10 Most Heartbreaking WWE Releases Ever

The sad and often uncalled-for WWE releases are nothing new. They’re part of the business, a necessary evil in a constantly evolving industry where rosters swell and creative directions shift like the wind.

Every so often, a release hits harder than others—not because of titles lost or pushes squandered, but because of the emotional connection fans had with the performer. These are the names that made us laugh, cry, cheer, and chant. They were not just members of the roster. They were the heart of the locker room, the soul of a division, or the underdog we never stopped rooting for.

Some were veterans who gave decades to WWE, only to be let go with little fanfare. Others were rising stars, cut down just as they were finding their voice. A few were backstage legends, the kind of people who shaped the product in ways fans never saw. And then there are those whose releases felt like a betrayal—not just of them, but of everything they represented. 

These are the ten most heartbreaking WWE releases ever—and the reasons why they still sting...

It stung to learn on 1st June 2025 that future WWE Hall of Fame inductee Ron “R-Truth” Killings was gone—17 years of ups, downs and pure entertainment wiped away without so much as a warning. No farewell video, no on-air send-off, just a two-line social media post and a collective gasp from fans who’d grown up chanting “What’s up?” at arenas worldwide.

The sadness cut deeper because Truth wasn’t a forgotten mid-carder—he was WWE’s go-to mood-booster, a living highlight reel of comedy, surprise 24/7 title raids, and even serious moments when he stood toe-to-toe against Little Jimmy or John Cena. He’d earned every cheer, every laugh—and deserved a proper goodbye.

Backstage, the grief was real. Wrestlers past and present championed Truth on social media, with and Pat McAfee admitting he was his dad's favourite wrestler. The Miz—his partner in Awesome Truth—teased on X that losing his closest ally felt like losing an old friend, as it looked like he might walk away from WWE over the decision.

When “We Want Truth” exploded on Twitter and chants rumbled through arenas, WWE brass couldn’t ignore it. Nick Khan personally picked up the phone, and within days Truth was back at Money in the Bank as the hero we never should’ve lost.