Cameron Grimes Tearfully Announces He’s Been Released by WWE

Dan Gartland | Apr 23, 2024

Courtesy of WWE

On Tuesday, WWE wrestler Cameron Grimes announced he has been released from his contract with the company in an emotional video.

“I just got off the phone with WWE, and, unfortunately, I’ve been released from my contract,” Grimes said. “Five years ago, the last thing that I was able to tell my father, Tracey Caddell, was that I signed with WWE. I loved working here. I loved working at WWE. I want to thank absolutely everybody that’s helped me.”

“If you’re a fan of mine, I’m here to let you know that there’s a damn fire lit under my ass, man,” Grimes continued as tears rolled down his cheeks. “All I want to do is work. All I’ve ever wanted to do is work. This is all I got, man.”

Grimes, real name Trevor Lee Caddell, first gained notoriety wrestling in smaller promotions under the name Trevor Lee. He signed with WWE in January 2019 and initially worked for the promotion’s NXT brand, eventually winning the NXT North American championship in April 2022, a title he held for two months. He made his main roster debut on SmackDown in May of last year but was scarcely used. He only had nine televised matches on SmackDown. His last appearance was on April 12, when he was defeated by Bron Breakker in just more than a minute.

The 30-year-old hails from the same small North Carolina town as wrestling greats Matt and Jeff Hardy. His father was a local wrestling promoter who had a ring in his yard where the Hardy brothers honed their craft.

“Many, many moons ago, even before I debuted in WWE against Razor Ramon in ’94, I was training in Trevor’s dad’s old yard,” Jeff Hardy told Sports Illustrated in 2020. “That’s where our ring used to be. I can still remember doing shooting stars and landing on my feet, doing reverse-450s and landing on my feet.

“I remember when Trevor was a little baby, he was in that ring. I’ve seen him grow up, and to see him so big and healthy and athletic, it’s a beautiful thing. His dad passed away at the age of 50, but I’m sure he’s living vicariously through his son.”