We have learnt with time that WWE are not always confirming the cuts they make in their roster. Most of yesterday’s releases were confirmed by the wrestlers themselves. When it comes to The Velveteen Dream, if nothing has been confirmed by the company yet, we could easily imagine the news reports that have been running rampant since yesterday night may be true.

At NXT TakeOver: In Your House, last year, Dream challenged Adam Cole for the NXT Championship in a Backlot Brawl but ended up unsuccessful, and due to a pre-match stipulation, Dream could no longer challenge for the title while Cole was still champion. Following several months off after an injury related to a car accident, Dream returned on the August 12 episode of NXT, where he lost to Cameron Grimes in a Triple Threat match also involving Kushida. After the match, Dream attacked Kushida, thus turning heel in the process.

The following week on NXT, he defeated Finn Bálor to qualify for a spot in a ladder match for the vacated NXT North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: XXX. At the event, Dream failed to win the title. At NXT TakeOver 31, Dream was defeated by Kushida. On the December 23 episode of NXT, Dream was defeated by Adam Cole in what could be his final WWE match.

Patrick Clark signed with WWE in October 2015, following a run on the sixth season of WWE Tough Enough earlier that year. His Prince-inspired character called Velveteen Dream brought something sultry and different to the ring. After his loss at NXT TakeOver: In Your House, the former NXT North American Champion was “lowered” into a darker-looked and less “showy” attitude. Sometimes, a sultry character will stick to a wrestler more than his talent or his accomplishements.

All pics and videos courtesy of WWE