As we previously reported here on eWn, WWE released Cameron Grimes from his contract earlier this week, ending his 5-year tenure with the company.
On a recent edition of the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Grimes revealed that he had received assurance from a senior WWE executive about his job security at the company.
However, surprisingly, Grimes was released from WWE just five days later.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On his move to the main roster: “That’s really what I’ve been trying to wrap my head around. I got called up in August 2023, they wrote me off NXT to go up to the main roster. I wasn’t drafted onto the main roster until 2024 when they did the draft. There was probably a good six to eight months when I was traveling to the main roster, waiting to make that transition. That’s when there was a different person in charge. They kind of told me, ‘We’re waiting to get you started.’”
On what happened during the 2023 WWE Draft: “When the draft came around last year, that was their point of ‘here is a good way to lead you in now because we didn’t have a story for you the past couple of months.’ I got drafted up, we had the match with Baron Corbin. In that moment with Corbin, he literally told me, ‘Nothing in NXT matters now.’ That was a quote that will always stick in my head. ‘Nothing in NXT matters now. Up here, everything is new.’ Two weeks later, NXT mattered. You saw guys being brought from NXT to our show. I was always told that they didn’t have an idea for me at the moment. I pitched a bunch of ideas and a bunch of character ideas. I had a feeling the money thing just wasn’t going to work there. They tried it with Corbin before I got there, with the JBL thing. I feel that was because of the success I had with the Cameron Grimes character in NXT, that’s why they went with that storyline. To go back to Corbin, the first time I met him, he was like, ‘Hey, I’m the guy that stole your gimmick.’ Those are my two big quotes from Baron Corbin. Still a great guy, just things that stick in my head.”
On hearing from someone he’d always have a job in WWE: “Over the past few months, I had been going to writers and saying, ‘I just want to work.’ I would hear that I would maybe sound bitter. I don’t understand that process or how I came off being bitter. I guess every week, when I ask to work, I guess it starts annoying people. I could see that. it was strange to me. The last time I was at TV, I had a pretty high executive tell me — I was worried. Starting the stock market gimmick made me see business in a different light. Following these companies and playing with stocks, I would see things in a different light. I knew that I hadn’t worked in over a year and I was making a decent salary. I knew that if someone was to look at the books, I was going to be the first person cut, if you’re looking at it strictly money-wise. If you’re looking at, ‘This is a talent that can do something for us,’ they’re going to keep me. I was told by a high executive on Friday that I would always have a job here. I would never have to worry about losing my job, after expressing my concerns. Five days later, they called and told me I did lose my job.”
Former WWE Superstar Cameron Grimes recently opened up about his surprising release from the company, shedding light on the assurances he had received from a senior WWE executive regarding his job security.
Grimes, whose real name is Trevor Lee Caddell, had been with WWE for five years before being let go earlier this week. In a recent appearance on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, he revealed that he had been given reassurances about his future with the company just days before his release.
The 28-year-old wrestler discussed his move to the main roster, saying, “I got called up in August 2023, they wrote me off NXT to go up to the main roster. I wasn’t drafted onto the main roster until 2024 when they did the draft. There was probably a good six to eight months when I was traveling to the main roster, waiting to make that transition.”
Grimes also shared an interesting anecdote about his experience during the 2023 WWE Draft. He recalled a conversation with Baron Corbin, where Corbin told him, “Nothing in NXT matters now. Up here, everything is new.” Grimes admitted that he was always told they didn’t have any ideas for him at the moment and that he pitched several character ideas.
The former WWE Superstar also revealed that he had been actively seeking opportunities to work and had expressed his concerns to the writers. However, he was surprised to hear that some people perceived him as bitter. Grimes said, “The last time I was at TV, I had a pretty high executive tell me that I would always have a job here. I would never have to worry about losing my job, after expressing my concerns.”
Unfortunately, just five days after receiving this assurance, Grimes received a call informing him of his release from WWE. He expressed his disappointment and confusion about the situation, especially considering the previous reassurances he had been given.
Grimes had gained popularity in NXT with his “Cameron Grimes” character, which led to a storyline involving Baron Corbin. However, he believes that the success of his character may have influenced the decision to release him.
While Grimes acknowledged that his high salary and lack of in-ring activity may have played a role in his release, he believed that his talent and potential value to the company should have been taken into consideration.
The news of Cameron Grimes’ release has sparked discussions among wrestling fans and industry insiders, with many expressing surprise and disappointment over WWE’s decision. Grimes’ revelations about the assurances he received from a senior executive only add to the intrigue surrounding his release.
As Grimes explores new opportunities outside of WWE, fans will undoubtedly be curious to see where his career takes him next.