Ezekiel Jackson says the end of his WWE career came without so much as a phone call. The former ECW Champion recently recalled how his contract quietly expired after years of injuries, adding that he later discovered who he believes was responsible for the way everything went down.
Speaking with David Otunga, Jackson looked back on the period after suffering a torn rotator cuff in Vancouver. He explained that he wrestled through the injury for around six months before finally getting it checked out.
After dealing with multiple major injuries in a short span, he started wondering whether WWE still saw a future in him, prompting him to move his family to Los Angeles and focus on other opportunities while waiting for his contract to expire. According to Jackson, the relationship with WWE ended in the most abrupt way possible.
“Again, so once that happened, I kind of figured, like, okay, that’s two major injuries in two and a half years. I don’t know how much they were going to invest in me. So that’s where I started. I moved from Georgia to L.A. and started letting my family pursue acting until my contract ended.”
He said there was no release conversation, no thank-you and no warning that his time with the company was over. Jackson admitted the experience was difficult to deal with.
“And that’s it. Literally, I didn’t get a phone call. I didn’t get a thank you. I didn’t get my 90-day. I don’t think I got that. It was just like, ‘Your contract ended yesterday,’ and that’s it. So, it was—that part was rough.”
He then made an even more interesting claim, saying he eventually learned that one specific person had been behind the way his WWE run came to an end. While Jackson intentionally chose not to reveal the individual’s identity, he noted that the person is “thankfully” no longer with the company.
“And I’ve learned now who was behind it, and thankfully he’s not in the company anymore.”
According to Jackson, the issues didn’t stop after his contract expired. He claimed that whenever WWE visited the Bay Area, that same person wouldn’t even allow him backstage.
“Even when they used to come to the Bay Area, like, he wouldn’t let me backstage. Right? Like, stuff like that.”
Jackson said things have changed since that person left WWE. He specifically mentioned WWE President Nick Khan, saying he’s now welcomed whenever he wants to visit.
“But now, like, he’s gone, and, like, the dude there, Nick Khan, is like, ‘Oh, Zeke, anytime,’ you know? So it’s one of those—I figured it out then. Really? Like, my guy, really?”
More than a decade after leaving WWE, Jackson is still clearly carrying the frustration of how his run ended. While he chose not to identify the person he believes was behind it, he says the atmosphere has completely changed since that individual left, allowing him to reconnect with WWE in a way he couldn’t before.
Were you surprised to hear how Ezekiel Jackson says his WWE career ended? And who do you think he was referring to without naming? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
