10 Most Heartbreaking WWE Releases Ever
1. Drake Maverick
Drake Maverick exited WWE on April 15, 2020 amidst pandemic cuts, announced in the same wave that claimed Kurt Angle and Mike Chioda. Instead of delivering a promo, Maverick shared a raw video on Twitter—tears, unfiltered emotion and a promise to give all he had in the upcoming interim Cruiserweight title tournament—reminding fans wrestling stardom comes with real stakes.
WWE brass, swayed by fan outcry and visual proof of his fighting spirit, allowed him to enter the tournament, where every match became a testament to his resilience. His redemption arc peaked on NXT when he earned a new contract live on air, turning heartbreak into a rare moment of justice—he belonged where he fought for every inch.
The curtain fell again in November 2021, when he was released in the latest round of roster cuts. Once again, Maverick handled it with grace—sharing a witty, heartfelt goodbye that left colleagues like John Cena applauding his poise and perseverance. When someone with that much heart, talent and tenacity can’t find a home, it forces us to wonder how WWE could let its truest underdog slip away twice.