WWE released sixteen wrestlers last week, including notable names like former Universal Champion Braun Strowman and former Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai, Katana Chance, and Kayden Carter. Shotzi was also informed that her contract would not be renewed.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that the releases were expected post-WrestleMania 41, with many underused Superstars reportedly nervous about their jobs.
While NXT has been blindsided by sudden releases in the past, this time, the developmental brand was proactive, adjusting storylines beforehand to prepare for roster cuts.
The report further states that there was a directive within the company to start releasing wrestlers to create main roster space for bringing up talents from NXT. At the same time, NXT aimed to release those whom WWE believed lacked potential for the main roster.
According to sources, “the decisions were made based on the feeling some talent was lazy, had not improved enough, were injury prone, or the feeling that they weren’t connecting.”
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque reportedly made the ultimate decision regarding which Superstars would be released.
The report notes, “it is not known if he was told a number that he had to release, a dollar amount that he had to cut in these releases or if it was just all at his discretion.”
