Chris Hero Recalls Getting Released By WWE in 2013

Chris Hero discussed the day in 2013 that he was released from his WWE contract in a new interview. Hero, who was Kassius Ohno during his WWE run, was released from his contract back in November of that year. Speaking on the latest episode of his Shoot Conversations show on Highspots, Hero recalled how he was given 30 days to improve his conditioning and how he was at the WWE Performance Center shooting practice matches when he was ultimately released.

“They gave me 30 days of like, ‘Hey, here is your chance to turn it around,’” he recalled (per Fightful). “Obviously, I didn’t turn it around. The 30 days came upon the following Monday after TV. It’s Friday, a day or two after we tape TV.”

He continued, “Friday morning, we’re at the PC early as hell, all in, and they decide to start shooting practice matches. You had no time to prep, they just gave you a finish and you’re just wrestling in front of all 40 of us. I’m watching this and the match is Angelo Dawkins and Cal Jack. He’s very new and teaming with Angelo Dawkins against the team of Slate Randall (LA Knight) and Yoshi Tatsu. I’m like, ‘Friday morning, we’re watching this, what’s going to happen?’ Yoshi is in there with Dawkins and trying to call spots. He’s in a hold and going, ‘Hit me.’ Dawkins hears ‘Headbutt’ and he goes BAM! and headbutts him in the face. We’re like ‘woaahh,’ this is the middle of the heat. Slate Randall, LA Knight currently, is going for some type of tag and as a total shoot, from what I believe to be a total shoot, he slips on the ring skirt and falls off, and crumbles to the floor. I’m like, ‘What is going on? People are going to get hurt. This is a stupid thing.’ Then, I went to the office and got fired.”

Hero ended up returning to the company in 2017 and was released at the start of the pandemic last year.