WWE Releases 23 Wrestlers in Post-WrestleMania Cuts
WWE released at least 18 talents on April 24, 2026, in a sweeping post-WrestleMania roster purge. Per Fightful Select and PWInsider, the departures span the main roster, NXT, and WWE developmental, with more cuts potentially still to come.
Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp noted that some exits may be contract expirations rather than outright releases. WWE has not issued an official statement. Early reports and statements from the wrestlers themselves have made the situation pretty clear.
- Aleister Black
- Zelina Vega
- Kairi Sane
- Santos Escobar
- Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
- Apollo Crews
- Zoey Stark
- Alba Fyre
- Wyatt Sicks members: Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy), Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, and Dexter Lumis
NXT/Developmental:
- Andre Chase
- Dante Chen
- Tyra Mae Steele
- Sirena Linton
- Tyson Dupont
- Tyriek Igwe
- Chris Island
- Malik Blade
- Trill London
- Luca Crusifino
Some of the biggest names include Aleister Black and Zelina Vega, who are a real-life couple and were recently working together on WWE SmackDown. Vega recently shared on a livestream that she found out about her release through TKO Group Holdings. She also said she was upset she didn’t get to share the news herself first.
Other main roster names who are leaving include Kairi Sane, Santos Escobar, Apollo Crews, Zoey Stark, and Alba Fyre. Stark’s exit is a bit surprising since she had just been cleared after an injury, while Fyre hadn’t been used much on TV lately.
The tag team division also took a hit. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) have also departed. Even though their WWE run was short (from late 2024 to early 2026), they made a huge impact by winning the tag titles just a week after debuting.
Another massive part of these exits is the end of the Wyatt Sicks group, which was created as a tribute to Bray Wyatt. It started strong because of its emotional connection, but later lost direction.
There have also been cuts in NXT and developmental. Names like Andre Chase, Dante Chen, Tyra Mae Steele, Sirena Linton, Tyson Dupont, Tyriek Igwe, Chris Island, Malik Blade, Trill London, and Luca Crusifino are also leaving.
Chase shared an emotional message on X, talking about how he went from being told he wouldn’t make it on TV to becoming a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and leading Chase University. Chen also thanked WWE for letting him be the first Singaporean-born WWE Superstar.
Many of these released stars had strong achievements. Nikki Cross is a former RAW Women’s Champion, while Zoey Stark has been a tag team champion and Alba Fyre was a former NXT UK Women’s Champion.
At the moment, it’s still unclear if more WWE releases are coming.
