WWE Releases 9 NXT & Developmental Wrestlers (WWE News)
Ex-NXT and North American Champ Wes Lee amongst those let go on Friday.
Both Bodyslam.net and Fightful Select are reporting that no less than 9 NXT and developmental talents were cut loose from the WWE roster during a cull on Friday. The company is currently over in Australia for this weekend's Crown Jewel PLE - Friday's episode of SmackDown and this coming Monday's edition of flagship show Raw are also overseas.
The complete list of releases to date is as follows: Wes Lee, Stevie Turner, Lance Anoa’i, Jin Tala, Drako Knox, Haze Jameson, Summer Sorrell, Brayden 'BJ' Ray and Jamar Hampton.
Wes Lee is clearly the highest profile of the lot. He's a former NXT Tag-Team and North American Champion, and was once trumpeted as one of the most promising names on the third brand. Most recently, Lee was teaming with Tyriek Igwe and Tyson Dupont as High Ryze, but he hadn't wrestled on television since losing to Je'Von Evans on the 29 July episode of NXT.
Meanwhile, Stevie Turner was initially part of the abolished NXT UK brand after inking terms in March 2021. She went on to become assistant to NXT General Manager Ava, and had recently popped up on WWE Evolve as the show's own GM (or "Prime Minister", as she called herself).
Lance Anoa'i was expected to earn a call up as part of the lengthy Bloodline saga, but that didn't happen. In fact, he leaves WWE without ever working a match for the promotion. That'll be unexpected by some, especially because of Lance's family ties to the likes of Roman Reigns and The Usos.
Most of the other names you might not recognise above were either involved in WWE's LFG show or competed almost exclusively on Evolve.