Riley Osborne’s WWE Exit Tied to Refusal to Join Evolve Brand

Riley Osborne’s departure from WWE wasn’t about wrestling ability—it was about what happened behind the scenes.

According to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live, one of the key reasons for Osborne’s release was his pushback against a potential move to WWE’s Evolve brand. “One of the big things was, there are people that they want to go and help out Evolve. And I was told he did not want to go to Evolve, and he made it very well known,” Alvarez revealed.

This comes after Dave Meltzer reported that Osborne was let go over “non-wrestling things,” emphasizing it wasn’t a matter of talent. “He was not cut over talent,” Meltzer said, while also suggesting AEW should give him a look due to his in-ring potential.

Osborne signed with WWE in 2022 and made his NXT Level Up debut in early 2023 before becoming a regular fixture on NXT television. He gained popularity as part of Chase University alongside Andre Chase, Duke Hudson, and Thea Hail, bringing a polished style and athletic energy to the ring that fans quickly took notice of.

Despite those positives, his exit sheds light on a growing issue within developmental talent dynamics—where resistance to certain assignments, like an Evolve transfer, may come at a cost.