Conversations about WWE’s two-year old Independent Development (ID) program have picked up since last week, when we learned long-reigning Women’s champion Laynie Luck and a highly-evaluated young talent Marcus Mathers were both leaving WWE ID.
We haven’t seen any signs the program is going away. Just last night (Oct. 12) WWE ID added SummerSlam tryout attendee Richard Adonis, who’s wrestled for the NWA, and just worked a dark match at an NXT taping last month. Adonis is the latest in a string of recent
additions to the program; before WWE coach and Claire Elizabeth fave Timothy Thatcher gave him his contract, Adonis had wrestled recent ID signee Conan Lycan at a WWN Proving Ground show in Florida.
But today, PWInsider’s Mike Johnson is reporting two more departures from WWE ID, including another of the brand’s former champions. That would be the awesomely-named Cappuccino Jones, who was Men’s ID champ from August of last year until this past May. Jones still holds a title in Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling, which is affiliated with WWE ID.
He’s since confirmed the report himself on social media:
After 2 years, my time in WWE ID has come to an end, as I’ve decided to part ways.
I’m grateful for all of the knowledge, experience, & wisdom that I’ve attained and will take with me for the rest of my career.
Thank you WWE.i’m ready for my next cup.
Do ya dig it? ☕️
Johnson also says that 24-year-old Santi Rivera is leaving WWE ID. Rivera has been wrestling for about five years, at places like Create-A-Pro, Beyond, and Reality of Wrestling.
Is this just normal churn for this part of WWE’s Developmental program? What does it say or mean that in two years, IDs only led to jobs on NXT for a handful of talents?
Let us know below, or with more in-depth thoughts in The Feed!
