Several WWE Stars Released Including Former Champions

WWE

Several WWE stars have now been released including some former champions as of today – Friday, May 2, 2025.

Yesterday, WWE cut several behind-the-scenes employees, and today, wrestlers have followed.

As reported by Fightful and PWInsider, the following have been released:

From the main roster, Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, Shayna Baszler, Kayden Carter, Katana Chance and Shotzi have been let go by WWE.

NXT’s Cora Jade, Gigi Dolin, Eddy Thorpe, Riley Osborne, Jakara Jackson, Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang, Oro Mensah, Javier Bernal and Dani Palmer have also been released.

It’s been noted that some of these departures may be contract expirations rather than “releases”, but the outcome is the same in that they’re gone from the company.

Strowman is a former Universal Champion and this marks his second release from the company.

He first joined WWE in 2013 and had a run that led to him becoming a top name and Universal Champion, before he was released in June 2021.

He then returned in September 2022 for a second tenure that has ended today.

Dakota Kai had been with WWE since late 2016, with a run that included two reigns with the NXT Women’s Championship alongside Raquel Rodriguez, and two reigns with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside IYO SKY. She was actually briefly released in April 2022 before returning the following July.

Shayna Baszler joined WWE in 2017 for a run that included two reigns with the NXT Women’s Championship, and three reigns with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship (two with Nia Jax, and one with Ronda Rousey).

Kayden Carter and Katana Chance had one reign each together with the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship – Carter had joined the company in 2018, while Chance signed in 2017.

Cora Jade is a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion alongide Roxanne Perez, having signed at the start of 2021.

Jade tweeted:

“Thankful for all the childhood dreams I got to live out! I have a lot to say in due time. Stay tuned xoxo”

Jade also posted a selfie alongside NXT’s Riley Osborne and former WWE star Bea Priestley (Blair Davenport) who was released in February, saying “Just got a lot of free time in our hands, see you soon 😂😂😂😂”.

We’ll keep you posted with more details as they emerge.