WWE Surprising Decision To Let Jesse Ventura’s WWE Contract Expire

The reunion of WWE and “The Body” Jesse Ventura has come to an unceremonious end. After a year-long stint back on WWE television, the Hall of Famer has apparently departed the company, and it doesn’t look like it was the most amicable of splits. Honestly, are we surprised? When you bring a loose cannon like Ventura back into the fold, you have to expect a few explosions.

Why Ventura Returned To WWE

The return of Jesse Ventura to the commentary booth for the revived Saturday Night’s Main Event specials felt like a shot of pure 80s adrenaline. It was a brilliant move, a nod to the golden era when Ventura and Vince McMahon’s banter was as much a part of the show as Hulk Hogan’s leg drop.

Fans who grew up on that magic were genuinely excited. The man who once told us he “tells it like it is” was back, signing a Legends deal in late 2024 to make it all official. For a moment, all was right in the wrestling world.

The Ventura Problem: A “Cage Match Fiasco”

So, what went wrong? If you ask wrestling journalism veteran Dave Meltzer, the beginning of the end occurred during the steel cage match between Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre on May 24. The match concluded with Priest casually strolling out the cage door for the win in a terrible finish to a feud & match.

Ventura, ever the purist and never one to mince words, apparently forgot he was on a tightly controlled WWE broadcast in 2025. He yelled, for all to hear, “What kind of BS is that?!”

According to reports, while some found the outburst hilarious, the powers that be were less than amused. Meltzer noted that after this “cage match fiasco,” the “die was cast” for Ventura’s future with the company.

It seems calling out the questionable logic of a match finish on a live microphone is frowned upon. Who knew? Ventura was absolutely right with his criticism, as it was a bad booking decision. These guys have been feuding for months, and Priest, after a conchairto, decides to walk out of the cage. It was so lame and made Priest look like a goon.

Jesse Ventura Phased Out by WWE

Following the incident, the writing was on the wall. On the most recent Saturday Night’s Main Event special, Ventura was noticeably downplayed. He was still there, fulfilling his contractual obligations, but his presence was muted.

No mention, no tribute, no nostalgia clips. He just vanished, erased from the narrative like a wrestler who jumps to the competition.

His one-year contract simply expired, and WWE seemingly made no effort to renew it. It was a quiet, almost cold, ending to what started as a celebrated homecoming. The company was ready to move on, and they didn’t waste any time doing so. I wonder if AEW will take a chance to bring in Jesse Ventura for a show.

Wish Ventura The Best In His Future

In the end, this entire saga is peak Jesse Ventura. He came back, he saw, he spoke his mind, and he got himself into hot water. It’s the same fire that made him a legendary commentator, a movie star, and the Governor of Minnesota. He is constitutionally incapable of being anything other than himself, for better or for worse.

While his return was fun while it lasted, perhaps it’s a lesson for WWE. When you play with fire, you’re bound to get burned. And Jesse “The Body” Ventura has always been pure, unfiltered fire. That’s why fans love him, because he is real and never sugarcoats anything.