Real Reason WWE Just Released 10 NXT Wrestlers
Why WWE just trimmed the NXT 2.0 roster with another big round of cuts.
"Budget cuts" have once again been cited as the reason behind WWE's latest batch of talent releases.
Fightful Select reports that John Laurinaitis, who made the cuts, sent the following internal email notifying WWE personnel of the situation:-
"Due to budgetary cuts, and with immediate effect as of today, 4/29/2022, we have come to the terms to release the following."
Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens, Paige Prinzivalli, Sanjana George, Draco Anthony, Harland, Persia Pirotta, Raelyn Divine, Mila Malani, and Dexter Lumis comprise the list of wrestlers let go today.
As previously covered, Bivens rejected a new WWE contract offer in February, having signed a short-term extension following the Diamond Mine stable's formation in 2021. Kai, meanwhile, saw the release coming. Like Bivens, she had informed the promotion that she wouldn't be re-signing upon the expiration of her latest deal.
Harland, who was being put over as the next Brock Lesnar years before joining WWE, was a victim of company staff believing that his in-ring capabilities hadn't progressed at the desired level.
Lumis, Harland, Bivens, Kai, Anthony, and Pirotta were all television regulars at the time of being released. Per Fightful, an NXT official has shown frustration at several current onscreen angles and storylines being impacted with zero notice.