WWE has released nine wrestlers from their contracts, the company announced Thursday.
Samoa Joe, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Kalisto, Bo Dallas and Wesley Blake were all released.
Joe Laurainitis, WWE’s head of talent relations, informed those unleashed that cuts were responsible for their releases, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reportsThe move comes a year after WWE released more than 20 wrestlers, citing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.
Joe, a former NXT champion, is the biggest name on this year’s list. He hasn’t struggled since he suffered a concussion while filming a commercial in February 2020. He was a member of the Raw broadcast team until this week, when WWE brought in former ESPN anchor Adnan Virk to replace play-by-play man Tom Phillips and moved Corey Graves into an analyst role alongside Byron Saxton. Joe told SI.com’s Justin Barrasso last month that he hoped he could return to the ring soon.
Kay and Royce previously worked together as The IIconics and struggled to find success after the team broke up in October’s WWE draft. Kay was part of the 10 women’s Tag Team Turmoil contest, with partner Carmella, on the first night of WrestleMania last weekend.
A six-time champion, James returned to the ring last summer after missing 14 months with a torn ACL, but only wrestled six games, most recently at Royal Rumble in January.
Green only wrestled one match as part of the WWE main list. After a call-up from NXT, she broke her wrist in her debut match SmackDown on November 11. She is engaged to fellow wrestler Matthew Cardona (known in WWE as Zack Ryder), who was part of a large group of artists released by WWE last April.
Tucker (formerly Tucker Knight) was part of the Heavy Machinery tag team with Otis. WWE split the duo in the build-up to Otis’ Money in the Bank victory. He’s only wrestled one match since November: as part of the 22-man Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal last week SmackDown
A masked luchador, Kalisto was part of the trio known as Lucha House Party, which broke up during October’s draft.
Dallas is Bray Wyatt’s younger brother. He has not wrestled a match since November 2019.
Blake was part of a tag team called The Forgotten Sons along with Steve Cutler and Jaxson Ryker. Cutler was released by WWE in February, reportedly after he and his girlfriend, current Impact and former WWE wrestler Deonna Purrazzo, tested positive for COVID-19 after a New Year’s Eve party. Ryker now teams up with Elias. Blake hasn’t wrestled since May.
More wrestling: