“Disappointment, Like Shame”: WWE Star Opens Up on His Emotional Breakdown Following His Shocking Treatment Under Vince McMahon’s Reign

It is almost every wrestler’s dream to be a part of WWE. Some even get the opportunity to associate their name with the company. But losing it disappoints them from the core. 

One such WWE star, Top Dolla, opened up about his feelings on his WWE release. On the ‘Out of Character’ podcast with Ryan Satin, he poured out all his deep-down emotions. He confessed the disappointment and shame he felt after getting released from WWE. However, changes made in higher authority resulted in his favor. 

Before being a member of Hit Row alongside Ashante “Thee” Adonis, B-Fab, and Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, he served five years in the NFL as well. His debut was on NXT, where he became a member of Hit Row. Soon, they escalated to SmackDown in October 2021. But a month later, WWE released them, citing ‘budget cuts’ as the reason.

When asked about his initial reaction to getting released from WWE, he admitted, “Disappointment, Like shame, I’ve worked to get to that point, and being the fastest call-up ever in “NXT” history to then be released a month later… Honestly, I didn’t know that this would happen.”

“I had no assurances that I would be back in WWE again. So I felt like maybe the two years that I had spent in “NXT” to get to that point was just a waste of my time because I was going to have to do something else now,” Top Dolla further added.

Top Dolla’s dream to be in World Wrestling Entertainment

His words clearly show the shock that his team and other wrestlers must have felt after getting released by the WWE. They received a devastating email from John Laurinaitis.

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Meanwhile, Hit Row worked as an independent circuit under the name of HitMakerz. They appeared at companies like MCW Pro Wrestling. But none of it can match the charm of WWE. It was a dream of A.J Francis to be on SmackDown and losing on an opportunity like this was heart-wrenching for him.

Regime change in WWE saved Hit Row

While expressing his feelings on the podcast, Francis mentioned his contacts with Triple H and how he feels blessed for it. They used to talk about random things and not just about wrestling. So, when Triple H stepped in to be the Head of Creative after Vince McMahon’s retirement, good news floated for Hit Row. Soon they made their return with other wrestlers like Dakota Kai and IYO SKY.

After hitting a depressing phase in life, Top Dolla lost his hope of rejoining World Wrestling Entertainment. But his fate had some other plans for him. Hit Row officially returned to WWE on the August 12 episode of SmackDown but without Isaiah “Swerve” Scott. 

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