Every WWE Release Of 2021 - Where Are They Now? (Five Years Later)
67. Brandi Lauren
Then: WWE success also managed to escape Brandi Lauren's grasp. She was trained by Jay Lethal and cut her teeth on the independent circuit before joining Impact/TNA in 2017. There, Lauren managed to earn enough praise that the big leagues (no offence intended, Total Nonstop Action-ers!) came knocking in 2018.
Originally, Brandi was still working freelance until WWE signed on the dotted line with her in 2020. She probably expected things to move swiftly from there, but they didn't. Rather than progressing through the ranks by winning matches and racking up RXP like she was playing 2K26, Lauren stagnated and barely got a look in.
In total, she got to wrestle (get this) just 2 matches for the promotion.
Now: Management saw fit to release Brandi in May 2021, and she returned to Impact for another brief run. Lauren also worked a match for ROH before settling back into the groove of independent bookings and other appearances whilst promoting her personal projects via social media.
She's still only 29 years old, which is practically a baby in pro wrestling terms, so who knows what might happen in the future? Saying that, Lauren hasn't actually stepped foot in the ring for a match since 2023, so maybe she's had more than enough of this wacky biz to last a lifetime.
Brandi is likely best-remembered by NXT fans for posing in a hot tub with Damian Priest and others as Triple H stood in the back fully suited and booted. Get the swimming shorts on and jump in, Helmsley!