A few days ago, it was widely reported that former NXT Cruiserweight Champion Drew Gulak had been released by WWE. Triple H was asked about that during Backlash's post-show press conference and confirmed he's no longer with the company.
"We release talent all of the time," The Game stated. "The NFL releases four to five hundred people a year, players a year. We release talent all of the time. It's part of what we do." You can't just hire people, bring them in, keep hiring people, and just keep bringing them in."
"So an unfortunate part of the job is talent getting released. Can I say that he was released? He was not released. His contract was just not renewed."
This same after former UFC fighter and WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey alleged that Gulak grabbed the string of her sweatpants in a bizarre backstage interaction. He responded by saying he tried to shake her hand and touched the drawstring by mistake.
It was around this time the company wrote him off NXT television, with the D'Angelo family implying that they "took care" of him.
Now, we have an update from Fightful Select. It's said he was labelled as a "bully" backstage after repeatedly targeting the injuries of talents who were recovering from minor physical issues. One unnamed NXT star goes so far as to allege that he intentionally re-dislocated their figure during a match.
The report also alleges that Gulak was "verbally reprimanded" by Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels and NXT's coaches after purposely spiking an opponent in a match.
As if that's not bad enough, he supposedly "tested" talent to see if they'd respond, using intimidation tactics to stop them from reporting him.
Gulak initially gained attention in the independent circuit, competing in promotions like Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Evolve Wrestling, where he developed a reputation as a skilled technician and submission specialist.
In WWE, Gulak competed in the Cruiserweight division, where he became known for his "PowerPoint presentations" and comedic antics, adding a unique dimension to his character. Over time, he transitioned into a more serious competitor, aligning himself with groups like the "Zo Train" and focusing on his in-ring abilities.
Throughout his WWE career, Gulak held titles such as the WWE 24/7 Championship and the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. As we write this, he's yet to comment on his in-ring future following this release.