Theory That TKO Dislike of Dark Characters Drove the Post-WrestleMania Releases Dismissed

The circulating theory that someone within TKO’s leadership drove the post-WrestleMania 42 releases due to a dislike of darker or supernatural characters has been disputed by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. While the story had made the rounds among multiple WWE talents — with Mike Johnson of PWInsider reporting he heard it from numerous sources — Meltzer’s account from those closer to the actual decision-making paints a more straightforward picture.

“Regarding the story that the Wyatts and Black were released because TKO didn’t like dark characters, we were told that was ‘bullshit’ and that these were not decisions that even reached that level. The feeling was they got all out of the Wyatts they were going to get and Black and Vega was just a decision made on who they weren’t going to do anything more with. The reality is that even though they recruited Black hard to get out of AEW, once he returned, they really didn’t have much in the way of ideas for him,” Meltzer reported.

The Dark Character Theory Had Pointed to the Undertaker’s American Badass Appearances as Supporting Evidence

The theory had gained traction among WWE talent because of the visible pattern in the released performers — the entire Wyatt Sicks faction, Aleister Black, and Zelina Vega all had associations with darker or supernatural character work. Fans and talent alike also pointed to The Undertaker appearing primarily as his American Badass biker persona in recent WWE appearances rather than the supernatural Deadman character as potential supporting evidence. Johnson noted he could not verify the theory but had heard it repeatedly. Meltzer’s sourcing suggests the reality was simpler — creative exhaustion with the Wyatt Sicks as a concept and a lack of ideas for Black specifically after going to considerable lengths to sign him away from AEW.