10 Most WTF Wrestling Moments Of 2021

4. WWE’s Mass “Budget Cuts”

CM Punk AEW
WWE

Money certainly isn't a problem for Vince McMahon and family.

The WWE boss embarked on a talent-hoarding spree several years ago. This was likely due to AEW's advent, and it led to frosty back-and-forths with guys (like The Revival/FTR and Luke Harper/Brodie Lee) that Vince didn't want to set free. These days, McMahon has a different mindset.

WWE released a whopping 80(-ish) wrestlers in 2021. That, dear reader, is absolutely insane. Officially, WWE reasoned that "budget cuts" were behind these releases, but the wrestling world wasn't buying that. Why talent-hoard to the extreme only to turn round and scrap so many contracts less than two years later?

This merciless approach left a bad taste in the mouths of many.

Nobody seemed safe. Big stars like Braun Strowman, Nia Jax, Jeff Hardy and more were let go. It was a quite stunning swing of the axe, and yet one name stood out amongst the bustling crowd wondering what the hell had happened...

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.