Cesaro Recalls Being Released By WWE In 2006 Shortly After He Was Hired

In 2006, Cesaro was set to finish up his Independent run and join WWE. He and Chris Hero — known together as the Kings of Wrestling — lost the ROH Tag Team Championships in November 2006 and wrestled what was supposed to be their last match together at Final Battle 2006. 

However, after the match, Cesaro announced that he was not going to WWE and the Kings of Wrestling would remain together. 

Speaking to Lilian Garcia on Chasing Glory, Cesaro detailed what happened in 2006 and why he didn’t join WWE. 

“Literally, I got signed and finished all my Indie bookings. When I was just about done with all my bookings, I got a call that they ‘can’t hire me right now.’ I responded, ‘I am hired and already getting paid.’ I was going to move in two weeks, I was going to OVW. I was told that I was going to get my release in the next two weeks. They didn’t say why, I asked why and didn’t get a clear response. I saw the person after, who hired me, and he said that do this day he still didn’t know and that was at a point where he wasn’t with the company, so there was no reason for him to not tell me the truth. He just said he got told to let me go. I got paid by WWE for three months after that and started back up on the Indies. In the end, it worked out,” said Cesaro. 

Cesaro remained on the Independent scene until September 2011 when he did sign a developmental contract with WWE.

He has remained with WWE for nine years, becoming one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers in company history. 

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