KEY POINTS

  • PW Insider has reported that Cesaro decided to leave the WWE after 11 years
  • Sources also disclose that both sides remain cordial and a return is not completely impossible
  • Fans had been hoping that WWE would give Cesaro a push, but it never materialized

Former WWE United States Champion Cesaro has left the company on Thursday, February 24, and it has left fans scrambling for every bit of information as to why.

Mike Johnson of PW Insider first broke the surprising development, citing that WWE and Cesaro failed to come to terms on a contract extension after the 41-year-old Swiss turned down the company’s most recent offer.

Since Cesaro’s contract expired, PW Insider noted that he will have no 90-day non-compete clause that was put into effect for many of the superstars that WWE has released over the past two years.

“This would be a case of Cesaro's contract expiring, so there would be no 90-day non-compete. Cesaro had been slated to be at tomorrow's Smackdown taping in Hershey, PA, but will obviously no longer be there as his deal expired earlier this week.”

Fightful Select revealed that many in the locker room were “disappointed and dismayed” about what had happened, with the outlet adding in a separate report that the company had plans laid out for him in the short-term had he re-signed.

“Cesaro had lost his last seven televised matches dating all the way back to November, and we’re told there was no indication he was going to re-sign, and therefore no incentive to push him accordingly,” they said as quoted by Ringside News.

While “The Swiss Superman” may have felt slighted by how he was treated by WWE, a separate report surfaced that Cesaro has not burned any bridges with the promotion and could make a return sometime in the future.

His decision to leave WWE--which he has been with for the past 11 years--is not surprising given how he was booked in recent months, highlighted by a seven-match losing streak.

Fans had been clamoring for Cesaro to be given a push as his unique wrestling style and in-ring charisma have endeared him to them, but the powers that be opted not to take a chance on him possibly because of his injury history.

Whatever the case may be, pro wrestling fans are hotly anticipating where Cesaro will land, with rival pro wrestling company All Elite Wrestling (AEW) being the leading destination.

Cesaro leaves WWE with multiple Raw and SmackDown tag team title reigns (total of 7), the 2014 Andre the Giant Memorial Trophy, and a 239-day reign as the United States Champion.

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