The WWE released the following statement regarding Rich Swann earlier today:
Rich Swann and WWE have mutually agreed to part ways as of today, February 15, 2018.
WWE wishes Swann the best in all of his future endeavors.
Word is that the charges against Swann were dropped in January, but there's been no talk of Swann being brought back to the 205 Live roster as of late. Swann fans in the New York area can see him at Big Event in Queens on March 10th.Continue Reading
Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann is currently in jail after being arrested around midnight on charges of battery and kidnapping/false imprisonment of an adult. This morning, the WWE issued the following statement, suspending Swann indefinitely.
"WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, and per our policy, Rich Swann has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest."
According to the police report, the altercation was between Swann and his wife, Vannarah Riggs, who is a pro wrestler who performs under the name Su Yung and competed in FCW as Sonia. After a performance in Gainesville, Riggs said Swann was driving them from the event and critiquing her performance. Riggs says Swann got angry, and she feared that he might physically attack her, so she dipped out of the car.
The report, which includes to eyewitness statements, says that Swann then got out of the car, which was still moving slowly, and chased after Riggs. He apparently caught up with her, grabbed her by the arm, then put her into a headlock, forcing her back into the vehicle.
Swann says that he never touched her, and that Riggs got back into the car on her own. He's saying he just needed her to be in the car because she had the directions on her GPS and he wanted to get home.
Gainesville PD released both his mugshot and the police report via Twitter.
PopCulture.com is reporting that "[t]he charge of kidnapping and false imprisonment of an adult is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. It is a third-degree felony. Swann was also charge with battery (touching/strike), which carries a possible penalty of up to a year in prison or 12 months probation and a $1,000 fine. That is a first degree misdemeanor."
Swann and Riggs got married back in March of 2017, after being together for something like five years.
Swann's been a shining star on 205 Live for some time, not only winning the Cruiserweight title a little over a year ago, but holding the Championship through the end of 2016 before losing it to Neville at the 2017 Royal Rumble. Many felt he was working his way back into title contention; Drew Gulak was set to face Swann in a #1 Contenders match on Raw tomorrownight, but something like a battery charge—with kidnapping charges added to it—has no doubt fucked up his future with the WWE, and quite possibly his career as a professional wrestler after this.Continue Reading
Cedric Alexander, one of the standouts from the Cruiserweight Classic and current 205 Live superstar, is said to have injured his right knee. According to reports, Alexander hasn't even been active for the last few weeks after being in a six-man tag match on 205 Live.
While there are no specifics on how Alexander injured his knee, sources say he's possibly due out for the next three-to-five months. That's a huge blow to 205 Live and to the rise of black superstars on any WWE roster.
As of right now, Alexander hasn't posted anything regarding an injury on his Twitter or Instagram pages, but hopefully more information about his situation is released. We'll keep you posted.