WWE Releases: Every Wrestler Released In 2025

By Andrew Pollard / November 26, 2025

While WWE historically waits until WrestleMania is done and dusted before making significant releases, the market leader started a little earlier this year, with the first release of 2025 actually coming back in January.

Since then, the usual round of post-'Mania releases did indeed come to pass as expected, though those releases were followed a month later by the shocking news that a couple of big-name veterans were not having their WWE deals extended. In particular, the bombshell news of the much-loved R-Truth leaving WWE came as a particular shocker, both to fans and to those within the company, even if that situation did quickly get resolved.

For some of these released talents, their non-compete clauses have long since expired, meaning they've been back at it and already competing for other promotions. For others, they're still sitting on the sidelines waiting for their chance to get back to cracking skulls once their own non-compete is up.

This article has been, and will continue to be, updated in real-time throughout 2025, and hopefully it won't need to be updated too frequently before the year is out. Either way, here's hoping that all released talents find themselves with plenty of opportunities inside and outside the ring, whether they decide to remain in the industry or explore other ventures.

So with that in mind, here's the extensive list of wrestlers WWE has released in 2025 so far and what their current status is, starting with Duke Hudson.

Duke Hudson

While news of his release didn't surface until February, Duke Hudson was quietly released by WWE back in January.

The 36-year-old Australian had been with WWE since 2019, operating under the Hudson moniker and also his real name of Brendan Vink. Those dark pandemic days saw Vink make a handful of fleeting appearances on the main roster, tagging with TMDK man Shane Thorne, and he'd later return to NXT to take on a gambler gimmick as part of the neon-soaked reinvention process known as NXT 2.0.

As Duke Hudson, the powerhouse's greatest success came as part of Chase University, winning the NXT Tag Team Championships with Andre Chase before that faction was forced to disband at the end of 2024.

Under the Duke Hanson name, the big man started working independent dates again in April

Paul Ellering

When rumblings of WWE releases first came to the fore in February, Paul Ellering was the first name confirmed to have been let go by the market leader.

One of the all-time great managers, Precious Paul's latest WWE run was quite the curious one. Returning alongside the Authors of Pain in January 2024, Ellering and AOP joined forces with Karrion Kross and Scarlett to form the Final Testament. Bizarrely, though, Ellering would rarely get the opportunity to do anything of note during that time - often standing stoically silent as others took the spotlight.

Given how he's shown himself to be such a phenomenal talker over the decades, it was certainly a choice to have Paul Ellering be part of a faction but have him barely utter a word. In fact, the most notable thing Paul did during that run was being laid out by an Uncle Howdy Mandible Claw as part of Final Testament's feud with the Wyatt Sicks.

Akam

Much like the use of Paul Ellering, questions have to be asked over the use of the Authors of Pain after their WWE return.

If reports are to be believed, AOP officially returned to WWE in late 2022, although it would take until January 2024 for the team to resurface on WWE programming. One of the most dominant teams in the history of the NXT brand, not to mention achieving championship success on the main roster, Akam and Rezar had an utterly forgettable second run with the company.

What lies ahead for Akam remains to be seen, with the 32-year-old having previously launched the ill-fated Wrestling Entertainment Series with his tag team partner. As of this writing, AOP has yet to return to the ring since their WWE exit.

Rezar

Much like his partner Akam, Rezar was among those released by WWE in February.

Again, considering what had been seen from the Authors of Pain during their previous runs in NXT and on the main roster, it's tough to understand why more wasn't done with AOP once they were brought back into the fold in 2024. Making this all the more confusing is that WWE is nowadays under the stewardship of Triple H, with the Game clearly having been a fan of the team during AOP's original NXT stint.

Could we somehow see Akam and Rezar relaunch their Wrestling Entertainment Series promotion? Stranger things have happened, although WES stuttered and stalled before it even properly got going last time.

Cedric Alexander

After eight and a half years, Cedric Alexander's time with WWE came to an end as part of those February round of cuts.

A former Cruiserweight Champion, Raw Tag Team Champion, and 24/7 Champion, Alexander was first showcased in WWE as part of the Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016. After impressing in that tournament - where he was eliminated by Kota Ibushi - WWE management saw enough in Cedric to give him a contract.

In the final days of his WWE run, Alexander had been spinning his wheels in NXT, often positioned as an on-screen mentor figure for the likes of Je'Von Evans and Ashante 'Thee' Adonis. As soon as Cedric's release was confirmed, rumblings immediately began that people in AEW were pushing for him to be brought in as part of the Hurt Syndicate.

Despite that, Alexander signed a short-term deal with TNA in July and has already put on some fantastic matches against the likes of Mustafa Ali and Leon Slater, as well as still working select independent dates, including a few for House of Glory. That said, reports suggested that Cedric's short-term deal was up around the time of TNA Bound for Glory, though he has continued to wrestle for the Anthem promotion post-BFG.

Sonya Deville

While this article is about those talents released by WWE in 2025, there's somewhat of a caveat with Sonya Deville.

Rather than being outright released, Deville was informed ahead of time that her WWE contract would not be renewed once it expired at the end of February. Sonya signed with WWE in October 2015 in the aftermath of that year's Tough Enough, meaning she spent nearly a decade with the company. During that time, Deville's only slice of gold came in 2023 when she and Chelsea Green won the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles.

Post-WWE, Sonya Deville, under her real name of Daria Berenato, has been doing commentary work for MMA promotion Invicta FC, and a July appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet saw Daria announce her wrestling retirement... though she noted how that could always change in the future.

Blair Davenport

Whereas it wasn't a surprise to see certain other names being released by WWE, the release of Blair Davenport feels a little unfair on the 28-year-old Brit.

Having been moved to the main roster as part of the 2024 Draft, Davenport wasn't exactly given much of a chance to show what she could bring to the table. Blair's time on the main roster consisted of an extremely brief alliance with the Unholy Union, and then there was the tease of her doing something with Naomi.

Ultimately, Blair Davenport never really got going on the main roster, and one has to feel sorry for the talent with the way she was seemingly called up without any particular plan in mind for her.

The end of 2024 saw reports that WWE was exploring creative options for Davenport, suggesting big things could be on the horizon in 2025 for the two-time former WCPW Women's Champion. Instead, Blair unfortunately found herself released in February.

Given how Davenport previously marked herself out as a standout for STARDOM under her real name of Bea Priestley, it was no real surprise to see her back working with the all-women's Japanese promotion in July, and August saw it confirmed that Priestley had formally re-signed with STARDOM.

Karl Anderson

Of all the 2025 WWE releases so far, Karl Anderson's firing is one of those that leaves a sour taste in the mouth, for Machine Gun was out with an injury at the time of his release.

Anderson last wrestled under the WWE banner in October, competing in an NXT dark match, and was soon forced to undergo surgery for a shoulder issue.

After a prolonged period on the sidelines, the Bullet Club founding member finally returned to the ring - and returned to New Japan - at NJPW Resurgence in May, where he and Doc Gallows teamed with the Young Bucks to pick up a win over the Bullet Club War Dogs. The Good Brothers have also appeared for Scott D'Amore's Maple Leaf Pro, RevPro, and the NWA since then.

Luke Gallows

While his tag team partner Karl Anderson has had two spells with WWE, this year saw Luke Gallows wrap up his third run with the promotion.

Before those couple of runs with Anderson as the Good Brothers, Gallows had his initial run as Festus; a run that eventually led to him dropping that gimmick and becoming a disciple of CM Punk as part of the Second City Saint's Straight Edge Society. Away from WWE and his NJPW success with Anderson, Gallows - as Doc Gallows - was also memorably a part of the whole Aces & Eights storyline in TNA back in the day.

Once Anderson finally got cleared to return to the ring, it was no surprise whatsoever to see the tandem once again working with New Japan. On top of that, Gallows and Anderson have been busy on the independent scene and have also discussed how they'd be open to an AEW return under the right circumstances.

Isla Dawn

A part of the 2018 Mae Young Classic, Isla Dawn joined WWE later that year, initially being a part of the NXT UK roster. Once she made her way to the main NXT brand in 2022, it didn't take long for Dawn to pair herself up with Alba Fyre, in turn forming the Unholy Union.

That tandem would have success in both NXT and on the main roster, picking up the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles and later memorably defeating Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles at Clash at the Castle last year.

Isla was quick, post-release, to take to X and proclaim that the White Witch and the Unholy Enchantress may be gone, but that fans should not grieve for her, for Isla Dawn is not dead just yet.

Since departing WWE, Isla has stepped back in the ring for the Grizzled Young Veteran's Burning Heart Pro, has competed for MLW, has worked a handful of matches for ROH, and, more notably, appeared on AEW Collision from her hometown of Glasgow, Scotland.

Giovanni Vinci

His WWE tenure was an extremely topsy-turvy one for Fabian Aichner. Introduced in the Cruiserweight Classic under his real name, Aichner impressed many in his subsequent NXT appearances, eventually signing with the promotion and becoming part of Imperium.

While Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser were called up to the main roster in April 2022, Aichner was left behind in NXT and repackaged as Giovanni Vinci, a classic rich playboy. That gimmick wouldn't last long, with Giovanni rejoining Imperium at Clash at the Castle 2022 and leaving his playboy days behind despite retaining the Vinci name. And there he was, once again with his Imperium buddies, only this time on Raw... well, until he was booted from Imperium last year and moved to SmackDown.

That SmackDown run was horrendous for the Italian, with the highlight being a three-second loss to Apollo Crews. While there had been talk of WWE having significant plans for Giovanni Vinci, that ultimately didn't come to pass, with him instead being given his release in February.

When looking at the pure in-ring talent of Fabian Aichner, any promotion on the planet would do well to swoop in and give him a look. As of this writing, though, Fabian is another who has yet to wrestle since leaving WWE.

Elektra Lopez

What made Elektra Lopez's WWE release particularly surprising is that the talent was seen on SmackDown on the very same night she was let go.

On that particular SmackDown, Elektra was featured in a backstage segment with Legado del Fantasma and the Mother City Machine Guns. By the time that weekend was done, news surfaced that Lopez was one of the several talents released by WWE on that February Friday night.

Having signed with WWE in early 2021, what many might not know about Elektra Lopez is that she's a second-generation wrestler, following in the footsteps of her father José Rivera. For those watching WWF programming in the 1980s, Rivera is better known as perennial enhancement talent Steve King.

Before landing in WWE, Elektra had a spell in Ring of Honor, and it remains to be seen whether a potential ROH return could be in the New Jersey native's future down the line. However, for now, the 33-year-old has returned to the ring under her real name of Karissa Rivera, including competing for the NWA and House of Glory.

Carmella

Much like the WWE exit of Sonya Deville, Carmella wasn't released by the market leader, per se. More, this was a case of WWE instead opting to simply let the former SmackDown Women's Champion's prior deal expire without renewal.

Fightful Select broke the news in February, with it said at that time that Carmella's contract had expired "recently", though no more specifics were given.

'Mella last wrestled for WWE at a March 2023 live event, teaming with Damage CTRL and Piper Niven in a losing effort against Becky Lynch, Asuka, Bianca Belair, Nikki Cross, and Candice LeRae at a Madison Square Garden house show. In terms of TV, the second-generation star's final televised match was a loss to Belair earlier that month.

As well as being a former SmackDown Women's Champion, the Princess of Staten Island's time with WWE also saw her win the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles with Zelina Vega and become a four-time 24/7 Champion.

Carmella and Corey Graves welcomed their second child into the world this October.

Braun Strowman

Burly Braun Strowman was one of the more surprising exits announced during an always-brutal post-WrestleMania 41 roster cull. WWE released no less than 15 names in one go, then another was added shortly after the main group. Braun was a shocker due to his recent top work opposite main event megastar in the making Jacob Fatu.

Strowman played a huge role in readying Fatu for even better things under the WWE banner, which he can be proud of. His second stint with the market leader has ended, though, so who knows what's next for Braun? AEW rumours will always be there, but he could pop up anywhere.

For now, Strowman has been keeping busy working on his Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman TV show for USA Network, which premiered in October and has received heavy praise.

Shayna Baszler

Social media seems to believe that it's only a matter of time before ex-MMA badass Shayna Baszler shows up in AEW, possibly as part of the ongoing Death Riders storyline. Being fair, Shayna's no-nonsense approach would be a neat fit for Jon Moxley's faction, but a lot of this is mere fan guesswork; there's nothing wrong with that, of course, but it is.

Baszler was cut loose on 2 May following a good few years of struggling to really make an impact. Her Pure Fusion Collective tag team alongside Zoey Stark wasn't doing much on TV (and continued to suffer following Sonya Deville's own departure), and there had been a big ol' question mark above Shayna's head since her ill-received 'MMA Rules' scrap vs. Ronda Rousey way back at SummerSlam 2023.

To circle back to AEW, the Queen of Spades herself has talked about how she'd be open to working for Tony Khan, and has also had plenty of praise for TNA's Knockouts division. In the meantime, she's worked select independent dates, including a brilliantly bonkers mesh of styles against Maki Itoh for House of Glory.

Dakota Kai

Eyebrows were raised all over the place once news spread that promising female star Dakota Kai had left WWE for the second time in early May. Previously, Kai had decided not to renew her contract with the company back in 2022, but it honestly seemed like she'd fare better under Triple H's watch than she ever did when Vince McMahon was calling the shots.

Not quite.

Damage CTRL dissolving proved to be a nightmare for Dakota. Members like IYO SKY and former leader Bayley have thrived at points, but Kai's biggest spot was putting Lyra Valkyria over in the tournament to crown a first-ever Women's Intercontinental Champion.

While there have been rumblings that AEW has interest in Dakota, she's yet to resurface since leaving WWE.

Katana Chance & Kayden Carter

Without being cruel, it's fair to say that Katana Chance and Kayden Carter were always on fan lips when people discussed which members of WWE's roster might be released next. Together, the pair did become Women's Tag Team Champs, but that's never been a guarantee of support from the office - WWE still often treats those belts like a necessary evil.

Also, Chance and Carter routinely played before silence whenever they appeared in front of live crowds. Here's hoping they can go away and find themselves in another company, then maybe come back stronger. You never know! This setback could be the making of both.

At least for now, though, Katana Chance, by her real name of Kacy Catanzaro, has returned to American Ninja Warrior, while Kayden Carter, as Lacey Lane, has competed for both AEW and Ring of Honor.

Cora Jade

At one point, Cora Jade seemed destined to become a marquee player in the women's division on either Raw or SmackDown. She'd been a focal point on NXT programming for years and had worked a memorable rivalry opposite fellow standout Roxanne Perez. Jade had even shown up on the TNA scene due to the working relationship between the Anthem company and WWE.

Her departure from WWE in early May caught many off guard.

Top star CM Punk was quick to show support for his friend after her release, encouraging Cora to show what she's capable of and prove the promotion wrong.

Jade was quick to return to her Elayna Black moniker and hit the independent scene once her 30-day non-compete was up, although she announced in late August that she's now taking an indefinite break from the pro wrestling world.

Gigi Dolin

Strangely, Gigi Dolin's last match under WWE's umbrella saw her team with Tatum Paxley to vie for the Women's Tag Team Titles on the 22 April episode of NXT. Dolin and Paxley failed to take the belts from Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on that occasion, but there must've been some viewing the bout as something of a main roster audition for Gigi.

After all, she'd thrived as part of Toxic Attraction and then post-Mandy Rose for years, so it wasn't outlandish to expect that Dolin was Raw or SmackDown-bound. Sadly not. She was one of the initial 15 cast out on 2 May.

Now back to her Priscilla Kelly name - which is her real name - Hell's Favourite Harlot promised to take the summer by storm, and she's certainly gone about doing that, being in action for notable independent promotions like GCW, REVOLVER, and House of Glory.

Eddy Thorpe

If there's one thing pro wrestlers and pro wrestling fans alike have learned about WWE, it's that unpredictability rules the day. On paper, Eddy Thorpe seemed to be making all the right noises on NXT before being released in early May. He did beat rising star Trick Williams in a 'Strap Match' at Vengeance Day in mid-February, after all.

That proved to be a false dawn for his WWE ambitions.

The real-life Karl Fredericks returned to the ring in September, and he's worked sporadic independent dates since.

Gallus (Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey & Wolfgang)

That's a wrap on Scottish trio Gallus in WWE, at least for now.

Both Joe and Mark Coffey were released alongside real-life pal (and fellow ICW alumni) Wolfgang on 2 May. Reports from behind the scenes had suggested that NXT boss Shawn Michaels had been high on Joe Coffey in particular for a long time. That's probably still true, but HBK's influence wasn't enough to save the threesome from being shoved through WWE's exit.

These savvy veterans will be fine long-term. They've got a lot to offer, have bags of experience, and were quick to get back at it on the UK independent scene, including all three returning to their old stomping ground of ICW.

Riley Osborne

Chase U becoming old hat on NXT programming wasn't great news for Riley Osborne. While they've since brought it back, WWE previously lost interest in the stable and abandoned it, which left Riley a little rudderless on the developmental show. After that, Osborne didn't do much of note other than working a few inconsequential matches here or there.

It's worth pointing out that Osborne is married to fellow 2025 releasee Blair Davenport/Bea Priestley. That must be a tough time for the couple, so fingers crossed they're still happy and can find plenty of work to keep them ticking over for the rest of the year and beyond. And given how Bea rejoined STARDOM back in August, maybe Osborne - or, Josh Terry - may find himself working a few dates over in Japan.

Jakara Jackson

Whilst hardly as high profile as other women's division releases like Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai, or even Cora Jade, Jakara Jackson's departure came as a slight surprise. She and regular tag partner Lash Legend had been showing up sporadically on SmackDown since late 2024, and the pair seemed to have bags of personality/potential as a main roster unit.

Jackson's Meta-Four faction on NXT splintered in late April, which ultimately spelled disaster for her time in WWE's system. She was another who was part of the 2 May post-WrestleMania release crew. At 30 years of age, she still has plenty of good in-ring years ahead of her, and, after working a handful of independent dates under her new Mara Sadè name, she's now signed to TNA Wrestling after debuting for the Anthem promotion in July.

Of course, Mara Sadè was part of Team TNA at NXT vs. TNA Showdown in October, where she'd eliminate Jaida Parker from the four-on-four women's match, before then being bounced from that match by Sol Ruca minutes later.

Oro Mensah

Another Meta-Four member started off as an enhancement worker called Oliver Carter in 2019 before eventually becoming NXT's Oro Mensah in 2022. He then joined Noam Dar, Jakara Jackson, and Lash Legend in the faction, but didn't really have any noteworthy success in the company beyond an NXT UK Tag Team Title alongside Ashton Smith near the start of his run.

Mensah was one of the group let go from his contract in early May 2025. At 29, he may well have a sizeable chip on his shoulder and seek the chance to prove himself in other companies soon. AEW boss Tony Khan has already taken a brief look at Oro, booking him in losses to Tomohiro Ishii and Wheeler Yuta at a couple of ROH tapings, and Oro's also been in action for GCW, including facing WWE EVOLVE favourite, Jack Cartwheel.

Javier Bernal

At least Oro Mensah got to show some of his wares on television this year. Poor Javier Bernal didn't really get that chance, as he was almost exclusively deployed on NXT live events on the road, or on select online streams for feeder group EVOLVE. Other than that, his only scraps on WWE's main roster came via enhancement matches on SmackDown and C/D level programming like Main Event.

You'd be forgiven for not knowing much about Bernal at all - he was barely featured during his three-year stint on WWE's books - but he's now clear and working the independent scene, initially as Core Kid Javi, but more recently as simply Javi, including making appearances for ROH and TNA.

Dani Palmer

The now-retired Dani Palmer is another who struggled to get more houseroom on WWE programming beyond EVOLVE shows or peripheral TV like NXT Level Up. At best, the rookie was in a borderline enhancement worker role for others on the NXT roster after debuting in 2022. Palmer never progressed much as an ongoing concern that was taken seriously, being honest.

She wasn't in the group of 15 names let go on 2 May, but instead announced her WWE departure the following day, and she promptly retired from the pro wrestling biz. The former acrobat had been recruited with high hopes in 2022. She'd never actually properly get going before being cut, though.

R-Truth

It felt utterly surreal to be writing the name R-Truth in an article about 2025 releases, but, to the shock of many - be they fans or people within the company - Truth took to social media on 1 June to announce that WWE had opted to let him go, and that he'd be leaving WWE at the end of his existing contract.

Of course, since then, Ron Killings has returned to WWE, making a shock appearance at Money in the Bank less than two weeks after announcing his time with WWE was coming to an end.

While it's known that R-Truth signed a new WWE contract on the Friday before Money in the Bank, it's not known for certain what date his previous deal was due to expire. As such, we don't know for definite if Ron's contract expired and he briefly became a free agent, or whether that expiry date had yet to be reached by the time he penned a new agreement to come back into the WWE fold.

So, Truth is somewhat of an exception to the rest of the names on this list, in that he announced his WWE exit, we don't know if his contract was up and he became an official free agent, but we do know that he's been back on TV and tied down to a new contract for what may or may not be classified as a third run for the 53-year-old.

Carlito

Another beloved veteran, Carlito confirmed his release only an hour or two after R-Truth's initial announcement.

Posting on 1 June, the former Intercontinental Champion announced that his contract is up in two weeks and would not be renewed.

Having a sense of humour about this news, Carlito said:

On top of that, WWE is demanding I pay back the $ they paid me for apparently “stealing money” from the company. I’ve had my lawyers look into it and after reviewing my footage on Netflix for the past months they suggested I pay them back the money.

The second-generation star thanked WWE and his fans, and joked that he'll be returning in 13 years, with 13 years being the time between his two WWE runs to date.

Given how Carlito won the WWC Puerto Rico Title for the second time on the same weekend as his WWE release, it didn't take long for Carly to return to his long-time home promotion, and he's been busy between Puerto Rico and US indie appearances in the months since.

Valhalla

Following the news of R-Truth and Carlito not having their WWE contracts renewed, Sarah Logan, aka Valhalla, took to Instagram a day later to announce that she was also not having her existing deal extended.

Sarah Logan's post indicated that she may be done with wrestling, with her discussing "when you end a lifelong career", how she's a "clean break kinda girl", and that, rather than wrestling, "other calls to me will be taking my full attention".

If this is indeed it for Sarah's career, it's was a fun run. Having made her in-ring debut back in 2011, 2016 would see the Kentucky native sign with WWE, landing on the main roster the following year as one-third of the Riott Squad. After that group was split up in 2019, Logan was one of the many talents who found themselves as part of the 2020 pandemic cuts. However, a 2022 Royal Rumble appearance would lead to a full-time return later that year as Valhalla alongside the then-Viking Raiders.

Karrion Kross

With a whole bunch of speculation over whether his WWE exit was legitimate or part of some elaborate work, Karrion Kross' WWE contract expired at midnight on 10 August.

In his post-WWE appearances - such as on The Ariel Helwani Show - Kross has continued to reiterate that this was a very real exit, that WWE waited until a week before his contract expiration date to offer him a new deal, gave him 24 hours to accept the offer before rescinding it, and that he's now a free agent but open to having conversations with WWE in the future.

Karrion - well, Killer - Kross has made a whole bunch of independent appearances since his WWE exit, competing for notable indies such as House of Glory, GCW, and DEFY, plus picking up a win over Matt Riddle in MLW. Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux have also joined forces with Shotzi Blackheart to cause plenty of chaos wherever they go.

Scarlett Bordeaux

Following the same pattern as her husband, Scarlett Bordeaux's WWE exit came on 10 August, with the same speculation running rampant over Scarlett's status as it did for Karrion Kross.

Prior to her and Kross' initial WWE run, Scarlett Bordeaux was a fairly regular in-ring presence, lacing up her boots for the likes of TNA, AAA, MLW, STARDOM, and Wrestle Pro. However, her last televised match for WWE was all the way back in June 2023, and her final match of any kind for the promotion was a December 2024 live event.

So, Scarlett was quick to lace up her boots post-WWE, having already teamed with Shotzi Blackheart for House of Glory, and also been in action for MLW.

Andrade

One of the more surprising releases of 2025 so far was the news that Andrade was done with WWE.

News broke overnight on 13 September that the former WWE United States Champion, WWE Speed Champion, and NXT Champion was no longer with the company.

Having turned down a contract extension with AEW at the end of 2023, Andrade returned to WWE in the 2024 men's Royal Rumble, before then becoming involved in the US Title picture, and later teaming with Rey Fenix to go after the WWE Tag Team Titles. Then, less than two years after that Rumble return, we got word that the one-time La Sombra had departed WWE.

In the aftermath of his release, it was reported that Andrade's latest stint with WWE had "multiple wellness violations", with his release confirmed as very much a WWE decision rather than any sort of mutual agreement, and that he had 18 months remaining on his WWE deal at the time of his release.

To the shock of many, Andrade El Idolo has already returned to AEW, attacking Kenny Omega on the 1 October edition of Dynamite. However, just as shocking was the revelation that Andrade has a staggering one-year non-compete clause in play due to his WWE contract being terminated, meaning El Idolo has yet to appear for AEW since that Omega angle.

Jazmyn Nyx

Rather than being released by the company, Jazmyn Nyx announced in September that she'd departed WWE after opting against signing a new contract with the promotion.

Nyx had been a regular presence on NXT programming as part of Fatal Influence, and her final match with the company was actually as part of the main event of the big Homecoming special. In terms of her on-screen exit, she was attacked by Lainey Reid and booted out of Fatal Influence.

As for the real reason Jazmyn decided to walk away from WWE, she cited unhappiness with the financial deal she was being offered to commit the next three years of her career to the company. Considering she's stated that she wants to pursue other opportunities away from the squared circle, and how "that is it for Jazmyn Nyx", it seems likely that the former soccer player is done with the wrestling business, at least for the foreseeable future.

Edris Enofe

Less than a week after Jazmyn Nyx's WWE exit, Edris Enofe announced that he, too, was leaving the company.

As Enofe explained on social media, he'd requested and been granted his WWE release, which is something he'd contemplated for a while. Edris decided to trust his gut and bet on himself, and it remains to be seen what's next for him as and when he resurfaces. Already, AEW's Ricochet has teased a match with the US Navy veteran, plus Edris has been spotted training with Swerve Strickland.

At 31 years of age, and with a determination to try his hand outside of WWE, the future could well be bright for Edris Enofe.

Santos Escobar

A smidge like the R-Truth situation, Santos Esobar's WWE departure didn't last all that long. In fact, Santos was reportedly out of WWE for less than one full day by all accounts.

The Legada Del Fantasma man's WWE contract expired at midnight on Monday, 6 October, then the following day saw his WWE.com profile moved to the Alumni section, and news broke later in the week that Santos had actually signed a new deal at some point on that Tuesday.

It was reported that Escobar had "creative dissatisfaction" before this, and that was why he initially chose not to re-sign with WWE. Those creative concerns were seemingly addressed, and the hugely talented veteran is also believed to have had a nice pay rise to remain with the company. However, as of this writing, Santos has yet to resurface on WWE programming, despite rumblings of big plans purportedly being in place for him.

Wes Lee

At one point seemingly nailed on for a main roster move, Wes Lee was the biggest name amongst WWE's October round of releases that were due to the "natural progression of cycling out developmental talent".

An electric high-flyer, Lee is a former NXT North American Champion and NXT Tag Team Champion, though the latter part of his WWE run was spent as part of High Ryze and largely restricted to EVOLVE programming.

Given his history with the group, it came as little surprise to see Wes - back under his old Dezmond Xavier moniker - join back up with the Rascalz at TNA Turning Point in November, though the belief is that, while TNA certainly has plans for Xavier, he's not under contract with the Anthem promotion. The 14-year veteran has also worked a couple of House of Glory dates, too, most notably coming up short against HOG World Champion Charles Mason in an excellent match at HOG SuperClash.

Stevie Turner

Having been in the WWE system since 2021, initially as part of NXT UK, Stevie Turner most recently served as the Prime Minister of EVOLVE, as well as an assistant to NXT GM Ava.

Another October release, Stevie was quick to thank WWE for her time with the company, while also making it clear that she's looking forward to getting back to lacing up her boots and wrestling - something that she hasn't done on TV since June 2024.

Previously, Turner had used the Bobbi Tyler name on the UK independent scene and beyond.

Lance Anoa'i

With many believing that Lance Anoa'i was destined for an eventual role in the wider Bloodline, that unfortunately never came to pass for the son of Headshrinker Samu.

While WWE only confirmed Anoa'i's signing in November 2024, he'd actually been signed with the company since that summer. Injuries plagued Lance's time under the WWE umbrella, and his only WWE matches so far are as an enhancement talent in three outings in 2014, 2017, and 2019.

At 33 years old, Lance Anoa'i could always make his way back to WWE down the line, but for now, he's back at it on the independent scene, having competed for the likes of Titan Championship Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Junkie since his WWE release.

Kylie Rae

One of the biggest names of WWE's ID program, Kylie Rae was the inaugural WWE ID Women's Champion, winning that title back in August before vacating it after 52 days.

While Smiley Kylie was part of WWE's October departures, her ID contract wasn't renewed after the 33-year-old announced in September that she and her partner were expecting their second child.

Congratulations to Kylie and her family on that news, and the door surely remains open for the one-time AEW star should she wish to return to the ring down the line.

Zayda Steel

For Zayda Steel, she wasn't so much as released, but more it was a case of her choosing not to renew her WWE ID deal.

Having turned 22 just a matter of days after her WWE exit, Steel is a hugely promising talent who is a fantastic natural heel.

The same weekend as her WWE departure, Zayda continued to impress as she made her House of Glory debut, coming up short to then-HOG Women's Champion Indi Hartwell.

With such charisma and ability at such a young age, Zayda Steel has all the tools to become a notable player in the future.

Zara Zakher

Zara Zakher's pro wrestling future is in question right now, with the 23-year-old explaining in October how her WWE ID deal expired and that she's stepping away from the industry, unsure if she'll ever return to the ring.

If Zakher really is done with wrestling, that's a massive shame, as the former cheerleader has shown plenty of promise over the past few years, particularly impressing for Tokyo Joshi Pro during the weekends of WrestleManias 40 and 41. Still, first and foremost should be the happiness of a talent, and if Zara does indeed feel like she's done with the business, best of luck to her in whatever is next.

BJ Ray

One of the louder members of LFG, BJ Ray infamously clashed with, amongst others, Bubba Ray Dudley, with BJ never afraid to speak his mind/speak out of turn - depending on your viewpoint.

Shortly before his release, BJ revealed on social media that he'd competed on the first two seasons of LFG with a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum, opting to continue with the show under the belief that his personality would carry him through. Having now had successful surgery, it remains to be seen what's next for the ever-vocal BJ Ray.

Jin Tala

Jin Tala is another of those who appeared on LFG before making some appearances for the EVOLVE brand, initially under her real name of Leigh Laurel, before then taking on the Jin Tala moniker.

Having only made her in-ring debut last December, the 30-year-old made it clear that she intended to continue her pro wrestling career, explaining on social media how Jin Tala may be no more, but Leigh Laurel has always been a fighter. And on that front, Laurel has already worked a handful of independent dates since her time with WWE came to an end.

Drako Knox

Having been with WWE for the past two years, Drako Knox's time with the market leader came to an end this October, with the LFG and EVOLVE man being released.

With nothing but gratitude for his time in WWE, Drako - as Drake Starks - is already looking at taking bookings, though he's yet to return to the ring as of this writing.

Jamar Hampton

Another LFG and EVOLVE name to be let go by WWE in October, Jamar Hampton confirmed his release on social media.

Noting how he was never a wrestling fan, Hampton thanked the business for helping him to grow and to make him more comfortable in the spotlight, but confirmed that his WWE exit is the end of his wrestling career.

Summer Sorrell

One more LFG and EVOLVE release, Summer Sorrell was another let go by WWE in October.

With a track background, the real-life Karyn Best has yet to comment on what's next for her or whether she'll remain in the industry.

Haze Jameson

The final name of those October developmental releases, the charismatic Haze Jameson's time with the market leader has come to an end after just eight matches across LFG and EVOLVE.

Like certain other recent releases, Haze has yet to comment on her WWE exit or what her future plans are.

Bryce Donovan

One of the first announced signees when WWE launched its WWE ID program in 2024, Bryce Donovan announced in October that his time with the company had come to an end, giving particular praise to Sean 'X-Pac' Waltman during his time under the WWE learning tree.

Trained at the Create-A-Pro Academy, Donovan had been a semi-regular presence on EVOLVE prior to his exit.

Ridge Holland

The WWE exit of Ridge Holland was a particularly unfortunate and harsh one, with the former Brawling Bute being informed ahead of time that he wouldn't be offered a new WWE deal once his existing contract was up in November. Of course, as has been well documented, Ridge was, and still is, recovering from a broken foot that he suffered in a TNA match against Moose back in September.

While WWE is covering the medical costs of Ridge's recovery, he's expected to be out of action until the middle of next year. On top of that, the powerhouse has detailed how he may also require neck fusion surgery, too. As an additional blow, WWE terminated Holland's contract a week or so earlier than scheduled due to public comments he'd made about this situation.

A GoFundMe campaign was set up for the real-life Luke Menzies, though that was quickly put on hold, with Menzies himself stating that he had no knowledge that the campaign was going live. The former rugby player is open to doing signing events and certain public appearances while his in-ring career is on hold.