Brian Kendrick Released From WWE, Will Face Jon Moxley On Dynamite

Written by Sondra Ruth • Published 3rd February 2022
Brian Kendrick Jon Moxley

***In an update to this story, Brian Kendrick’s AEW Dynamite debut was scrapped just before the show on February 2nd after the company learned of “abhorrent and offensive” comments made by the former Cruiserweight Champion. More details on this developing story can be found here.***

Brian Kendrick has reportedly been granted his release from WWE after asking to leave the company back in December.

Reports emerged last week that WWE producer and former Brian Kendrick had requested his release from WWE back in December. PWInsider noted that Kendrick had been waiting “at least six weeks” for his release and that he hadn’t been in attendance at any NXT tapings in Orlando recently.

In an update on the situation, Fightful Select reported that the former Cruiserweight Champion was indeed gone from the company and that he was expected to be involved with AEW Dynamite in some capacity this coming Wednesday.

Shortly after the report from Fightful Select broke, the official AEW Twitter account announced that not only would the former WWE Tag Team Champion be on Dynamite, he would be facing none other than Jon Moxley, who recently returned to the company after taking time away for inpatient alcohol rehabilitation treatment.

In his #AEW debut, @mrbriankendrick will face the toughest of tests tomorrow night on #AEWDynamite LIVE @ 8pm ET/7pm CT on @TBSNetwork when he goes one-on-one with former AEW World Champion @JonMoxley! Jon Moxley vs Brian Kendrick tomorrow night LIVE on Wednesday Night Dynamite!

“The” Brian Kendrick last wrestled in WWE on the October 30th episode of 205 Live, teaming with Mansoor to defeat Ever-Rise. In mid-December he was featured on NXT 2.0 in an angle with Harland that saw the monster throw Kendrick down a flight of steps after attempts to calm down Harland’s destruction.

The next week, the WWE producer appeared in a vignette declaring that he would confront Harland in the ring on an upcoming episode, but that confrontation never came to pass.