WWE released Jasper Troy on Friday, ending his four-year run with the company. The former Speed Champion is the first name confirmed in a new round of NXT cuts, and more releases are expected to follow.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez said the main reason behind the release was that WWE did not see the level of improvement it expected from Troy in his latest evaluation.
“The thing has always been that when you make it to the NXT roster, you have to show improvement every six months. Every six months you get evaluated, and if you’re not showing what they believe to be great improvement, then you’re on the chopping block.”
Alvarez explained that NXT talent is evaluated every six months and that the sheer number of wrestlers currently training at the Performance Center has made competition for spots extremely tight.
“There’s just so many people. Like, you have no idea just how many people are signed and in that Performance Center right now. It’s 100% a numbers game, and that doesn’t mean Jasper Troy can’t be a huge success in wrestling. They just determined he didn’t improve enough over the last six months, so he is gone.”
Alvarez also said the call on Troy’s future was made some time ago, even though the release only became official this week.
“I was given the impression that this decision had been made a little while ago, and it was just coming out today. But he did tweet, ’30 days,’ so today is officially the day that he has been released.”
Troy’s final match under WWE contract came at an NXT live event in Gainesville, Florida, on August 22, where he teamed with Elijah Holyfield.