Over the past week or so, Von Wagner, Xyon Quinn, Veer, Sanga, Jinder Mahal, and Xia Li have all been released by WWE. Now, we have another name to add to the list: Cameron Grimes.
Known as Trevor Lee in TNA, he held the X-Division Championship three times and the World Tag Team Championship once before signing with WWE in 2019.
He had a lengthy and successful run in NXT, winning the NXT North American Championship and later holding the Million Dollar Championship in a standout storyline which also involved LA Knight and Ted DiBiase. That put him on the map, and there were high hopes for Grimes on the main roster.
Called up to SmackDown in the 2023 WWE Draft, Grimes was rarely used and finished his WWE run by losing to Bron Breakker in a squash match on April 12.
Now, the former WWE Superstar has issued an emotional statement on X:
"This is Trevor Lee, also known as Cameron Grimes. I just got off the phone with WWE, and unfortunately, I’ve been released from my contract. Five years ago, the last thing that I was able to tell my father was that I signed with the WWE. I loved working here. I loved working at the WWE. I want to thank absolutely everybody that’s helped me. I could sit here and name off a list of people, but the video might be a little bit too long."
"Even though you guys haven’t seen me in the past year, I’ve been trying my best to learn from everybody that comes through, everybody that would let me sit there and listen. But if you’re a fan of mine, I’m here to let you know that there’s a damn fire lit under my ass, man. All I want to do is work. All I’ve ever wanted to do is work. This is all I got, man."
"The good news is there ain’t going to be no stopping Trevor Lee now, baby. Let me tell you that. I love you guys. If you’re watching this, I love you. We’re going to figure this out. This isn’t what I wanted to do at all. The WWE is all I’ve ever wanted to do and be. But if I have to go somewhere else now to show them that they missed out, I guess that’s what I got to do. Thank you, guys."
We wish Grimes all the best and hope he lands on his feet. It's been widely reported that this latest wave of cuts were made because WWE Creative had nothing in mind of the wrestlers involved, suggesting they'd run their course in the company.
If Grimes/Lee can now go away and reinvent himself, we'd say it's possible he can return to WWE with renewed purpose.