WWE is honoring Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham with a WWE Hall of Fame induction as the U.S. Express. Rotunda had quite a career in WWE, but he was okay with how things ended.
Mike Rotunda was placed on furlough, along with numerous other WWE personnel, on April 15, 2020, and subsequently received his official release on September 10, 2020. Rotunda says he was okay with this decision to release him, because he was considering pulling the plug on his career with WWE at that time.
Mike Rotunda Speaks On WWE Release
Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham spoke to Paul Rosenberg about his career in pro wrestling. Rosenberg asked the former I.R.S. about his final days as a producer in WWE, and Rotunda said that he was thinking about calling it quits prior to his release.
My last year as a producer in WWE, I think it was [2020], when COVID hit they furloughed a bunch of people, and I was one of them. Then I came back for a short time after that, but then they let quite a few producers go like myself and Arn Anderson and Dean Malenko — guys who had been there.”
“This was fine by me, because I was about ready to pull the plug myself. I had my hip operated on and replaced. So, I was out for a couple of months. I told my wife — and this was after a good 13 years of doing it — and I said, ‘after being home for a couple of months, I don’t know if I want to go back to work.’ So, it just kinda worked itself out like that, so it was okay with me.”
Rotunda After His WWE Release
Mike Rotunda made a couple WWE appearances even after his release. In January 2021, during Raw Legends Night, Rotunda, going under his I.R.S. character, returned for the first time after his WWE release, appearing backstage with Ric Flair. Then, on January 23, 2023, Rotunda, still as I.R.S., was seen backstage during Raw is XXX alongside Ted DiBiase.
Rotunda will also be featured in the upcoming documentary Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal, which is set to debut on April 1.
Rotunda’s Other Accolades
Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham will receive a WWE Hall of Fame honor as the U.S. Express, but this isn’t the only honor he’s received. Rotunda captured the WWF Tag Team Championship a total of five times. He won the titles twice alongside Barry Windham and three times with Ted DiBiase as his partner.
On September 3, 2021, the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame revealed that Rotunda would join its 2022 Class, alongside announcer Jim Ross and Trish Stratus.
