Heath Slater has already commented on his recent WWE release in an Instagram post, but the former Tag-Team Champion has now elaborated while appearing on Lillian Garcia's podcast, and explained why he wasn't sad to see the back of the company.
Slater debuted almost ten years ago as a member of the Nexus faction, but quickly transitioned into a more comedic role. He made the best of it, getting over with the "I got kids" gimmick and enjoying a Tag-team Championship run with Rhyno, but eventually got lost in the shuffle and was barely utilized on TV over the last couple of years.
During the interview, Heath reveals that he did attempt to speak to creative about new ideas for his character, but was continually met with a brick wall. Because of this, he really feels like his release was for the best, as he's now free to pursue new avenues.
“I did try to go in and I did try to talk to them and push, but they just [said], ‘No, no, no,’. I heard no too many times to where I said, ‘You know what, s**t, I’m not going to push no more.’ Because when I do, it goes nowhere, or if I do pitch something, they give to someone else. I was sitting like, ‘Hello, come on now.’ When you get tired of hearing, ‘No, no, no, not for you, you can’t do that,’ you kind of start believing it.
Like I said, getting fired, I really believe I needed this. The times are crazy and the times are weird now ’cause you can’t go out and make money and stuff, but I believe I really needed this to get the fire, to get the hunger [back] and to focus.”
It's a shame Slater never got a bigger push in WWE, but hopefully he will be given the opportunity to reach his full potential when he does eventually return to the ring.