In a surprising development within the world of professional wrestling, WWE has reportedly released another prominent talent, Rick Boogs, as part of a recent wave of roster adjustments. This announcement comes in the wake of notable departures, including Mustafa Ali and Emma, who announced their exits via social media.
The news of Rick Boogs’ release was initially reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, adding to the list of talents who have found themselves parting ways with WWE. Boogs, whose real name is Eric Bugenhagen, made his in-ring debut for WWE back in 2017. However, his journey within the company was marked by both highs and challenges.
An injury setback forced Boogs out of action for a year, but he made a triumphant return to the “NXT” live event circuit in November 2018. Sporting a charismatic rockstar gimmick, Boogs made his televised debut in early 2019, although he faced a tough challenge in Drew Gulak. Despite this initial setback, Boogs continued to hone his craft and gain experience by working extensively on the live event circuit.
In early 2020, Boogs had the opportunity to showcase his skills on a broader platform, as he participated in two EVOLVE pay-per-view events, where he faced off against talents like Joe Gacy and Anthony Greene.
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A significant turning point in Boogs’ WWE career came in May 2021 when he made his way to “WWE SmackDown” and formed an alliance with the talented Shinsuke Nakamura. Together, they engaged in memorable feuds with various tag teams, including Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, as well as Los Lotharios. Boogs even secured singles victories over notable opponents like Sami Zayn and Jey Uso, underlining his potential as a singles competitor.
However, Boogs’ journey took an unfortunate turn during his biggest match to date at WrestleMania 38, where he and Nakamura challenged The Usos for the “SmackDown” Tag Team Championship. Tragically, Boogs sustained a knee injury while attempting to lift both of The Usos, resulting in the match ending in defeat.
After recovering from his injury, Boogs made his return to WWE programming in early 2023 as a member of the “Raw” brand. He secured two notable wins over The Miz before, once again, disappearing from the storyline spotlight. His last match took place at SummerSlam, where he participated in the battle royal, ultimately won by LA Knight.
As Rick Boogs sets out on the next chapter of his wrestling career following his WWE release, fans and industry observers will undoubtedly follow his journey with interest. His unique persona and in-ring abilities have made him a standout performer, and many will be eager to see where his talents take him in the ever-evolving landscape of professional wrestling.
