Former WWE talent Shane Haste is once again a free agent, confirming his departure from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) after a period of success with the promotion. The announcement, made via social media on , followed a cryptic post that initially sparked speculation about his future.
Haste, who previously wrestled in WWE as Shane Thorne and Slapjack, alluded to a potential career shift with a video referencing TMDK Ronin and a reflective message about navigating a wrestling career. He stated in the video, “You must understand that there is not just one single way to reach the top of the mountain,” a statement that quickly fueled rumors of a significant move.
Addressing the confusion caused by his initial post, Haste clarified his status, acknowledging that his wording may have been ambiguous. He confirmed he is no longer under contract and is open to exploring new opportunities. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Haste playfully dismissed the typical terminology used to describe wrestlers between contracts, stating, “I was prolly a little too cryptic with this post but ‘free agent’ sounded too fancy pants for me 🧐. Maybe I should have gone with ‘funemployed’ 😅.”
Haste’s initial run with WWE began in and continued until his release in . He was reintroduced to audiences on the main roster in as Slapjack, a member of the Retribution faction. However, the group failed to gain significant traction and was ultimately disbanded, leaving Haste without a defined role.
Prior to his release, Haste was briefly moved to SmackDown in , appearing in dark matches. Following his departure from WWE, Haste found success in NJPW, primarily as a tag team competitor alongside Mikey Nicholls. Together, they captured the IWGP Tag Team Championship and twice held the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship.
Haste’s confirmation of his free agent status is likely to generate considerable interest from various promotions. His experience in both WWE and NJPW, coupled with his tag team success, positions him as an attractive prospect for organizations seeking to bolster their rosters. The wrestling world will now be watching to see where Haste chooses to continue his career.
I was prolly a little too cryptic with this post but “free agent” sounded too fancy pants for me 🧐
Maybe I should have gone with “funemployed” 😅 https://t.co/3OQQduejDx
