All WWE releases post-WrestleMania, including NXT talent
Braun Strowman's second WWE run ends
Former Universal Champion Braun Strowman is among the highest-profile names released. A dominant force since 2015, Strowman returned to WWE in 2022 after a previous release and neck surgery.
His recent run included a tag-team stint with Ricochet and a feud with Bronson Reed, culminating in a 'Last Monster Standing' match. WWE opted not to renew his contract despite his marquee name value.
Dakota Kai exits again after injury setbacks
Dakota Kai's second spell with WWE has ended. After returning in 2022 to form Damage CTRL with Bayley and IYO SKY, Kai faced two significant injuries that kept her off TV for extended periods.
Despite a return to singles competition earlier this year, she failed to capture the Women's Intercontinental Title and was let go as part of the May cuts.
I hope you stay on this journey with me x pic.twitter.com/EE0xrgRMSA — 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖗𝖑 🎮 (@ImKingKota) May 3, 2025
Shayna Baszler departs after eight years
A cornerstone of NXT and later the main roster, Shayna Baszler was released after eight years. The former MMA fighter held the NXT Women's Championship twice and the WWE Women's Tag Titles three times.
Most recently, she had formed the Pure Fusion Collective with Sonya Deville and Zoey Stark before being quietly let go.
No one can offer what I have to offer. Reality. Let the Galaxy burn. — Shayna Baszler (@QoSBaszler) May 2, 2025
NXT duo Katana Chance and Kayden Carter let go
The tag team of Katana Chance and Kayden Carter, former NXT and WWE Women's Tag Champions, were also released.
Their main roster call-up saw moderate success, including winning the WWE Women's Tag-team Championships, but their recent appearances were limited to mid-card bouts.
Gigi Dolin and Shotzi among other female releases
Former Toxic Attraction member Gigi Dolin and high-flyer Shotzi were also cut. Both had been active in the tag team scene, with Shotzi recently challenging for the North American Title and Dolin appearing alongside Tatum Paxley in cross-promotional matches.
Officially free to work in 30 days
thepriscillakelly@yahoo.com 🥀
— Priscilla Kelly (@HellsFavoritePK) May 2, 2025
Gallus trio ends seven-year WWE stint
The stable Gallus—comprised of Wolfgang and brothers Joe and Mark Coffey—were released after nearly a decade in the company.
The trio held the NXT UK Tag Team and NXT Tag Team titles during their tenure but had fallen off the main TV rotation in recent months.
Cora Jade departs after return from injury
Cora Jade, once considered a cornerstone of NXT's women's division, also exited WWE.
After a return from a torn ACL, she reignited a storyline with Roxanne Perez, only to be written off following a tag team betrayal at Stand & Deliver.
See you in 29 pic.twitter.com/xwO4AGUnL9 — Elayna Black (@CoraJadeWWE) May 3, 2025
Jakara Jackson and Oro Mensah released after faction split
Following the recent breakup of Meta-Four, members Jakara Jackson and Oro Mensah were released.
Jackson had partnered with Lash Legend in various tag pursuits, while Mensah had previously held the NXT UK Tag Titles.
Always BEEN and always GON be bout that mothafkn ACTION ✔️🧡 pic.twitter.com/RuZD2KjK9n — Jakara Jackson (@JakaraWWE) May 2, 2025
Eddy Thorpe exits after cryptic message
Former NJPW Young Lion Eddy Thorpe was also let go, just weeks after competing for a shot at the NXT North American Championship. His social media activity had hinted at an impending departure.
Dani Palmer announces retirement post-release
Dani Palmer confirmed her WWE exit by announcing her retirement from professional wrestling.
The former NCAA acrobat thanked WWE for 'a ride until the wheels fell off' and expressed gratitude for meeting her partner, NXT Tag Champion Tank Ledger.
Final cuts: Bernal and Osborne exit quietly
Javier Bernal and Riley Osborne were quietly released. Osborne, once a breakout tournament finalist, had last appeared on WWE 'Evolve' programming. Bernal had primarily featured on 'Level Up' and live shows.
WWE has not publicly commented on individual releases, but sources close to the company cite financial restructuring and creative redirection as key factors.
Most released main roster stars are subject to a 90-day non-compete clause, while NXT talent have 30-day clauses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Liam Neeson makes big move amid Pamela Anderson romance
To many fans, the surprise romance between actor Liam Neeson and former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson is the feel-good story they didn't know they needed. Suddenly, the couple (they are dating, according to People) are everywhere, appearing on podcasts and flirting heavily for the cameras. They even appeared on the red carpet together with their respective sons. So, it's not surprising that a big move Neeson just made is getting attention. For years, one of Neeson's key residences was his New York City apartment. He called the apartment home with his wife, Natasha Richardson, and their two sons, before Richardson died after a tragic fall on a ski vacation. According to the New York Post, Neeson sold the Lincoln Square home for $10.3 million, property records filed on Aug. 4 revealed. It's not clear why the actor decided to put the home on the market. However, he's been trying to sell it since 2024. According to the Post, the home's asking price was originally $12.75 million in early 2024. The Post reported that the dwelling is 4,524 square feet, has five bedrooms and five bathrooms, and is located "on the 28th floor of the tower at 111 W. 67th St." However, Neeson has not used the Manhattan pad as his primary residence. According to Robb Report, Neeson used the Manhattan penthouse as a secondary home because he has a primary residence, which is a farmhouse, in Millbrook, N.Y. The real estate listing described the Manhattan penthouse in detail. "Just one block from Central Park, high above Lincoln Square, this home enjoys epic vistas from an unbeatable location," the listing for the penthouse, which has now been taken down, said. "Upon entering, a grand foyer and wide entry gallery provide an ideal space to showcase your finest artwork. The light-flooded, massive, corner Great Room is a true showstopper, with elegant custom millwork and double exposures offering exceptional views of the park," it read. For her part, Anderson has renovated her grandparents' home on Vancouver Island. Liam Neeson's love life Keep reading for everything you ever wanted to know about Liam Neeson's love life. Helen Mirren (1980-1985) Neeson loves to date a co-star. After meeting on the set of Excalibur, he and and Mirren — the Morgana La Fay to his Gawain — were together for four years. Neeson described his first time seeing Mirren (and being floored by her beauty) on an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. Sitting next to him on the couch, Mirren said, "We didn't [just] date. We lived together." More recently, in a 2022 interview, Mirren said that she still loves him "deeply." Julia Roberts (1987-1988) Another leading lady wooed, although this was a more short-lived dalliance that immediately followed their movie, Satisfaction, Roberts's first credited big-screen role. She was 19 at the time; he was 35. Barbra Streisand (1991-1992) We don't know much about this relationship, since it was kept very private. But, as Tefi points out, "Barbra Streisand is the center of the universe on most days," and that's also the case when it comes to Neeson's relationship with Anderson. Now, stay with us here: "If you're wondering how all of this relates to each other, the Venn diagram of this episode is also a circle. At the center of all this is Barbra Streisand. Barbra Streisand also dated Jon Peters, who married Pamela Anderson, who is dating Liam Neeson, who dated Barbra Streisand, but ended up marrying Natasha Richardson, who was Lindsay Lohan's onscreen mom in The Parent Trap. And this is what we love about culture. Liam is 73; Barbara Streisand is 83. Barbra Streisand has a roster." Brooke Shields (1992) These two had sort of a bonkers whirlwind romance — as Shields put it in her memoir, There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me: "He wooed me with his brogue, his poetry, and his shitty choice of cheap Pinot Grigio wine." Three months into dating, he proposed without a ring — which, as Tefi sagely puts it, "gives me an indicator that there was shitty Pinot Grigio wine involved." After proposing, Shields wrote that Neeson basically ghosted her. But as she told People in 2014, that wasn't actually the end of their relationship. "He came back after the first time he left me and asked me to marry him again," she said. "This was before he started to do a play [Anna Christie]. And I said, 'No, no, no, because knowing you, you'll probably fall in love with your next leading lady and marry her, so I'm leaving myself out of this.' And I was dead right." Natasha Richardson (1993-2009) This brings us to Richardson, who it's probably fair to say was the love of Neeson's life. After they starred in Anna Christie together, as Tefi puts it: "Their significant others are doomed. Sometimes you can just see chemistry." Richardson was married to producer Bob Fox at the time. Tefi's take: "She calls the beginning of her relationship with Liam Neeson 'bad timing.' That's what cheaters say, and I'm okay with it. Natasha says that their connection was undeniable, which is [also] what cheaters say." They got married in 1994 and were together until Richardson died in a tragic skiing accident in 2009. In 2020, Neeson spoke to about the loss. "I speak to her every day at her grave, which is about a mile and half down the road," he said. "I go down there quite often, so I do speak to her as if she's here." Last year, he told People that he was done dating, explaining, "I'm past all that" in an interview that took place just before he began work on Naked Gun.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
Stephen Colbert jokes about ‘Late Show' cancellation, mocks JD Vance, and courts streaming platforms
Stephen Colbert is making light of The Late Show's impending cancellation by turning recent headlines — and his future career prospects — into comedy material. During Thursday's episode, the host used part of his monologue to satirize Senator JD Vance and joke about his own post-CBS availability. Referencing a Daily Beast report about Vance allegedly requesting Ohio's river levels be raised for a personal boat trip, Colbert introduced a new character called 'Wittle Pwince Vance.' Donning a mask of the senator's face with a crown and using a baby voice, he mocked the alleged entitlement, exclaiming, 'I want my wiver waised for my birthday!' before dramatically demanding juice — and later an execution — from an imaginary royal court. 'Not fwuit juice — apple! Kill him! Kill him!' Colbert added, in full satirical character. After removing the mask, Colbert turned to the camera and quipped, 'Netflix, call me. I'm available in June,' hinting at future job opportunities after CBS officially ends The Late Show in May 2026. He added, 'I will also entertain offers from Amazon,' as the bit continued. Earlier in the episode, Colbert addressed recent criticisms from former President Donald Trump, who claimed Colbert and other late-night hosts lacked talent. Trump's comments surfaced shortly after CBS' parent company, Paramount, agreed to a $16 million settlement with Trump related to a legal dispute over 60 Minutes. While Paramount insists Colbert's show was canceled for financial reasons, speculation of political motivations has grown. Colbert responded by sarcastically agreeing with Trump's talent assessment, telling his audience, 'I think we're all equally untalented.' He also aired a mock promotional clip highlighting Trump's remarks, ending with the graphic: 'Colbert is No. 1 in late night. Just ask our elderly viewers' — followed by a stamp reading 'Still Canceled!' Colbert's final episodes are scheduled to air through May 2026, marking the end of a decade-long run.
Express Tribune
06-08-2025
- Express Tribune
WWE ESPN deal explained: How much will it now cost to stream WWE PLEs in US starting from 2026?
ESPN and WWE announced a landmark deal on Wednesday, granting ESPN exclusive US rights to stream all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) starting in 2026. The agreement is a significant development for The Walt Disney Company, ESPN's parent company, and was announced through a press release. The media giant continues to expand its digital content offerings. Under the terms of the deal, WWE's marquee events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, the Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank, will be streamed live through ESPN's direct-to-consumer (DTC) service. Select events will also be simulcast on ESPN's linear platforms. ESPN also announced it would launch the new direct-to-consumer streaming service on August 21, priced at $29.99 per month, as reported by Variety. "WWE has an immense, devoted and passionate fanbase that we're excited to super-serve on our new ESPN DTC platform," said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN. The streaming service will not only feature the live events but also pre- and post-event shows to enhance the viewing experience. Breaking News: WWE Premium Live Events are headed to @espn platforms in the U.S. starting in 2026 — WWE (@WWE) August 6, 2025 This deal signals a major shift in WWE's media distribution strategy. Currently, NBCUniversal's Peacock holds exclusive rights to WWE's premium content through 2025, but this new arrangement with ESPN opens a new chapter for the company. "WWE's agreement with ESPN is a pivotal moment for our millions of fans across the United States: the leader in sports entertainment partnering with the biggest brand in sports media," said Nick Khan, President of WWE. As ESPN continues to ramp up its DTC offerings, this partnership will solidify its position in the competitive sports streaming market. The deal is part of a broader strategy as ESPN prepares to launch a comprehensive streaming platform, bringing its suite of networks and services directly to consumers. The deal also aligns with Disney's ongoing efforts to strengthen its streaming portfolio. ESPN 🤝 @WWE Starting in 2026, ESPN's DTC platform will be the U.S. home of every WWE Premium Live Event - including @WrestleMania Details: — ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) August 6, 2025 ESPN's acquisition of exclusive WWE rights complements Disney's robust financial performance, as the company gears up for more content investments in the sports entertainment sector. The agreement, which also includes potential future acquisitions for ESPN, highlights the growing influence of sports media giants and their efforts to secure exclusive content to capture the attention of dedicated sports fans across the world. In related news, ESPN is also in discussions to acquire NFL Network, along with other NFL media assets, further expanding its sports content offerings.
