Several WWE releases were announced on Friday, October 10. One of the more shocking names was that of Wes Lee. Lee had long been a staple on WWE NXT, and someone that had a lot of upside both there and potentially on the main roster. That would never come to pass, however. Now that he’s a set to be a free agent, promotions should look at him as an important piece for any roster.
Nine performers were released by the end of the day. Stevie Turner, Lance Anoa’i, Jin Tala, Drako Knox, Haze Jameson, Summer Sorrell, Brayden Ray, and Jamar Hampton rounded out the group. They added to a list that included several names whose WWE ID contracts were not being renewed for one reason or another. Lee is the top name on that list, and one that shocked a lot of his fans and NXT viewers.
Wes Lee may have been seen as a mid-card talent, but he had so much more upside. His 269-day run as the WWE NXT North American Champion was the type of tenure that set the legacy for that championship. Along the way, Lee was featured in several amazing matches including the Fatal Five Way at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2023, the match against Dijak at NXT Vengeance Day 2023, against Axiom that same year, and his match against Carmelo Hayes back in 2022.
Wes Lee never had the opportunity to get a run on the main roster. Which is a travesty in one sense, but also understandable in another. Especially when looking at the way Black men are booked on the main roster. Lee could have served well as a top player within NXT, but that wasn’t an opportunity to came his way either.
Now, as a free agent, it will be interesting to see where Lee goes to next. Of course, fans will immediately point at All Elite Wrestling, but that roster is astoundingly deep. Lee would not stand out there, beyond potentially being featured on Ring of Honor.
Instead, two promotions should stand at the forefront when thinking about signing Wes Lee: New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA Wrestling. Signing with TNA Wrestling seems like quite the backward step thanks to the company’s partnership with WWE. TNA has taken the backseat to WWE in a way that is borderline embarrassing but not shocking. New Japan would be a better option. That promotion needs some individuals who will attract attention because the current roster and booking aren’t getting the job done. Plus, Lee is a performer who can put on matches at the quality that fans expect within NJPW. Putting Lee in the 2026 G1 Climax would be a no-brainer.
Wes Lee had a strong run with WWE NXT. Three major title reigns and consistently featured on NXT are accolades worth holding your head high. Now that he’s leaving the promotion, it will be interesting to see where he shows up next and the type of impact he’ll have in a new company.