Top 10 Stories Of 2020: WWE Black Wednesday

Throughout December, Neal Wagner will count down the top 10 stories of 2020 as voted on by The Wrestling Estate staff. Here is No. 3: WWE Black Wednesday

“WWE has come to terms with the releases of Kurt Angle, Drake Maverick, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Heath Slater, Eric Young, Rowan, Sarah Logan, No Way Jose, Mike Chioda, Mike Kanellis, Maria Kanellis, EC3, Aiden English, Lio Rush, Primo and Epico. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”

This statement was seen throughout every wrestling website, forum, social media, etc. on April 15, 2020, now known as WWE Black Wednesday. Vince McMahon held a conference call that day, announcing that talent cuts would be coming in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The chairman claimed that the cuts would save roughly $4 million a month.

Mark Carrano, WWE’s executive director of talent relations, contacted those released to break the bad news. It was clear the company had little regard for these individuals, their children, wives, husbands, etc. during the scariest time in our country’s history. McMahon was only worried about the bottom line.

Almost a week before WWE Black Wednesday, the former NXT, RAW and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder were granted their release back in January 2019 in the hopes that they could eventually move their talents to AEW to get the dream match with The Young Bucks. Taynara Conti, Tino Sabbatelli, Kassius Ohno and Deonna Purrazzo were also gone. Producers furloughed included Billy Kidman, Mike Rotunda, Pat Buck, Fit Finlay, Shane Helms, Shawn Daivari, Scott Armstrong, Sarah Stock and Lance Storm. Coaches from the Performance Center were released as well, including former Straight Edge Society member Serena Deeb. Everyone released, but not furloughed, was under a 90-day no-compete clause that restricted them from working for any other promotion until roughly mid-July.

Most of the names listed above would find a home elsewhere, with the exception of one individual who posted an emotional video followed by an incredible performance that would land him back with WWE. Due to Jordan Devlin being grounded in the United Kingdom, he was stripped of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship and an eight-man, two-block G1-style tournament was held to crown an interim champion. Drake Maverick was announced for the tournament, but was released just days afterwards.

In his emotional statement, he would reveal that WWE allowed him to work the tournament and then leave and it would all count towards his 90-day no-compete. His release was incorporated into the storyline, as Maverick actually won the A Group, outlasting both Kushida and Jake Atlas in a Triple Threat Tiebreaker Final. He lost the Championship Finals to El Hijo del Fantasma (now Santos Escobar). As a result of his performance throughout the tournament and the overall fan response, Triple H would appear behind Maverick after losing the Finals and hand him a new contract.

Impact Wrestling capitalized on the firing spree by teasing debuts, returns and shocking moments for Slammiversary. An already debuted Deonna Purrazzo on this same night would dethrone Jordynne Grace to win the Knockouts Championship. Heath Slater (now just Heath) would invade the show by cutting a promo and then laying out Rohit Raju. Eric Young would also return as one of two mystery men in the Fatal Five Way World Heavyweight Title Match. Finally, at the end of the evening, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (The Good Brothers) would debut and save the new champion Eddie Edwards from an attack by Ace Austin and Madman Fulton. Before the show went off the air, someone with their back to the camera would say that he is returning to “Control His Narrative.” Three slash marks would appear on the screen signifying the return of EC3. As for Curt Hawkins, the now Brian Myers would answer one of Edwards’ open challenges in a losing effort.

The United Wrestling Network, a governing body over the Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and Championship Wrestling from Arizona promotion, would strike a deal with the National Wrestling Alliance to broadcast weekly pay per view events During the debut episode, it was announced that NWA World Champion Nick Aldis would defend against Mike Kanellis alongside his wife Maria. Erick Rowan would be on the shows as well, debuting his new name as Erick Redbeard and participating in the tournament to crown the first ever UWN World Heavyweight Champion.

The Revival debuted on Dynamite in early July under the names Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood, FTR. They would win the AEW Tag Titles at All Out, but drop them at Full Gear to The Young Bucks. Taynara Conti would show up for the company during the first Women’s Tag Team Tournament to team with Anna Jay. While TayJay would lose in the second round, Conti would be signed. Zack Ryder came in for some matches to help his best friend Cody Rhodes during a feud with the Dark Order.

The biggest debut arguably went to Rusev, who would show up after All Out as “The Best Man” for the upcoming wedding of Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford. Even referee Mike Chioda would show up on Dynamite to officiate the Cody Rhodes vs. Scorpio Sky TNT Title Match and the main event between Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy.

In other headlines, Lio Rush was back in the spotlight taking part in the Super J Cup. Sarah Logan has since announced a temporary retirement from wrestling as she and her husband Raymond Rowe (Erick of the Viking Warriors) are expecting their first child.

For a company that just signed two major television deals in 2019 with Fox and NBC Universal that is rumored to rack in a total of $450 million a year combined, WWE Black Wednesday was sickening.