Report: WWE Planning More Regular Rounds Of NXT Releases

NXT talent will reportedly be given 90 days to show improvement - or potentially face being cut.

Dakota Kai
WWE

WWE's latest round of roster releases hit last week, with the promotion jettisoning 10 NXT wrestlers from its talent pool including tenured performers Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens, Persia Pirotta, and Dexter Lumis, all of whom were television regulars.

As is often the case in these situations, "budget cuts" were attributed as the reason in an internal email circulated by WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.

Now, it appears such releases could be on the verge of becoming a more regular occurrence.

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Speaking on an episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that NXT wrestlers will effectively be given 90 days to demonstrate what the promotion sees as an acceptable level of improvement. If they don't hit that level, they may be cut from the roster, though wrestlers who show steady improvement within this window should theoretically be safe. Long-term contracts appear to mean little in this situation, either, as even those bound to multi-year deals will be considered.

A lack of in-ring improvement was cited as the reason behind Harland's inclusion on the list of wrestlers cut from the NXT roster last week. If accurate, this new report suggests more may soon join him.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.