WWE star still under contract despite release announcement - Reports
WWE has parted ways with more than 20 talents this year so far. There have been mass cuts and some individual departures, while others have announced their own exits ahead of time. One superstar went public with his release, but sources are now providing an interesting update on the matter.
Damon Kemp, also known as Bobby Steveson, signed with World Wrestling Entertainment in August 2021. WWE began scouting him and his younger brother, Gable Steveson, who also recently left WWE, during their successful amateur wrestling careers at the University of Minnesota. Kemp worked Main Event, NXT, NXT UK, and 205 Live as a babyface in the Diamond Mine. He later turned heel and joined the No Quarter Catch Crew.
Kemp took to X/Twitter on Monday to announce that he is no longer signed to WWE, and is taking bookings. However, a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that the 25-year-old is technically still under contract for the next five weeks.
Sources close to the situation report that Kemp did not decide to leave WWE as his three-year contract is expiring. Officials decided against renewing the deal, but it was not clear why. The 25-year-old will be free to sign with whoever he wants when he officially becomes a free agent after Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
The Minnesota native was informed just this week that his contract would not be renewed. Kemp's departure comes as a surprise to many within the company as he was praised for his abilities and work ethic. There were previous reports on Triple H and others being high up on the Steveson brothers.
Damon Kemp written out of WWE NXT storylines
Going into this year, NXT's No Quarter Catch Crew featured leader Drew Gulak, Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne, and Damon Kemp. Gulak left in March due to his real-life release, and now Kemp has been written out of the group because of his departure.
Tavion Heights defeated Kemp to earn a spot in the No Quarter Catch Crew on the June 25 edition of NXT. This would end up being the final match for the older brother of Gable Steveson. The latest episode of NXT then featured the storyline exit of Kemp.
Dempsey, Borne, and Heights were seen in the trunk of a car in the infamous NXT parking lot. Dempsey slammed the trunk lid and declared their motto: Mistakes won't be tolerated! This was repeated while something or someone, presumably Kemp, was put into the trunk of the car.
There may be another twist to the storyline as the faction noticed they were also being watched by Wren Sinclair. The former Madi Wrenkowski indicated that she did not see a thing, and wanted no part of what was going on. Sinclair hurried away as Dempsey and his crew drove away with their former stablemate in the trunk.