WWE Releases 2020-2021: Where Are They Now?

3. Rusev

Miro AEW
AEW

Released: 15 April 2020

Now: File Miro under the same category as Andrade El Idolo, but maybe add an asterisk that says "had a decent TNT Title run" onto that document. Really, that's all the ex-Rusev has had to shout about since becoming #AllElite in September 2020.

He's another who found out the grass wasn't especially greener on the other side.

2. Aleister Black

AEW Malakai Black
AEW

Released: 2 June 2021

Now: Malakai Black will soon be on the comeback trail in AEW, so rumours that he was trying to engineer an exit from his deal with Tony Khan so he could swan off to Triple H's waiting arms should be put to bed. That doesn't look like it's going to happen, and All Elite has continued House Of Black in his absence anyway.

Keep a close eye on Dynamite to see when Malakai will return from a clearly much-needed break.

1. Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt 2022
WWE.com

Released: 31 July 2021

Now: No shocker that this fella is number one.

Bray returned at Extreme Rules in October and launched a fresh story with the mysterious 'Uncle Howdy' character who is trying to be a bad influence on him. This internal battle stuff Wyatt is working on WWE TV is fun, but it'll require some pay off soon if it's going to keep fans glued to their screens.

It's great to see him back mind.

Best Of The Rest

Cezar Bononi John Silver
AEW

Check this out of for a list of other wrestlers released in 2020 or 2021:

Aleksandar Jaksic, Dan Matha, Edgar Lopez, Faisal Kurdi, Hussain Aldegal, Jazzy Gabert, Killer Kelly, Marco Gomes, Mars Wang, MJ Jenkins, Mohamed Fahim, Tino Sabbatelli, Cezar Bononi, Yifeng, Ari Sterling, Arturo Ruas, Asher Hale, August Grey, Curt Stallion, Dezmond Troy, Ezra Judge, Giant Zanjeer, Jeet Rama, Jessi Kamea, Katrina Cortez, Kavita Devi, Kona Reeves, Leon Ruff, Santana Garrett, Skylar Story, Stephon Smith, Trey Baxter, Tyler Rust, Vanessa Bourne, Zayda Ramier, Zechariah Smith.

Thats 36 names in total. Of them, most were PC recruits who didn't reach telly, or NXT/NXT UK workers who didn't really do much of note when they did. It's worth listing them so this list is exhaustive though. Many of them are working independent dates these days.

For more wrestling content, check out 10 WWE One-Offs So Bad You Forgot They Existed and 10 Best Candidates To Be WWE King Of The Ring 2023!

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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.