WWE and former Superstar Rich Swann have “mutually agreed to part ways” following the former Cruiserweight Champion’s December arrest on domestic violence charges.
“Rich Swann and WWE have mutually agreed to part ways as of today, February 15, 2018,” the company said in a statement on Thursday. “WWE wishes Swann the best in all of his future endeavors.”
Swann was arrested in December in Gainesville, Florida, where he was charged with battery and the kidnapping or false imprisonment of his wife, Vannarah Riggs, better known under her ring name, Su Yung.
Last month, TheWrap asked Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for an update on Swann’s status.
“We are just waiting on the legal,” Triple H told TheWrap during the Television Critics Association press tour. “We have a zero tolerance policy on that, as you’ve well seen. So he’s suspended until it is determined legally one way or the other.”
“And if he’s convicted, he will be released,” WWE Chief Brand Officer McMahon added, meaning that Swann would be dropped by the company.
“Immediately,” her husband chimed back in.
“WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, and per our policy, Rich Swann has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest,” WWE had said in a statement following Swann’s arrest.
Per his arrest report, Swann was critiquing Yung’s performance from her Saturday show while the couple was in the car together. Riggs became scared that the argument was going to escalate, and she got out of her husband’s car. A witness then says Swann chased Riggs, put her in a headlock and shoved her back in the vehicle.
The witness further told police that Riggs was beating on the window from the inside, screaming for help. Swann denies physically touching Riggs.
Swann, 26, who came up through WWE’s minor league system NXT, competed in June 2016’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic. The charismatic and high-flying wrestler then made his “Raw” debut on Sept. 19 of the same year.
On the Nov. 29, 2016 series premiere episode of “205 Live,” Swann defeated Brian Kendrick to win the Cruiserweight title. He lost the belt to Neville at the 2017 Royal Rumble.
Swann and Su Yung were married in March.