Fabian Aichner opens up about abrupt end to WWE run after return vignettes

After weeks of airing return vignettes of Fabian Aichner/Giovanni Vinci, WWE decided to abruptly drop the storyline and release him.

Currently one of the newest and top names in the TNA roster, Aichner recently opened up to Busted Open Radio about his abrupt WWE roster exit.

“You know, that was such a surreal moment. I remember sitting by my pool. I just got done working out. I ate my cereal after and I got that call, and I was like, ‘Whoa.’ You know, I never really thought too much about it, never envisioned it. But then I was like, ‘Okay, well,” Aichner said while discussing his exit.

He further discussed the release, which came after the promotion heavily teased his return with vignettes and promotional materials.

“I think because the last couple of months in WWE was such an emotional roller coaster ride, with things getting started, we saw the vignettes, I was like, ‘Oh, well, here we go. This is the moment I’ve been working for my whole life.’ And then, yeah, after two weeks, it kind of just ended very abruptly.

“You know, I tried to figure things out. I was constantly thinking about it, but then the decision was made for me. I wouldn’t have left myself because I was always WWE all the way when I signed. But then that decision was made for me, and I was just like, ‘Okay, let’s do something else. Let’s just completely recharge the batteries.’”

Aichner, 36, wrestled his last bout for WWE on December 13, 2025, in a dark match on SmackDown against Luke Gallows. Following this, he was released. Aichner stayed away from pro wrestling before making his TNA comeback in May 2026.

Fabian Aichner opens up more in detail about his WWE release

In the same appearance on Busted Open Radio, Fabian Aichner opened up more in detail about his WWE release and called it out as an avalanche of emotions.

“It was a bit of an avalanche of emotions. I kind of expected it, but I also didn’t think it would happen. So it was like, I didn’t feel anything right after it happened, to be honest, for a couple of days. Then, as the time went on, I got a chance to process things a little bit, and really for the first time in my life, I did not want to know about wrestling one bit.

“I just wanted to detach completely because I had my first match 15 years ago, and I’ve been on it nonstop ever since. I’ve been going for 15 years, and this was really the first time where, yeah, I didn’t want to know about wrestling. I wanted to experience life, what it was like without it.

“And now looking back at that, I consider myself very lucky because I experienced life without wrestling. And, you know, maybe you heard the saying, ‘Athletes die twice,’ so once when their career ends and then when their life ends,” he further added. “Well, now I had the opportunity to see life and what it would be like if my career was over. But now it’s almost like a second coming because I had my opportunity to go back to TNA and to live it up again.“