10 Most Heartbreaking WWE Releases Ever

When WWE quietly released Dolph Ziggler on September 21, 2023, they closed a door they’d never fully swung open. A 19-year veteran with 1,554 televised matches—the third-most in company history—Ziggler was part of the roster cull tied to the TKO merger, leaving fans and colleagues stunned by the loss of a consummate professional.

Ziggler’s reputation as “The Showoff” was built on relentless effort: he could bump like a man possessed, open a pay-per-view with the intensity of a main-eventer and steal the spotlight every time his music hit. His Money in the Bank cash-in at WrestleMania 29 remains one of Raw’s loudest pops, a four-minute mini-masterclass in storytelling that still reverberates.

Social media lit up with tributes. The Rock wrote on X, “Just seeing all these releases now. These days so f'n tough for the ones who gave their all to our crazy world of pro wrestling”, while John Cena echoed the sentiment. Big E, Ziggler’s long-time ally, thanked him for taking a rookie under his wing and teaching him so many lessons about this craft as they travelled the globe together.

Despite his undeniable toolkit—charisma, athleticism, razor-sharp mic work and a perennial fan connection—Ziggler never received the sustained push he earned. His release wasn’t just a veteran walking away; it was WWE letting one of its most reliable pillars slip into the shadows before his story could reach its climax.