Looking Back At The 80 WWE Wrestlers Released In 2021
WWE's 2021 Releases
2021 was a rough year for WWE wrestlers. During the course of the year, there were multiple days of mass layoffs of both wrestlers and people working backstage at the company. These releases ranged from people training at the Performance Center to NXT superstars to people on both Raw and Smackdown. At times, it felt like no one was safe, even big name stars like Bray Wyatt. Most of these releases were because of "budget cuts" for the company.
Throughout 2021, there were 80s wrestler releases, with some even coming in late December. On December 9, Jeff Hardy was released by WWE, days after an incident at a house show. However, this wasn't a "budget cut" release, which is one of the few that happened in 2021. Sources have confirmed to GameSpot that Hardy has been released.
WWE's budget cuts releases happened for a seventh time on November 19. Eight more superstars were released from their contracts. This was reported by Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful. Many of the former WWE wrestlers confirmed this on Twitter, including Tegan Nox, John Morrison, and Drake Maverick--who made an inspiring video about his career. Below, you'll find a list of everyone released this year, which now stands at 79 wrestlers.
The last batch of releases came on November 4. WWE released 18 wrestlers because of reported "budget cuts," which was, once again, first reported by Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful. It's been a wild year for the company, which is boasting record profits and releasing talent left and right. Additionally, the company has released plenty of other people from within the company. The latest group of wrestlers released includes names like Keith Lee, Mia Yim, Nia Jax, and Lince Dorado.
Additionally, wrestlers have been exiting the company by letting their contracts run out. Both Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole have gone from WWE to AEW this year, by not resigning with WWE. 2021 will be a landmark year in the history of professional wrestling, no matter how this plays out.
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. And quite a few have already made a splash in promotions like Impact, AEW, ROH, NJPW, and more.
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 or those who just let their contracts run out. We're focusing this list entirely on wrestlers. Additionally, some of these wrestlers have moved on to other companies, and that's noted as well.
Jump ahead to release dates:
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)
Steve Cutler now works on Impact wrestling as Steve Maclin.
Andrade
Released: March 21
Started with WWE: November 19, 2015 (NXT)
Andrade now works on AEW as Andrade El Idolo.
Billie Kay
Released: April 15
Started with WWE: April 13, 2015 (NXT)
Kay now works on Impact wrestling as Jessie McKay as part of the tag team The Inspiration.
Peyton Royce
Released: April 15
Started with WWE: April 13, 2015 (NXT)
Royce now works on Impact wrestling as Cassie Lee as part of the tag team The Inspiration.
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)
Kalisto now works at AEW as Samuray del Sol.
Mickie James
Released: April 15
Started with WWE: August 2003 (OVW), October 10, 2005-November 2013 (WWE), 2016-2021 (WWE).
James now works at NWA and Impact wrestling.
Chelsea Green
Released: April 15
Started with WWE: August 3, 2018 (NXT)
Green now works at Impact wrestling.
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)
Story returned to Impact wrestling as Brandi Lauren.
Ezra Judge
Released: May 20
Started with WWE: April 2019 (NXT)
Judge now works at MLW as E. J. Nduka.
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.
Scherr appeared on EC3's PPV Free the Narrative.
Lana
Released: June 2
Started with WWE: June 2013 (NXT)
Buddy Murphy
Released: June 2
Started with WWE: March 17, 2013 (NXT)
Murphy now wrestles at NJPW as Buddy Matthews.
Aleister Black
Released: June 2
Started with WWE: June 2016 (NXT)
Black now wrestles in AEW as Malakai Black.
Ruby Riott
Released: June 2
Started with WWE: January 13, 2017 (NXT)
Riott now wrestles in AEW as Ruby Soho.
Santana Garrett
Released: June 2
Started with WWE: August 2019 (NXT)
Prior to her NXT stint, Garrett had appeared in the Mae Young Classic and as enhancement talent on NXT.
Garrett now wrestles in AEW.
Fandango
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2006 (Deep South Wrestling)
Tyler Breeze
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2010 (FCW)
Tony Nese
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2016 (205 Live)
While not signed yet, Nese has appeared on AEW television.
Ariya Daivari
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2013
Daivari is now with NJPW.
August Grey
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: August 2, 2020
Samir Singh
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2016
Sunil Singh
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2016
Curt Stallion
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: October 2020
Arturo Ruas
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: 2015
Ruas now wrestles with AEW as Tiger Ruas.
Marina Shafir
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: May 7, 2018
Killian Dain
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: June 2016
Matt Martel
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: June 2016
Martel is now with AEW as part of the tag team 2.0.
Chase Parker
Released: June 25
Started with WWE: January 22, 2019
Parker is now with AEW as part of the tag team 2.0.
Bray Wyatt
Released: July 31
Started with WWE: February 2009 (FCW)
Ric Flair
Released: August 2
Started current run with WWE: 2012
Bobby Fish
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: June 23, 2017 (NXT)
Fish is now with AEW.
Bronson Reed
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: January 2019 (NXT)
Jake Atlas
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: 2018 (NXT)
Atlas is with ROH.
Ari Sterling
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: May 2021 (205 Live)
Kona Reeves
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: May 2014 (NXT)
Leon Ruff
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: October 2020 (NXT)
Stephon Smith
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: 2019 (NXT)
Tyler Rust
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: December 2020 (NXT)
Rust is now with ROH.
Zechariah Smith
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: January 2020 (NXT)
Asher Hale
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: January 2021 (NXT)
Hale wrestled one match in AEW since his release.
Giant Zanjeer
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: April 2020 (NXT)
Mercedes Martinez
Released: August 6
Started with WWE: January 2020 (NXT)
Martinez is now with Impact wrestling.
B Fab
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: May 2019 (NXT)
Ember Moon
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: September 2015 (NXT)
Eva Marie
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: 2013
Franky Money
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: February 2021 (NXT)
Gran Metalik
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: 2016
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: Had a run 2006-11, resigned in 2020
Jeet Rama
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: September 2015 (NXT)
Jessi Kamea
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: 2017 (NXT)
Karrion Kross
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: February 2020 (NXT)
Katrina Cortez
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: August 2019 (NXT)
Keith Lee
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: May 2018 (NXT)
Mia Yim
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: September 2018 (NXT)
Nia Jax
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: 2014 (NXT)
Oney Lorcan
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: September 2015 (NXT)
Scarlett Bordeaux
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: 2014 (NXT/One of Adam Rose's Rosebuds)
Trey Baxter
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: March 2021 (NXT)
Zayda Ramier
Released: November 4
Started with WWE: 2021 (NXT)
Ashante Adonis
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: December 2018
Drake Maverick
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: October 2017 (205 Live)
Maverick was originally released on April 15, 2020 due to budget cuts, but was brought back on.
Isaiah "Swerve" Scott
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: April 17, 2019 (NXT)
Jaxson Ryker
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: May 29, 2017
John Morrison
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: Original run: 2002 (Tough Enough/OVW)
Current run: 2019 (Smackdown)
Shane Thorne
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: February 2016
Tegan Nox
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: April 2017
Top Dolla
Released: November 19
Started with WWE: January 2020
Jeff Hardy
Released: December 9
Most recent run of WWE started: April 2, 2017.