As others were being released, Grimes was told he had a job for life.
Highlights
- Cameron Grimes was released this week, a few days after a group of Superstars headlined by Jinder Mahal were let go.
- Grimes has since revealed just five days before he lost hos job, a WWE executive told him he was safe.
- Grimes admits his salary combined with lack of work had him worried he was going to be let go.
WWE released a handful of Superstars last week, Jinder Mahal the biggest and most surprising name among them. Perhaps even more surprising was the follow-up release of Cameron Grimes a few days later. Not only because WWE doesn’t usually release wrestlers gradually, it does them in batches, but because it wasn’t too long ago Grimes’ future in WWE seemed bright. In fact, Grimes claims he was effectively reassured of that just five days before he was let go.
Told His Job Was Safe
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Grimes revealed while in attendance at last week’s SmackDown, a WWE executive told him he’d never have to worry about losing his job (H/T to Cageside Seats for the transcription).
I knew that I haven’t worked in over a year and I’m making a decent salary. So I knew that if someone was to look at the books, I’m gonna be the first person that’s gonna be cut… I was told by a high executive last week on Friday that I would always have a job here… Five days later, they called me and told that I do lose the job.
Jinder Mahal Showing Up To Feud With Tony Khan A Running Joke Backstage In WWE
Could Mahal become All Elite once his non-compete clause expires?
Grimes naturally didn’t reveal who exactly it was that claimed he would never have to worry about his job days before unexpectedly losing it. It was the exact same day Grimes was told his job was safe that Mahal and five other Superstars were told they had been let go. Grimes must have heard that news and further assumed that his job really was safe. Not only had he been told that by someone in the know, but hours later, a list of releases did not include his name.
Grimes’ Wasted Potential In WWE
Grimes noted that he hadn’t worked in WWE for a year prior to his release, but that’s not entirely true. The former North American Champion’s final match with the company was on April 12 – a losing effort to Bron Breakker on SmackDown. Grimes has actually wrestled quite a lot over the past year, but the problem seems to have been an inability for WWE to figure out exactly where they wanted the released star to spend the majority of his time.
Grimes was kind of called up from NXT, but it never felt like he fully arrived on SmackDown, keeping a foot in both worlds. He wrestled on a lot of live events and was also one of the first to compete on WWE Speed, a new show that airs exclusively on WWE’s social media channels. The charisma and in-ring ability Grimes has, not to mention him seemingly being a Triple H guy, made it feel like he’d continue to ascend in WWE, but apparently, that wasn’t to be.
