All 54 WWE Wrestlers Released In 2021

By Mat Elfring on August 11, 2021 at 7:43AM PDT

WWE's 2021 Releases

On August 6, WWE released numerous NXT superstars, a little more than a month from the last block of 205 Live and NXT ones. This brings the count to 54 releases of wrestlers from WWE in 2021, which includes big names like Bray Wyatt, Ric Flair, Bronson Reed, Mercedes Martinez, and more.

There have been numerous days this year where batches of wrestlers were released. On June 25, WWE released 205 Live and NXT stars, like Tyler Breese, Tony Nese, and Fandango. Reasons for these releases are rarely given and WWE typically wishes them the best on their "future endeavors."

There were also mass releases on May 20 and June 2. The latter saw one of the company's top superstars, Braun Strowman, get "future endeavored" along with Aleister Black--who was in the middle of a huge push. Both of these were quite head-scratching moments.

While this is a bummer to the average fan--seeing your favorite wrestler no longer working with WWE--there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. This is temporary. 2020 saw numerous layoffs from WWE as well, and many of those wrestlers found success outside of the company.

Below, you'll find all the WWE wrestler releases throughout 2021, including a few stand-alone moments where a superstar requested his or her release. What you won't find here are releases from backstage, including referees, production, etc. We're focusing this list entirely on wrestlers.

Lars Sullivan

Released: January

Started with WWE: October 2014--first match as Lars Sullivan in May 2017 (NXT).

The Big Show

Released: February

Started with WWE: February 9, 1999.

Paul Wight now works with AEW.

Steve Cutler

Released: February 4

Started with WWE: June 12, 2014 (NXT)

Andrade

Released: March 21

Started with WWE: November 19, 2015 (NXT)

Andrade asked for his release.

Billie Kay

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: April 13, 2015 (NXT)

Peyton Royce

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: April 13, 2015 (NXT)

Samoa Joe

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: May 20, 2015 (NXT)

NXT rehired Samoa Joe shortly after.

Kalisto

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: May 26, 2013 (NXT)

Mickie James

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: August 2003 (OVW), October 10, 2005-November 2013 (WWE), 2016-2021 (WWE).

Chelsea Green

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: August 3, 2018 (NXT)

Green also appeared on an episode of Raw in 2014 and on Tough Enough Season 6 as a contestant.

Tucker

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: 2013--made TV debut on July 1, 2015 (NXT)

Bo Dallas

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: 2008 (FCW), June 20, 2012 (NXT)

Mojo Rawley

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: August 2012

Wesley Blake

Released: April 15

Started with WWE: June 2013 (NXT)

Kavita Devi

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: January 2018

Devi appeared in the 2017 Mae Young Classic.

Jessamyn Duke

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: May 7, 2018 (NXT)

Although Duke is no longer a wrestler with WWE, she still appears with BRE Start on UpUpDownDown.

Vanessa Borne

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: April 12, 2016 (NXT)

Skyler Story

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: October 7, 2020 (NXT)

Prior to the official announcement of her signing, Skyler had appeared on an NXT taping in May 2018.

Ezra Judge

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: April 2019 (NXT)

Alexander Wolfe

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: 2015 (NXT)

Velveteen Dream

Released: May 20

Started with WWE: May 3, 2017--as Velveteen Dream--in NXT. However, Patrick Clark--who plays Dream--had been with NXT since late 2015.

Additionally, Clark appeared on Season 6 of Tough Enough.

Braun Strowman

Released: June 2

Started with WWE: August 24, 2015 (WWE)

Previous to his first appearance on Raw, Strowman had played one of Adam Rose's "Rosebuds" and had a couple of dark matches at NXT live events and on WWE Main Event.