Every WWE Release Of 2021 - Where Are They Now? (Five Years Later)

Then: A lot of folks were left stunned when WWE announced that company pet project and former Universal Champion big Braun Strowman was being released in June 2021. Not many saw that coming, and some who "did" were lying through their teeth. This caught pretty much everybody off guard.

Keep in mind that Vince McMahon was still very-much calling the shots in mid-2021. Braun seemed to be his perfect act. He was huge, muscular and could get a rise out of fans whether heel or babyface. Besides, Strowman had just won a major World Title at WrestleMania the prior year before he was out of the promotion.

Few could wrap their heads around it.

Now: Incredibly, Braun has come and gone again. He was rehired under Triple H's watch in September 2022, and seemed to be having a blast when tagging with Ricochet or working with new monster project Jacob Fatu. Indeed, Strowman bent over backwards to make Fatu look like an absolute killer whenever they locked horns, and he seemed to have nailed down a 'star enhancing veteran' spot on the roster for good.

Braun's lofty salary was used to explain his latest departure from the organisation, but few were buying that considering how much money pours through WWE's tills. He still has ties to the company via his WWE Studios-produced food TV show, but Strowman doesn't wrestle. He hasn't done so since the 18 April 2025 SmackDown.

Don't rule out ever hearing, "Braaaaaaaaun" blare over the speaker system one day though. He'd be perfect for a cameo role in an upcoming Royal Rumble, for example.