All Elite Wrestling has a loaded roster of talent. Sadly, there isn’t room for everyone on the company’s five hours of weekly television shows. Now, the company has made a decision to release five on-screen talents.

AEW doesn’t release many talents, but it appears that they are doing just that. SEScoops has learned that the following individuals have been released from AEW: The Boys, Dasha Gonzolaz, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl, Anthony Henry, Gravity, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J.

AEW Releases 

PW Insider reports that AEW has released the Tate Twins (Dalton Castle’s Boys), Anthony Henry, Dasha Fuentes, and Stu Grayson. The company is said to be reviewing its roster and making cuts for the overall benefit of both the company and its talent. 

Sean Ross Sapp reported on Twiter/X that AEW has released a few more stars in Jora Johl, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J.

In all, we're told that the following releases have occurred in AEW:

The Boys
Dasha
Jose The Assistant
Jora Johl
Anthony Henry
Gravity
Stu Grayson
Parker Boudreaux
Slim J

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) April 2, 2024

Parker Boudreaux’s AEW Release

Parker Boudreaux recently made headlines when he showed up in AAA, but it was reported he was still under AEW contract. 

His last appearance in AEW was on March 3, 2023, in a tag team match alongside Swerve Strickland against Naturally Limitless on AEW Rampage. Since then, the 26-year-old hasn’t made any appearances on Tony Khan’s television shows.

Stu Grayson’s Time in AEW

Stu Grayson had two stints with AEW. He was with the company from 2019 to 2022. He had a second run in AEW that started in 2023, but now that is over.

Stu Grayson, along with Evil Uno, made a surprising debut as part of The Dark Order at AEW Double or Nothing on May 25, 2019. They kept going, and the Dark Order later evolved from that point.

Grayson’s contract expired on May 2, 2022, after both parties failed to reach a renewal agreement. He did some things on the indies, but that time away from AEW didn’t last long.

Grayson remained connected to The Dark Order, making a cameo appearance on the October 14 episode of Rampage. In a backstage segment, he highlighted the group’s inability to visit his native Canada without his presence. Eventually, Grayson was re-signed and returned to action on the March 15, 2023, episode of Dynamite, marking his comeback to AEW.

We will have to see if Stu Grayson makes another return to AEW later on. Right now, it appears that he is off on his own once again.

Other Released Talent

It was later reported that Dalton Castle’s Boys, The Tate Twins, were released. They were featured on ROH content, and alongside Castle. Anthony Henry, who was a standout performer with a lot of potential, was also released.

Dasha Gonzalez, who appeared as backstage interviewers in WWE as Dasha Fuentes, was also released. Her usage on television was diminished when Renee Paquette came in, but it was still a surprise to see her let go. She was used as ring announcer, but she was sadly part of the cut list. 

SEScoops will have more on this story, and many more, as we get additional updates. Please keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines!

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Monday, April 1. We are officially less than one week away from WrestleMania 40. Let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!

Okay, it’s April Fools’ Day, but you won’t find anything like that here at SEScoops. That being said, be careful what you see today on social media, because we live in a day and age where it’s getting easier to get fooled.

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 5

WWE

– WrestleMania 40 Change: WWE is discussing the idea that they may have to change one WrestleMania title match. A meeting is set up to talk about it later this week.

– Balor’s Busted Face: Finn Balor showed off a very busted up looking face recently on social media. We’ll have to see how much he can heal up by WrestleMania 40.

– More Mania Matches: WWE is reportedly close to adding a Philly Street Fight to the WrestleMania 40 card.

– Dragunov’s Call-Up: A report ran yesterday discussing WWE’s intentions for Ilja Dragunov’s eventual main roster call-up from NXT.

WWE RAW Card for 4/1/24: 

• The Rock & Roman Reigns appear
• Eight-man tag match: DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) & The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh)
• Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri
• Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed

AEW

 – Parker Boudreaux’s AEW Status: A new report came out yesterday that broke down Parker Boudreaux’s current AEW contract status. He’s apparently still with the company, even though he hasn’t appeared on television in over a year. 

– Omega Fires Back: Kenny Omega had something to say to anyone who wants to drag his ability to tell stories. 

– Tony Schiavone’s Personal Loss: Our thoughts go out to Schiavone and his family as they deal with the loss of their dog.

– No AEW For Nemeth: Nic Nemeth had a very good reason for not going to AEW yet.

– Audible Called: Although AEW had to call an audible during Collision this week for their tag team match, Ricky Starks is going to be okay.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

AEW has a lot of wrestlers on their roster, and there’s only so much time on Dynamite, Collision and Rampage for everyone. That being said, just because someone is absent doesn’t mean they are gone entirely.

Parker Boudreaux hasn’t been seen in AEW for a long time, and he recently debuted in AAA. He is still under contract with AEW, but there are no current creative plans for his return.

Boudreaux is still All Elite

Parker Boudreaux’s presence in All Elite Wrestling has dwindled significantly, with no recent appearances in the promotion.

Boudreaux made his most recent appearance in AEW on March 3, 2023, where he and Swerve Strickland lost to Naturally Limitless on AEW Rampage. The 26-year-old hasn’t been seen on Tony Khan’s television shows since.

Fightful Select reports that sources indicate that AEW approved his appearance in AAA, suggesting that he remains under contract with the company. However, Boudreaux’s time with AEW has extended for over a year without any on-screen appearances.

Although he has recovered from the injury that took him out of action last year, Boudreaux has yet to return to AEW television, and there are no reported creative plans for him. Despite his absence from AEW programming, Boudreaux was spotted backstage at a recent event.

Parker is still with AEW, but there are currently no creative plans to bring him back to television. We will have to see what he is able to do in AAA.

Who is Parker Boudreaux

Parker burst onto the scene through his college football background, where he was labeled a Brock Lesnar look-alike. He was rated in impressive fashion by ESPN and Rivals.com as a four-star recruit. He then received offers from over 75 schools before committing to play football for Notre Dame. Parker transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he played football from 2017 to 2020 after redshirting his freshman year.

He eventually signed with WWE, where he made appearances on the NXT brand as Harland until he was surprisingly released in April 2022.

It didn’t take long for Tony Khan to sign him to AEW, where he was allowed to use his real name.

Previously aligned with the Mogul Embassy faction, Boudreaux suffered an injury alongside fellow member Trench, resulting in their sideline from action. While Trench’s contract lapsed, Boudreaux’s association with the group was internally dissolved as Swerve Strickland founded a new stable.

WWE had Parker Boudreaux in their NXT brand for a while, and he performed under the name Harlow. Now, he is off to new ventures, and it appears that he is branching out into a new home as well.

Parker Boudreaux recently showed up at a AAA show. Fans had a lot of questions about his AEW status, because it’s been a year since he has been seen on Tony Khan’s shows. Now, Parker has something to say about his situation.

Parker Boudreaux Speaks

During the AAA event on March 17, Parker Boudreaux made an unexpected appearance. As part of his debut, he targeted Octagon Jr. and Mecha Wolf, prompting El Mesías to intervene and confront Boudreaux. Now, fans are wondering what is going on with his status in the pro wrestling world.

In an Instagram video by Lucha Libre Online, Parker Boudreaux discussed his debut with AAA and his motives for being there. He made it clear that AAA is a new home for him, but it isn’t the only one.

“I’m here to show the whole world that I’m the big guy, the most versatile young athlete/wrestler there is on the market right now, and I’m with AAA, one of my new homes. I can’t wait to show the whole world what’s up,” Boudreaux stated.

He hinted at ongoing developments between himself and Mesías, urging fans to stay tuned for further updates. He seems to have something brewing in AAA, but that doesn’t include Tony Khan’s company.

Parker Boudreaux has been absent from wrestling since March 2023. He was taken out of action with an injury, and he hasn’t been seen since. Now, we have to wonder if the former NXT Superstar’s time in AEW is over.

What’s Next For Parker

Parker did not say that he is 100% gone from AEW. Tony Khan did remove him from the Mogul Affiliates stable when he was injured, and Swerve Strickland went in another direction with his faction.

At this point, Parker will keep making a lot of noise wherever he goes. At this point, fans should expect him to display a raw dominance in the ring. Hopefully, he gets plenty of chances to show fans what he is capable of in the future.

SEScoops will keep our eye on this story, and so much more, as it develops. Keep checking back throughout the day for more headlines and updates! 

When Parker Boudreaux signed with WWE in February 2021, there was a lot of buzz about the young prospect.

With his imposing physique, many compared Boudreaux to Brock Lesnar, and Parker was endorsed by Lesnar’s former advocate Paul Heyman.

Rechristened Harland, Boudreaux was part of the revamped NXT 2.0 when the show launched in September 2021.

In April, Boudreaux was among ten Superstars released from NXT 2.0, and he would go on to compete in MLW and AEW.

All-Elite

During this week’s episode of AEW Rampage, Boudreaux made his in-ring TV debut for the promotion, after weeks of picking up wins on Dark and Dark: Elevation.

On the show, Boudreaux continued his winning ways, defeating Sonny Kiss in the latter’s first televised match in two years.

Following this week’s episode, AEW President Tony Khan took to Twitter to announce that Boudreaux has signed a deal with the company.

Release from WWE

Given the buzz around Boudreaux when he signed with WWE, his release from the promotion just over a year later came as a shock.

At the time of his release, many assumed Boudreaux had been cut due to ‘budget cuts’ which had been used to explain the past two years of releases.

It was later reported that Boudreaux had not shown the level of improvement WWE were hoping to see from him in his year with the company.

It was also noted that the promotion found something out about him, but it is unclear what specifically they learned.

Tony Khan is said to be quite high on a new faction that is debuting on AEW Dark.

Factions in the wrestling business are simply meant to be. There are a ton of legendary stables in the business.

When wrestling fans think of factions, they reminisce on the days when The Four Horsemen ruled the earth, or when the nWo ran roughshod all over WCW.

Today, factions continue to be a key part of the wrestling industry.

You can add another faction to the list of current groups and this one has Tony Khan seeing dollar signs.

Tony Khan Gushes Over New Faction

A stable featuring former WWE NXT star Parker Boudreaux, Ariya Daivari (now Ari Daivari), and Slim J will be making its presence felt on AEW Dark at first.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reports that Tony Khan is very high on the group, which he’s calling the Trust Busters.

The idea is that Daivari is now rich after his trust came in on July 4.

Meltzer notes that a decision has yet to be made on whether or not this faction will be featured regularly on the AEW brand or ROH.

Boudreaux was released by WWE earlier this year, which came as a surprise as many felt he had big star potential. It was even reported that Edge wanted him to join The Judgment Day stable at one point.

Former WWE star Parker Boudreaux, better known to NXT fans as Harland, has made his debut for Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling.

The former NXT star took part in the most recent AEW Dark tapings from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. He was part of the second session of the tapings.

He was introduced by fellow WWE alumni Ariya Daivari. Daivari, now going by the name Ari revealed Boudreaux as the newest member of the Trustbusters stable he created with former ROH star Slim J.

The former WWE recruit competed in a match against Serpentico, which he won. Later in the night, he accompanied Daivari for his win against Fuego del Sol.

Parker Boudreaux took part in a tryout back in February 2021. The heavyweight star made his debut for NXT as Joe Gacy’s bodyguard in October 2021.

Harland made his in-ring debut for the promotion in December 2021. He didn’t last long with the company after that. His last match took place in March 2022 and he was released a month later.

It’s unknown whether Boudreaux has been signed by AEW. Though his recruitment in the newly formed stable suggests that we will be seeing more of him in the company.

• WWE Released Parker Boudreaux (Harland) After They “Found Something” About Him

Parker Boudreaux, aka Harland, was once considered “The Next Big Thing” in WWE, but was cut this year after the company “found something out.”

Boudreaux signed with WWE in February 2021 but had already made a name for himself by being compared to Brock Lesnar.

Debuting as Harland and as a follower of Joe Gacy, Boudreaux was one of ten names cut on April 30.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirmed rumors that Boudreaux had been hand-picked to be part of Edge’s stable ‘The Judgement Day.’

This was said to be a closely-guarded secret, with only very few people knowing about the plan.

Boudreaux himself was not aware of his imminent call-up to the main roster.

Meltzer adds that when WWE “found something about Boudreaux,” plans changed, and he had developed a reputation of being hurt a lot.

Boudreaux had also stopped improving and was not showing the progress WWE had hoped he would be at this point in his career, and the decision was made to release him.

Prior to coming to WWE, Boudreaux had played for the University of Central Florida football team.

He has since teased working with Canadian rapper Drake who is said to be interested in the former Superstar for a project.

• Parker Boudreaux Already Making Waves After WWE Release (May 2022)

Former WWE Superstar Harland (Parker Boudreaux) wont have trouble finding work in the wrestling business.

Boudreaux was released from WWE last week after an underwhelming stint in NXT.

The 6’4″ heavyweight came into the company with a lot of fan fare. During an interview with Bleacher Report last year, Boudreaux said he gets compared to Brock Lesnar frequently. “I probably get that one every day,” he said.

Lesnar’s former advocate, Paul Heyman, also touted his potential.

• Paul Heyman Promises Big Things For Parker Boudreaux

Parker Boudreaux is Back

Shortly after his WWE release, Boudreux let it be known that “Harland” is gone and he is back using his birth name.

It didn’t take long for Parker Boudreaux’s return to get the attention of other promoters.

MLW CEO Court Bauer took notice of Boudreaux’s tweets and said he’s a “beast of an athlete” that will realize his potential as a “big player” one day.

As a former member of the NXT roster, Boudreaux is likely bound by a 30-day non-compete clause. He would be able to appear for other companies starting in late May.

Parker Boudreaux (Harland) was among the NXT names to be released by WWE on Friday, which came as a surprise to fans because of the hype that WWE put behind him. 

According to Fightful, Harland’s time in the company was cut short because the WWE officials felt that he “had not progressed in the ring quite enough for their liking.”

The prospect was nicknamed “The Next Big Thing” because of comparisons to Brock Lesnar. Harland signed with WWE in early 2021 after being an offensive guard at the University of Central Florida. 

WWE paired him with Joe Gacy on NXT 2.0 where they had him shave his head. However, he recently disappeared from television when Gacy’s program with Bron Breakker started for the NXT Title. They’ll meet in a title match this coming Tuesday night on Spring Break In’.

Prior to signing with WWE, he was training with former WWE star Eva Marie, who was back with the company at the time before she was released. 

Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens, Persia Pirotta aka Stephanie De Landre, Sanjana George aka Vish Kanya, Draco Anthony aka Reginald Chase Crews, Mila Malani aka Kellie Morga, and Raelyn Divine aka Jaylen Williams were also let go by WWE today. 

Two NXT developmental talents have received name changes.

First, Parker Boudreaux has taken to his Instagram account to reveal his new name. He will be competing as Gunnar Harland.

“Soul Reaper… NEW NAME. ‘GUNNAR HARLAND.’”

Next up is Bronson Rechsteiner, who changed his name on Twitter as well as his handle. He is going by Rex Steiner from here on. He is the son of Rick Steiner.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that many have been impressed by Steiner.

“People are heavily praising the potential of the ‘real athletes’ in camp right now, notably Bronson Rechsteiner, the son of Rick Steiner, and the Kasper Brothers, who were great college wrestlers, as well as Bobby Steveson, the older brother of Gable Steveson.”

Meltzer’s report falls in line with WWE’s renewed focus on bigger and younger talent as opposed to independent wrestlers. NXT is also said to be returning to its roots as a developmental brand rather than being in the same league as Raw and SmackDown.

WWE recently signed a new crop of developmental talent. It wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if some of these athletes also undergo name changes in the coming weeks. We’ll be sure to keep you posted.

The newest class of students at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando reported today. The full class is expected to consist of over 20 new wrestlers to the company. 10 names have been confirmed thus far, some of whom are considered top prospects.

22-year-old former college football player, Parker Boudreaux, draws comparisons to Brock Lesnar frequently. He reported to the WWE Performance Center today according to a report from PW Insider. Boudreaux is someone WWE has had on their radar for some time.

Latest WWE Performance Center Class

In addition to Parker Boudreaux, the following names are also starting at the WWE Performance Center on Tuesday:

• Bronson Rechsteiner – son of Rick Steiner, nephew of Scott Steiner, he was cut from the NFL and signed with WWE recently.
• Angela Arnold – known on the independents at AQA, she is a graduate of Booker T’s school.
• Christian Brigham – 7-year pro from the northeast trained by Brian Fury.
• Anthony Henry – 19-year pro from Georgia. Former tag champion and mainstay in EVOLVE.
• Christian Hubble – known on the independents as Blake Christian. Had been wrestling in Impact and GCW as of late.
• Karissa Rivera – 3 year pro from New Jersey. Has worked as enhancement talent for NXT and the main roster.
• Zoey Stark – formerly known as Lacey Ryan. Debuted in NXT already as part of the Dusty Rhodes Classic.
• Cora Jade – formerly known as Elayna Black. She has also already debuted in the Dusty Rhodes Classic. Black had been wrestling on AEW Dark before signing.
• Gigi Dolin – The new name of Priscilla Kelly, she is a former Mae Young Classic participant and also already debuted in the Dusty Rhodes Classic.

Parker Boudreaux is considered a blue-chip prospect for WWE. He recently signed with the company and has been backstage at events as of late.

Boudreaux posted video online yesterday that is garnering attention. The former UCF football star says he’s played his last ‘snap and is now focused on his pro-wrestling career.

Boudreaux continued to post several images to his Twitter account. Braun Strowman then responded to one Twitter user’s belief that Boudreaux could face Strowman at WrestleMania someday.

Paul Heyman had noted that he believes Boudreaux could be “The Next Big Thing” which is a line he previously used for Brock Lesnar.

Boudreaux previously noted that he gets comparisons to Brock Lesnar as well as Rocky IV’s Ivan Drago.

“I probably get that one every day,” he said to the Bleacher Report. “I’ll get [Ivan] Drago from Rocky. I’ll get [Brian] Bosworth. Everybody has something. It’s pretty funny.”

Jim Ross has also spoken about Boudreaux’s potential. He sent out the following Tweet last April.

Braun Strowman returned to action on this week’s edition of RAW. He had been on the shelf with a blood infection that caused him to lose 15lbs.

Parker Boudreaux is WWE bound. The 6’4″ heavyweight has long been on WWE’s radar. It now appears that he’s leaving the gridiron for the wrestling ring.

The University of Central Florida football team just released its roster for the next season and Parker Boudreaux was conspicuously absent. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Boudreaux has put pen to paper and recently signed a developmental deal with WWE. “He signed a developmental deal and did a publicity photo of him at a Royal Rumble party watching with Eva Marie.”

Dave Meltzer added that he was backstage at the January 20th NXT TV tapings.

Parker Boudreaux To WWE

Boudreaux is based out of the Orlando, FL area, home of WWE’s Performance Center. It is not currently known when he’ll be reporting to the PC.

During an interview with Bleacher Report, Boudreaux said he gets compared to Brock Lesnar frequently. “I probably get that one every day,” he said. “I’ll get [Ivan] Drago from Rocky. I’ll get [Brian] Bosworth. Everybody has something. It’s pretty funny.”

Brock Lesnar’s former advocate, Paul Heyman sees Parker Boudreaux’s star potential. Heyman told fans to keep an eye on him in 2021.

WWE is not the only company that had eyes on Parker Boudreaux. AEW Executive Jim Ross also sent feelers to him on social media.