Andre Chase said Friday that he has been released from his WWE contract, closing one chapter of a run that started with a message he says was never supposed to lead to television, let alone a following. In a video posted to fans, Chase said the news was effective as of the day he shared it.
“Hey, what’s up, everybody? I just wanted to hop on here and let you all know that as of today, I’ve officially been released from my WWE contract. And I just want to say thank you. Thank you for all the support,” Chase said.
Chase built a loyal audience through the Chase U storyline in NXT, but he said that was far from the original plan. He recalled being told on the first day of his WWE signing that he was never going to be on television, that he was never meant to be a superstar, and that he was expected only to pass on his knowledge to a younger generation.
Then, Chase said, the crowd changed his trajectory. “But then something changed, and it was because of your support. It was because of the connection that we had. Suddenly, I had whole arenas chanting Chase U and spelling Chase U,” he said. He added that WWE championships were won with that support and called it something he and his fans built together.
Chase’s announcement landed amid a wave of confirmed WWE exits, but he made clear he is not stepping away from wrestling. “The chapter is closed on my WWE career, but my chapter is not closed on professional wrestling. So stay tuned, and hopefully I’m gonna be in a town near you very soon,” he said, teasing bookings and appearances starting in June.
For a performer who said he was never supposed to be on television, the turn from overlooked prospect to fan favorite was the whole story. Chase now leaves WWE with his name tied to one of NXT’s more distinctive crowd movements, and with a new run outside the company already being set in motion.
