Professional wrestling is the business where stars are meant to be “larger than life.” Where men and women who look physically impressive stand out and often receive several opportunities to get over with the fans. However, that seemed to have been a detriment for one, EJ Nduka, as rumors about why he is no longer with All Elite Wrestling began to circulate on Wednesday.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select provided some thoughts on Nduka’s contract expiring when asked by a subscriber.
“The word was that AEW found it hard to put him next to anyone without him outshining him physically,” Sapp stated in the Select Answers. “That’s just a rumor, but it’s also one that seems to go around about a lot of physically huge talent, which seems like a waste.”
EJ Nduka’s contract with All Elite Wrestling came to an end in early May. He’d been with the organization since 2023 but was rarely used on the promotion. According to Cagematch, Nduka had only two broadcasted matches in 2025, compared to eight in 2024, and two in 2023.
EJ Nduka is a big man, but AEW featured other big men on screen
Sapp’s comments about that potential rumor being a “waste” is a strong, but correct statement. According to Cagematch, Nduka stands 6 feet, 8 inches tall, and weighs in at 284 pounds. He’s a former pro football player and bodybuilder, so he looks the part through and through. But that shouldn’t be a reason it was difficult to pair him with other performers.
Big Bill was featured heavily in AEW as a part of Chris Jericho’s learning tree. There was even a push to see him break from Jericho to take the Ring of Honor World Championship. Bill stands 6 feet, 10 inches, and weighs 282 pounds. Basically, the same size as Nduka. Wardlow is another one. The three-time AEW TNT Champion is 6 feet, 3 inches tall and 266 pounds. Again, not too far from where Nduka sits on the size scale. Both men received ample time in the AEW spotlight, so why couldn’t the same opportunity go Nduka’s way?
This is the challenge of organizations having rosters as packed as AEW. There’s a lot of talent in that company. Many of them do not get time on television. Fans are still pushing Tony Khan to book more than one women’s match on AEW Dynamite, and at this point it seems like it will never become a normal thing. Performers like Nduka have yet to break through, and that is not an indictment on their abilities or work ethic.
EJ Nduka is no longer with AEW, and the rumors are swirling about why that may be the case. Fightful Select provided some insight into that situation, and if it is true, then that is one of the worst reasons ever stated for cutting a talent.