Summary

Giovanni Vinci has opened up about how he processed his WWE release, describing the moment as both painful and strangely relieving after a long stretch of uncertainty.

While speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Vinci said the end of his time with the company was difficult because wrestling for WWE had been his goal since he was 13 years old. At the same time, he said the release also lifted the weight of wondering when, or if, his situation would improve.

Quote from Giovanni Vinci

"It was such a surreal feeling. On one hand, it sucked that that chapter was over, because that's what I wanted to do since I was 13 years old. But on the other hand, because it had been such a roller coaster leading up to that, it felt freeing in a way."

Vinci later went on to say:

"I told a friend of mine, he asked me if I was okay, and I said, 'Yeah, man, I'm good.' It was almost like when you're in school and it ends and you're going on summer vacation. All the weight was off, because at least I knew there was no more thinking about it. After that, I just knew I was taking some time. I didn't know how much, and I didn't really think about how long I was going to be out. It was just like, okay, I need some space, take some time for myself, figure myself out, and enjoy life a little bit."

Giovanni Vinci on the road to his WWE release

Vinci said he was not completely blindsided by the decision. He explained that after spending the previous summer off television, he had been told there was a plan for him to return. Those vignettes eventually aired, but the push did not last.

He added that when SmackDown expanded from two hours to three, he thought the extra television time could open the door for him. Instead, he remained off TV, and he said that made the eventual release easier to see coming.

"I was and I wasn't [surprised about being released]. During the summer of the previous year, I wasn't on TV, but I knew there was a plan for me to come back eventually. We did those vignettes and everything, but unfortunately, that didn't last long. After that, I started noticing certain thoughts creeping in. I tried to focus on the positive and always kept high hopes."

Vinci later said:

"For example, when the new year started and SmackDown went from two hours to three hours, I thought maybe that would be my chance. I was told something along the lines of, 'We have all the real estate in the world, there's just not enough land,' meaning there are so many great wrestlers but not enough time on the show. So when SmackDown expanded, I figured maybe now it would happen. But then I wasn't needed for TV for a couple of weeks. That's never a call you want to get. So when it finally happened, I can't say I was completely surprised. It was really a strange mix of emotions."

What Vinci's WWE comments reveal

Vinci's comments make it clear that the biggest consequence of his stalled return was uncertainty, not a sudden one-day decision. Even with SmackDown gaining an extra hour, he still could not find a regular place on the show, and that left his status feeling fragile well before the release became official.

For WWE fans, that also explains why Vinci described the news as freeing as much as disappointing. His remarks suggest the harder part was the stop-start period before the release, when a return seemed possible but never turned into a lasting role.

Sources

Giovanni Vinci while speaking with Chris Van Vliet