Latest on WWE Releases - Talent Expected to be Cut, Contract Expirations

:wwe5:

More has come out about some of the wrestlers who lost their jobs with WWE this week.

Yesterday, WWE laid off talent from both the main roster and WWE NXT, which had been expected to happen following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. These releases came mere days after over 100 employees were laid off from WWE's offices, as part of streamlining the promotion following its merger with UFC.

Dolph Ziggler

As a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, Dolph Ziggler is the biggest name to be cut from WWE this week. Fightful Select reports that Ziggler actually wanted to leave WWE years ago but got talked into staying with the company. His WWE deal was set to extend into the Summer of 2024.

Elias

Elias leaves WWE a four-time WWE 24/7 Champion who was once receiving some of the loudest reactions on programming. Fightful reports that while he has not been on TV for some time, he has not been injured in recent memory. In fact, Elias had been pitching ideas until a month ago, but they clearly were not used.

Aliyah

Aliyah is a name that many in WWE expected to be cut, according to Fightful. Joining WWE in 2015, it wouldn't be until 2021 that she was called up to the main roster, where she would briefly hold the WWE Women's Tag Titles with Raquel Rodriguez. Aliyah has not wrestled at all in the over a year since she and Rodriguez lost the titles. She was rarely if ever brought to TV, and was not factored in creatively.

Mustafa Ali

Ali had previously requested his release from WWE but had been quickly rejected and taken off of TV. Fightful reports that as things stood, his WWE deal was up in the Spring/Summer of 2024. Those in NXT had no knowledge that he was going to be released, as Ali was booked to compete at this weekend's NXT No Mercy Show. Ali had recently worked through an injury to make his NXT run happen.