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WWE Superstars React To The Departures Of Baron Corbin, Indi Harwell & Tegan Nox

It sounds like Baron Corbin, Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox will be greatly missed backstage in WWE.

Rick Ucchino

Baron Corbin's WWE contract will not be renewed
Baron Corbin's WWE contract will not be renewed / wwe.com

The sudden and unexpected departure of three WWE Superstars last Friday was a hot topic of conversation on the company's most recent UK Tour.

Ahead of last week's SmackDown, Baron Corbin was informed that his contract would not be renewed after 12 years with the company. He'll become a free agent once his current deal expires. Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox, meantime, were informed of their release and they will hit the market once their non-competes are up.

MORE: WWE Parting Ways with Baron Corbin, Indi Hartwell, And Tegan Nox

Some of the Superstars that were closest to those talents are now reacting to the company's decision to let them go.

‘It’s kinda like a survivor’s guilt, you know what I mean? After a day or two, you’re like, “Man!” You just hate to see that for them.’ Carmelo Hayes told Metro UK. '‘Baron was one of the people that actually took a liking to me, and took me under his wing. He did so much for me, he helped me so much, he gave me so much advice."

It wasn't just in-ring and promo direction that Corbin would provide. After over a decade on the road with WWE the former United States Champion would offer up valuable life and financial advice. Hayes says he's forever indebted to him.

‘That was one of those ones that really kind of hurt, seeing that, because believe it or not, me and Baron were pretty close, pretty tight. Everybody loved Baron!’

Fellow SmackDown Superstar Johnny Gargano spoke to the Gorilla Position about the release of his close friend, and former stablemate, Indi Hartwell.

"I have such a great relationship with Indi. That’s very well known. We love her; she’s like a daughter to [Candice LeRae and himself]. And for those three, I think they’re incredibly talented. Personally, like we talked about the indie scene, I cannot wait to see what those three do. I think they’re absolutely going to tear it up because they are incredibly talented, have so much to offer, and I’m very excited to see what they do next.”

Gargano is holding out hope that Indi will be able to return to WWE one day, similar to himself and Candice LeRae who both took time away from the company for the birth of their child.

In the meantime, Johnny told Metro UK he's looking forward to watching Indi take advantage of this opportunity to elevate her body of work once she's free to wrestle elsewhere.

“I think she’s got untapped personality, untapped potential. I think when she’s able to finally show that to the world, people are gonna latch on.”

Attack! Pro Wrestling announced Wednesday that Tegan Nox, now wrestling once again as Nixon Newell, will be appearing at its ‘Attack’s Under the Mistletoe’ event in Cardiff, Wales next month.

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Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino has been covering professional wrestling since 2019, but his broadcast career has spanned over 15 years. He can be heard every weekday morning on 700WLW radio in Cincinnati, OH. You can also read his work over on SI's Cincinnati Reds Talk. Follow Rick on X and Instagram: @RickUcchino

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