After being with WWE for nearly 15 years, Heath Slater was released in April 2020 as part of the company-wide cutbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Slater would eventually return to the company for a one-night appearance on WWE Raw on July 6, 2020 as part of the Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler storyline.
Speaking on The Angle Podcast, Heath revealed WWE offered him a contract to return on a full-time basis that night.
"They offered me one back, but it was like half of what I was making. I was like, 'Nah, I need to find myself and do other things and just chill. Just breathe and relax and spend time with the family. Just chill.' I never burned any bridges up there, they all know me. I still talk to more than half the people [in WWE]. I was there for so long and we were friends. It's no hard feelings. I told them, 'I just want to go and do my thing for a little bit.' They were like, 'We don't blame you, you get it.' That was it," he said.
Heath would join IMPACT at Slammiversary on July 18, 2020.
When discussing talks he had with other companies, Heath said, "I talked to IMPACT, New Japan, and ROH. I talked with AEW after I went with IMPACT. They just wanted me to come in for a three-week thing to do some things. I was already committed with IMPACT."
Heath suffered an injury at Bound For Glory in the Call Your Shot gauntlet, which was won by Rhino, who earned an IMPACT contract for his friend.
He underwent surgery on March 1.
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