Lance Anoa’i Reveals His Next Goal After WWE Release

Lance Anoa’i is already setting his sights on the future after parting ways with WWE earlier this month.

The 33-year-old son of Samu never got the chance to debut on NXT television and is now focused on returning to international action. In a short message posted to social media, Anoa’i made it clear what’s next on his radar, “Goal for 2026! Go back to Japan!”

Anoa’i signed with WWE’s NXT brand in 2024, but an injury kept him sidelined before he could make a splash on-screen. Despite that setback, Anoa’i has been a known presence in the wrestling world for years. He made his in-ring debut back in 2010 and spent a large part of his career with Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he wrestled until 2023.

After leaving MLW, he debuted for Pro Wrestling NOAH and competed in the prestigious N-1 Victory 2023 tournament—a key milestone in his international career that he’s now eager to revisit.

Anoa’i has also had several previous interactions with WWE. He teamed with Rhett Titus in a loss to The Ascension on SmackDown in 2014 and had a tryout match against AOP in 2017. One of his most memorable WWE appearances came in May 2019, when he faced Shane McMahon on Raw and was saved by his cousin, Roman Reigns.

Following his release, Anoa’i addressed fans directly in a message. He confirmed his 30-day non-compete clause and vowed to keep moving forward:

“I would officially announce my departure from WWE! I didn’t have the best of luck since I arrived! I will not let this stop me from achieving to be great! I’ve worked hard on the indies for 15 years! Now let’s get back to work! 30days Accepting bookings booklanceanoai@gmail.com.”

Lance Anoa’i may be out of WWE for now, but he’s far from done. With Japan in his sights and the indie scene calling, it looks like 2026 could be a big year for this member of the legendary Samoan dynasty.

Do you think Lance Anoa’i will find greater success in Japan or should WWE have given him more of a chance? Drop your thoughts in the comments.