Tye Dillinger has requested his release from WWE.
Dillinger (real name Ronald Arneill) announced the news in a statement that he posted on his Twitter and Instagram accounts late Tuesday night. Dillinger didn’t state what WWE’s response to his request was, but he wrote that he wishes everyone in WWE and the fans the very best and thanks them for everything.
The statement read:
Before rumors begin to spread, let me set things straight ahead of time:
This evening, I requested my release from WWE. In the past 5 and a half years with them, I have seen and done some wonderful things. Things that I am very proud of and will never forget. I have met and have worked with unquestionably, some of the greatest talent on this earth and the pleasure has been all mine.
I feel at this time this decision, as extremely difficult as it was, is what is best for myself and WWE. I wish to continue to grow as a performer and offer those paying hard earned money to watch a show I’m performing on, a little more of myself.
To the male and female locker rooms, coaches and producers, to the production/ring crew, all the way up to the very top of WWE and most of all the fans…I wish you all the very best and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.
Tuesday was Dillinger’s 38th birthday.
Dillinger returned to the ring at a SmackDown house show in DeKalb, Illinois on February 9. He had been out of action since October 2018 due to a hand injury that required surgery.
Dillinger didn’t appear on the two episodes of SmackDown that have taken place since he returned.