The wrestling world is reeling after WWE executed a sweeping round of roster cuts just days after the spectacle of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. The annual post-WrestleMania shakeup, a tradition that often signals the start of a new season for the company, arrived with a vengeance on April 24, 2026. With the dust from the grandest stage still settling, a wave of releases has left fans, insiders, and even the wrestlers themselves stunned by the sheer scale and the prominence of the names involved.
WWE’s roster moves are nothing new, but this year’s timing and the caliber of departing talent have made headlines across the sports world. The last mass release came in February 2025, but this round feels especially seismic. Among those let go are former champions, tag team icons, and stars who were actively involved in major storylines as recently as last week.
The most eye-catching departure is arguably the entire Wyatt Sicks faction. Formed in 2024 as a tribute to the late Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda), the group was led by Bo Dallas—Wyatt’s real-life brother—in the Uncle Howdy persona. The Wyatt Sicks, which included Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan, captured the WWE Tag Team Championship during their run and wrapped up a heated feud with the MFTs just before WrestleMania. Their release marks the end of a chapter that was as much about honoring family legacy as it was about in-ring drama. "The world gets the chance to see that even though (Wyatt's) gone, his ideas and legacy are still going through," Dallas told USA TODAY Sports last October. "Everything that's going on up to this date and then going forward, if it's not Windham’s idea, it has a piece of Windham’s idea in it."
Nikki Cross, a key Wyatt Sicks member and a WWE mainstay since 2016, confirmed her exit with a heartfelt message on social media. "I'm really excited for whatever my next chapter will hold. Thank you all for the continued love and support. A special thank you to Robbie Brookside and William Regal for helping this dream come true. Thank you to the wrestlers, coaches, producers, and all the backstage crew who make all this possible. To the amazing girls in the locker room," Cross wrote, encapsulating the bittersweet mood among many of the released stars.
Kairi Sane’s release came as a shock to fans and colleagues alike. The former NXT Women’s Champion and three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion had only just competed at WrestleMania 42 and on the subsequent Raw. Sane, who returned to WWE in 2023 to much fanfare, had recently reformed the Kabuki Warriors with Asuka and was embroiled in a high-profile feud. Her sudden departure leaves a void in the women’s division and raises questions about the future direction for Asuka and Damage CTRL, the stable they were both part of.
The tag team landscape took another hit with the exit of the Motor City Machine Guns—Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. The duo made an immediate impact upon their WWE debut in October 2024, capturing the WWE Tag Team Championship in just their second match. Despite a strong start and a memorable run, including a spot in the Six Pack Tables, Ladders And Chairs match at SummerSlam 2025, their opportunities dwindled in recent months. Their departure, confirmed by Fightful, signals the end of a short but impactful WWE chapter for the legendary team.
Another headline-grabbing release is the married duo of Aleister Black and Zelina Vega. Black, who returned to WWE in April 2025 after a stint in AEW, had been on a roll in 2026 with victories over names like Sami Zayn and Randy Orton. Vega, meanwhile, made history in April 2025 as only the second Women's United States Champion and was a regular presence in the LWO and tag team scenes. Vega confirmed her release during a Twitch stream, and together, the couple’s exit leaves a noticeable gap in SmackDown’s roster.
Santos Escobar, the charismatic leader of Legado Del Fantasma and a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion, also finds himself on the outside looking in. Escobar’s tenure was marked by his group’s fierce rivalry with the LWO, culminating in a high-profile WrestleMania clash. His recent appearances in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide hinted at a broader wrestling future, but his WWE chapter is now closed.
Injuries have played a cruel role in some of this year’s departures. Zoey Stark, a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, suffered a devastating knee injury during a Money in the Bank qualifying match in May 2025—tearing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. She hadn’t wrestled since and confirmed her exit with gratitude: "Thank you WWE, you made a young girl's dream come true. You could not have been better and more supportive during my healing and I will be forever grateful."
Alba Fyre, a former NXT UK Women’s Champion and noted tag team competitor, also confirmed her departure. Fyre’s partnership with Isla Dawn as The Unholy Union peaked with a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship win at Clash at the Castle: Scotland in June 2024. After Dawn’s release, Fyre reinvented herself as part of Chelsea Green’s stable, but her last televised match was in February. Green paid tribute to Fyre on social media, writing, "You guys didn’t get to see how talented KLR is. I know you saw bits & pieces, but trust me, there’s so much more to her. She’s a fearless wrestler… I’m sad to not have her on my side but this is just the beginning for my girl."
Longtime WWE veteran Apollo Crews, with the company since 2014, is also out. Crews’ highlight reel includes a United States Championship win in 2020 and an Intercontinental Championship victory at WrestleMania 37. Despite his versatility and athleticism, Crews’ role had diminished in recent years, leading to his release.
The cuts extended beyond the main roster. Andre Chase, the beloved leader of the Chase U faction and a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion, confirmed his release with a nod to his supporters: "Thank you to everybody who threw up the 'U' at the shows. Just know that you truly helped make something out of nothing. When I signed with WWE, on the first day, it was made abundantly clear I was never going to be on television, I was never meant to be a superstar. But then something changed, and it was because of your support and the connection we had."
Dante Chen, the first Singaporean-born WWE Superstar, also bid farewell after five years and 147 matches. "Goodbye and thank you, WWE. 5 years, 147 matches. The list of names of people I want to thank is endless. I am proud to be the first Singaporean-born WWE Superstar, and I hope that inspires everyone that anything can be achieved. Stay tuned. Chen. Now. Forever. Together."
Several developmental talents were let go as well, including Tyra Mae Steele—a Tokyo 2021 Olympic gold medalist—Luca Crusifino, Malik Blade, and others. For main roster stars, the standard 90-day non-compete clause applies, while NXT releases are bound by a 30-day restriction. If contracts simply weren’t renewed, some could sign elsewhere immediately.
While the full impact of these releases will play out in the coming weeks and months, WWE’s decision to part ways with such a diverse and talented group has already sent shockwaves through the industry. With new opportunities on the horizon for these athletes, fans everywhere will be watching closely to see where their journeys lead next.