WWE released several stars from their contracts last September due to budget cuts following the merger between WWE and UFC to form TKO, with some stars going to NJPW while others went to TNA Wrestling and the rest working on the independent scene.
Those let go include Matt Riddle Elias, Dana Brooke, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, and Mustafa Ali. For Elias, he has made his return to the ring.
The departure
Elias worked for WWE from 2014-2023, where he started out in NXT under the ring name Elias Samson, which he portrayed as a musician. He went to the main roster in 2017 with the Elias name before going on hiatus in late 2021.
He returned the following April but as Elias’ younger brother named Ezekiel. He had cut his hair and shaved his beard. That same year, he was taken off TV again before returning as Elias and then released.
Return
Elias, now known as Elijah, wrestled his first post-WWE match for Wrestling REVOLVER, an independent promotion, at their Whatashow event on Saturday night, where he wrestled TNA’s “Speedball” Mike Bailey for the first time ever.
This was COLD as F*CK from Elijah [Elias] good start for him on the indies tonight at Wrestling Revolver! pic.twitter.com/eldYUaRxoQ
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) February 18, 2024
