Breaking WWE News: Adam Rose Released

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

​Spring cleaning is upon us, folks.

Only a few weeks after eight on-air talents were cut and one day removed from WWE's official release of Cody Rhodes, Adam Rose is now gone from the company as well. News broke this morning that WWE granted his request to be released, which is interesting because that same verbiage wasn't used in Rhodes' release statement, who as noted requested his release as well. At any rate, WWE wrote the following:

---

​WWE has granted Adam Rose’s request to be released, as of today, May 23, 2016. WWE wishes Rose the best in all his future endeavors.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the Adam Rose (real name Ray Leppan) dilemma over the past month. He was first suspended by the organization for 60 days back in April for violating WWE's Wellness Policy (which he spoke out against on Twitter shortly thereafter). He was then suspended indefinitely by WWE after getting arrested for "alleged charges of tampering with a witness, a felony, and battery domestic violence, a misdemeanor."

It was really more a matter of when and not if he was going to get his walking papers, but according to the statement, he requested his release. It's possible WWE pressured him into quitting, or perhaps he thought it was in his best interest at this turbulent time, but that's merely speculation on my end.

Either way, it's unfortunate to see him go after all the buzz he had coming out of that phenomenal ESPN special that aired one year ago, highlighting his family life and how he was on chopping block at various points throughout his NXT run. He rejuvenated his career with the Adam Rose character in March 2014, and although I was big on the gimmick at the time, WWE made the mistake of promoting him to the main roster too quickly where he failed miserably.

It wasn't anything he did but rather WWE not giving him anything substantial to do. As soon as they saw his "Rosebud" shtick wasn't getting over with the masses, they pulled the plug instead of waiting it out or developing the character more. He went through several character reboots over the next two years and was a part of The Social Outcasts up until he was taken off TV in April.

It's not as if he could have been a world champion in WWE or anything those lines, but he could have been a much more valuable asset to the company if they simply let him be himself last year following the aforementioned ESPN special. I don't know if he would have found much more success as Leo Kruger, but it would have been worth a shot. Regardless, I wish him all the best. The last few months have obviously been tough on him, so hopefully leaving the company will be the first step in him getting his life back on track.


​SEE ALSO: "Breaking WWE News: Cody Rhodes Released"