We’re keeping track of every WWE star who was released during the year of 2021. This will be updated with every new release as they happen.
Lars Sullivan
Signed: 2013
Released: January 2021
Reason for release: Informed the company he was done with wrestling due to mental health struggles
Big Show
Signed: 2008
Released: February 2021
Reason for release: Contract expired, didn’t agree to a new one due to creative frustation & financial differences
Steve Cutler
Signed: 2014
Released: February 4, 2021
Reason for release: Had heat with Vince McMahon for disciplinary reasons related to a New Year’s Eve party and catching COVID-19
Andrade
Signed: November 19, 2015
Released: March 21, 2021
Reason for release: WWE granted his request to be released
Charly Caruso
Signed: 2016
Released: March 2021
Reason for release: Contract expired and she chose not to re-sign so she could join ESPN full-time
Billie Kay
Signed: April 2015
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Mickie James
Signed: October 2016
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: Had been vocal about wanting to wrestle more
Wesley Blake
Signed: June 2013
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Tucker
Signed: 2013
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Chelsea Green
Signed: 2013
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Kalisto
Signed: May 2013
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Samoa Joe
Signed: May 2015
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: Wanted to wrestle but WWE wouldn’t medically clear him
Bo Dallas
Signed: 2008
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Peyton Royce
Signed: April 2015
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Mojo Rawley
Signed: August 2012
Released: April 15, 2021
Reason for release: “Cost cutting”
Daniel Bryan
Signed: 2010
Released: April 30, 2021
Reason for release: Contract expired and chose not to re-sign
Drake Wuertz
Signed: 2014
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: Had nuclear heat backstage due to his controversial political views
Jake Clemons
Signed: October 2020
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”
Alexander Wolfe
Signed: 2015
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”, WWE informed him his contract expiring June 15 wouldn’t be renewed
Skyler Story
Signed: August 2020
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”
Ezra Judge
Signed: August 2019
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”
Jessamyn Duke
Signed: 2018
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”
Vanessa Borne
Signed: 2016
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”
Kavita Devi
Signed: 2017
Released: May 19, 2021
Reason for release: “Budgetary reasons”
Velveteen Dream
Signed: 2015
Released: May 20, 2021
Reason for release: Had significant backstage heat
Adnan Virk
Signed: April 2021
Released: May 26, 2021
Reason for release: The company made the decision to let him go after only a few weeks as Raw lead announcer
Tom Phillips
Signed: 2012
Released: May 27, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Braun Strowman
Signed: 2013
Released: June 2, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Aleister Black
Signed: June 2016
Released: June 2, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Lana
Signed: June 2013
Released: June 2, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Ruby Riott
Signed: December 2016
Released: June 2, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Santana Garrett
Signed: 2019
Released: June 2, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Murphy
Signed: March 17, 2013
Released: June 2, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Ariya Daivari
Signed: 2016
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Tony Nese
Signed: 2016
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Chase Parker
Signed: 2019
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Matt Martel
Signed: 2019
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Fandango
Signed: 2006
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
August Grey
Signed: 2020
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Tyler Breeze
Signed: 2010
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Samir Singh
Signed: 2016
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Sunil Singh
Signed: 2016
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Curt Stallion
Signed: 2020
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Arturo Ruas
Signed: 2015
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Marina Shafir
Signed: 2018
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Killian Dain
Signed: June 2016
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Tino Sabbatelli
Signed: 2020
Released: June 25, 2021
Reason for release: Cost cutting
Bray Wyatt
Signed: 2009
Released: July 31, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
JoJo Offerman
Signed: 2013
Released: Unknown – it was reported on August 2, 2021 that she had been released “six to eight months ago”
Reason for release: Unknown
Ric Flair
Signed: 2019
Released: August 2, 2021
Reason for release: Complained to Vince McMahon about daughter Charlotte’s booking
Bronson Reed
Signed: 2018
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Leon Ruff
Signed: October 2020
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Tyler Rust
Signed: 2020
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Mercedes Martinez
Signed: January 2020
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Bobby Fish
Signed: 2017
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Ari Sterling
Signed: January 2021
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Jake Atlas
Signed: October 23, 2019
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Kona Reeves
Signed: May 2014
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Zechariah Smith
Signed: January 2020
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Asher Hale
Signed: January 2021
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Giant Zanjeer
Signed: Unknown
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Stephon Smith
Signed: 2019
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Desmond Troy
Signed: 2018
Released: August 6, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly part of a potential revamp for NXT
Greg Hamilton
Signed: 2015
Released: October 26, 2021
Reason for release: Came two days after he threatened legal action against rapper Westside Gunn, but Hamilton called it a “mutual respect departure from a great company”
Scarlett
Signed: 2019
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Franky Monet
Signed: February 2021
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Ember Moon
Signed: September 2015
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Trey Baxter
Signed: February 2021
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Karrion Kross
Signed: 2020
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Oney Lorcan
Signed: September 2015
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
B-Fab
Signed: August 2019
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Jessi Kamea
Signed: 2017
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Zayda Ramier
Signed: January 2021
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Gran Metalik
Signed: June 2016
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”, had previously requested his release
Lince Dorado
Signed: July 2016
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”, had previously requested his release
Jeet Rama
Signed: June 2015
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Katrina Cortez
Signed: 2019
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Nia Jax
Signed: 2014
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”, her unvaccinated status reportedly played into the decision
Keith Lee
Signed: 2018
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Harry Smith
Signed: 2021
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Mia Yim
Signed: September 2018
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Eva Marie
Signed: 2020
Released: November 4, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
John Morrison
Signed: September 2019
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Tegan Nox
Signed: April 2017
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Shane Thorne
Signed: February 2016
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Jaxson Ryker
Signed: May 2017
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Drake Maverick
Signed: June 2020
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Isaiah Scott
Signed: April 2019
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Top Dolla
Signed: January 2020
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Ashante Adonis
Signed: 2018
Released: November 18, 2021
Reason for release: “Budget cuts”
Jeff Hardy
Signed: 2017
Released: December 9, 2021
Reason for release: Reportedly refused WWE’s offer of rehab after being sent home from the road
Toni Storm
Signed: 2017
Released: December 2021
Reason for release: Requested her release
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