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

Then: Drawing comparisons to other mobile big men like Bam Bam Bigelow wasn't enough to save Bronson Reed from the chopping block on 6 August 2021. Like many others on this list, his release did come as a slight surprise to those who'd been revelling in his powerhouse work on NXT.

Also, Bronson had been NXT North American Champ for a month or so shortly before he was cut loose.

Now: Anyone who watches WWE programming regularly in 2026 will know how much of an impact Reed has made since launching his comeback in late-2022. Feuds with Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns and others have turned Bronson into a major star on Triple H's roster.

Sadly, an injury suffered during a match in February has robbed Reed of the chance to work at WrestleMania 42, but he'll surely make a splash (perhaps literally!) when he returns from that layoff. For reference, this isn't the first painful injury Bronson had had since returning - his fall at Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 led to a gnarly broken foot that kept him benched until May 2025.

Fingers crossed he doesn't miss that much time on this occasion.

Reed has been cast as a crucial part of The Vision faction on Raw. Alongside Bron Breakker, he's become one of the most watchable heels on the roster. It just sucks that both are on the shelf at time of writing. WWE surely has grand plans for Bronson and Bron when they're healthy again.

The former has bounced back tremendously well following his 2021 heartache.