Former WWE talent Rick Boogs has claimed that his release from the company was due to “a backstage political powerplay.”
Boogs’ termination was part of a wave of talent releases from WWE this week. Among other wrestlers let go from the company were Mustafa Ali, Dolph Ziggler, Shelton Benjamin, Elias and Matt Riddle.
On his YouTube channel, Boogs stated:
Alright, fellas, we’re back, and let me tell you, it’s been an interesting time in my life with my job in WWE being terminated due to a backstage political power play — at least that’s my opinion of it. But now is not the time to talk about that. I will get into detail about that when the time is right.
The brief comment came at the beginning of a 10-minute video blog that concentrated on a gym tour recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio.
At the end of the video, the 35-year-old, real name Eric Bugenhagen, added:
I’m no longer traveling the world every week…As I mentioned earlier about my job, again, it’s not the time, but when I do and can speak freely, it’s gonna be freaking juicy, fellas, I’m talking about all the nitty-gritty details. You know what I’m talking about so stay tuned.
Boogs signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2017. He made his main roster debut in 2021, playing Shinsuke Nakamura’s theme on an electric guitar.
He and Nakamura would be paired until Boogs suffered a torn quadriceps and knee injury at WrestleMania 38 in a tag team match with The Usos. He returned in January 2023 but his televsion appearances were infrequent.
