WWE released nine fighters from its contracts, the company announced Thursday.
Samoa Joe, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Kalisto, Bo Dallas and Wesley Blake were released.
WWE’s head of talent relations, Joe Laurainitis, told those who dropped budget cuts that they were responsible for their posts. Sean Ross Sapp, of Fightful, reports. The move comes a year after the release of more than 20 WWE fighters, citing financial difficulties stemming from the pandemic.
Joe, a former NXT champion, is the top name on this year’s roster. He has not fought since suffering a concussion while filming an ad in February 2020. He had been a member of the Raw the broadcast team until this week, when the WWE incorporated former ESPN presenter Adnan Virk to replace play-by-play man Tom Phillips and moved Corey Graves to a side analyst role by Byron Saxton. Joe told SI.com Justin Barrasso last month that he hoped to be able to return to the ring soon.
Kay and Royce previously teamed up as The IIconics and fought for success after the team broke up in the October WWE draft. Kay was part of the 10 women Tag Team Turmoil match, with her partner Carmella, on the first night of WrestleMania last weekend.
James, a six-time champion, returned to the ring last summer after losing 14 months with a torn ACL, but only fought six games, most recently at the January Royal Rumble.
Green only fought one match as part of the WWE main roster. After a call from NXT, he broke his wrist in his first game in Slap on November 11th. She is engaged to her wrestler Matthew Cardona (known in the WWE as Zack Ryder), who was part of a large group of performers released by the WWE last April.
Tucker (formerly Tucker Knight) was part of the heavy machinery team with Otis. WWE split the duo in construction to win Otis’s Money in the Bank. He has only fought one match since November: as part of the 22-man royal battle Andre the Giant Memorial Royal Slap.
Kalisto, a masked fighter, was part of the trio known as the Lucha House Party, which broke up during the October draft.
Dallas is the little brother of Bray Wyatt. He has not fought a game since November 2019.
Blake, along with Steve Cutler and Jaxson Ryker, were part of a work team called The Forgotten Sons. Cutler was released by the WWE in February, it was reported after he and his girlfriend, current Impact and former WWE fighter Deonna Purrazzo, tested positive for COVID-19 after a Chief of Staff party. ‘Year. Now Ryker is teaming up with Elias. Blake has not fought since May.
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