17. Austin Aries Releases Official Statement Regarding His WWE Departure

As we all know, former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Austin Aries was released from WWE recently. Aries has now released an official statement regarding his departure from WWE:

“I’d like to thank WWE for the opportunity to perform for the amazing fans of the WWE Universe. I’d also like to thank the extremely talented and hard working people of WWE, whom I had the pleasure to work, both in front of and behind the camera. I wish them continued health, happiness, and success as I move on to new endeavors.”

Speaking of Aries, former WWE Superstar Matt Morgan talked about Austin Aries’ departure from the WWE during a recent appearance on the WrestlingInc podcast. Below is what Morgan had to say:

“He’s a very short wrestler, okay, who fights for everything he’s ever gotten. I never saw him as arrogant. I never saw him as this heat seeker that people think he is. I just saw a guy that has been dicked around an awful lot. And when you’re not seven-feet tall, you’re not a big guy, you know, unfortunately you do got to fight for everything you get. Especially when you’re that talented. We said from day one that that dude should have not be in that damn division. Everyone said that. The fans were saying that, you know, in these arenas. When they’re chanting his name it’s not like we like him in the frequent cruiserweight division WWE. It’s we want to see him in the main show against other talents. That’s why they’re chanting his name. They’re not excited to see him in the purple ropes. They’re not excited to see him do stupid grab-a$$ skits with Jack Gallagher. They want to see him in serious situations with real talent. And that’s their loss.

He was a jack of all trades, he could do everything. I feel he’s a main event talent in every sense of the word. He can hang with anybody on the mic and he can surpass most in the ring. So it’s their loss, it really is. And what I had heard – I’m not going to say it’s from him – but what I had heard was he did everything he could to get his release.

They stifled yet another star studded talent and it’s a damn shame. In a day and age where they’re begging for young guys to step up, you had one right there. You had a bonafide main eventer.”