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What Happened to Lars Sullivan? His WWE Release, Explained

WWE confirmed Lars Sullivan was gone in February 2021 after a quiet January release, but did not publicly state a reason. Sullivan later described anxiety and personal difficulties behind his decision to leave wrestling.
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WWE confirmed in February 2021 that Lars Sullivan, whose real name is Dylan Miley, was no longer with the company after a quiet release in January. Contemporary reports said WWE did not give a public reason. Sullivan later told Fightful that he had told WWE he was done with wrestling, describing severe anxiety and personal difficulties—but that was his account of his decision, not an official explanation for WWE’s release.

When did Lars Sullivan leave WWE?

Sullivan signed with WWE in 2013, according to PWInsider. He debuted in NXT in May 2017; WWE’s official profile also lists his NXT arrival as 2017.

After a serious knee injury sidelined him for the rest of 2019, Sullivan returned to SmackDown in October 2020, PWInsider reported. Fightful said his last WWE television appearance was an interview with Michael Cole in November 2020. PWInsider reported on February 2, 2021, that WWE had confirmed Sullivan was no longer with the company and that the release had taken place quietly the previous month. Fightful’s February 2 report likewise placed the release in January and said no reason had been given.

Why was Lars Sullivan released from WWE?

The available contemporary reporting does not identify a formal WWE reason. WWE confirmed Sullivan’s departure, but did not publicly explain it in the reports. The distinction matters: a sequence of injuries, controversy and personal difficulties may help explain the context of his final WWE period, but the sources do not establish any one of them as the company’s reason for releasing him.

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In comments reported by Fightful and Cageside Seats, Sullivan said he had told WWE he was done with wrestling. He described crippling anxiety that made it difficult to eat and sleep around television filming, referred to his father’s death, and accepted responsibility for personal issues. He said WWE treated him well and that bullying was not the reason he left. These are Sullivan’s statements about his state of mind and his decision; they are not a company announcement explaining the release.

What happened before his departure?

Past forum comments and WWE discipline

In May 2019, Sullivan’s old offensive forum comments came to light. PWInsider reproduced WWE’s statement that he would be fined $100,000 and required to complete sensitivity training, including meetings with community organizations. The amount and discipline are reported from WWE’s statement, not an independently verified statistic. Sullivan apologized, saying: “There is no excuse for the inappropriate remarks that I made years ago. They do not reflect my personal beliefs nor who I am today, and I apologize to anyone I offended.”

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The comments and WWE’s response are relevant context for his career, but the reporting does not say they caused his 2021 release.

A serious knee injury and return

PWInsider reported that Sullivan suffered a severe knee injury in June 2019 that required surgery and kept him out for the remainder of that year. Fightful later described the injury as a major setback that at points appeared potentially career-threatening. He returned to WWE television in October 2020. The sources do not establish the injury as the reason for his departure.

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Adult-video reporting

Fightful reported that an adult video of Sullivan circulated and that WWE officials told the outlet it would not affect his push; the outlet also reported that some wrestlers believed it could affect Vince McMahon’s view. That is backstage reporting, not a verified explanation for the release. The available sources do not connect the episode to WWE’s formal rationale.

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What can be said with confidence?

  • WWE confirmed Sullivan was no longer with the company in early February 2021, after a quiet January release.
  • Contemporary reports did not give a public company reason for the departure.
  • Sullivan later said anxiety, bereavement and his own behavior contributed to his decision to tell WWE he was done wrestling.
  • His final WWE period followed a serious injury and included public controversy over offensive past comments, for which WWE announced a fine and sensitivity training.
  • The reporting supports those events as context, not as proof of why WWE released him.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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