him and hoped for his recovery, but circumstances didn’t go in his favor.
While Lance’s WWE tenure ended sooner than anticipated, he views the experience as a learning opportunity and a motivator to keep pushing forward, even in the face of setbacks. His story sheds light on the physical toll professional wrestling can take and the tough business decisions companies must make. The future of Lance and the Bloodline family members in WWE remains uncertain.
Fan Take: Lance Anoa’i’s release highlights the harsh realities behind the scenes in WWE, where injuries can abruptly alter career trajectories. For fans, it underscores how resilience and recovery are just as crucial as talent in the wrestling world, reminding us all that the sport is as much about perseverance as it is about performance.
