More On Cesaro’s WWE Exit, Reaction Within WWE

UPDATE: A new report has additional details on Cesaro’s WWE exit and the reaction backstage. As noted earlier, Cesaro is no longer with the company after he was offered a contract extension but turned it down.

Fightful reports that Cesaro was on a one-year contract extension that expired, and confirmed that he has no non-compete clause as a result. There were plans to use him on some upcoming shows before he left, but at the time of his exit there had been no long-term creative plans for him. There was reportedly no incentive for the company to push him as there was no indication that he was going to re-sign, with one source noting that a similar thing happened last year when he was pulled from a top contender gauntlet match because he had not re-signed.

The site notes that those they’ve spoken to within the company had an immediate reaction of “disappointment and dismay.” Cesaro was one of the most liked stars on WWE’s roster.

It should be noted for those speculating that AEW Rampage was taped last night and thus there is no chance, short of some taped vignette, that he will be appearing on Friday’s show even if he signed with AEW.

ORIGINAL: It looks like the WWE has lost their Swiss Superman and King of Swing. PWInsider reports that the former United States, Raw tag team, and SmackDown tag team champion Cesaro (aka Claudio Castagnoli) has parted ways with the company after his latest contract expired.

According to the report, both sides were in talks for a new contract for Cesaro, but they were unable to come to terms for a new deal. A source claimed that WWE made an offer to extend the wrestler’s current contract, but it was ultimately turned down.

Additionally, Cesaro’s latest contract has expired, meaning he’s an unrestricted free agent, and he doesn’t have a 90-day non-compete period. He was reportedly slated to be in Hershey, Pennsylvania for tomorrow’s SmackDown at the Giant Center, but that will no longer be happening. Cesaro’s contract reportedly expired earlier this week.

Cesaro made his last appearance on a February 11 edition of SmackDown, losing to Happy Baron Corbin. Cesaro has been with the company since 2011, first debuting for FCW in September of that year.

Besides his title victories, Cesaro won the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 30. He recently turned 41 years old last December. He recently spoke to Sports Illustrated on not appearing at the Royal Rumble last month.

At WrestleMania 37, Cesaro competed in his first and only WrestleMania singles match, beating Seth Rollins.