In a move that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, WWE unleashed a sweeping round of talent releases on May 2, 2025, cutting loose a slew of performers from both its main roster and NXT brand. The news broke late Friday, with names like Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, and Dakota Kai among those abruptly shown the door. This wasn’t a quiet trim—it was a gut punch to the locker room, leaving fans and insiders scrambling for answers.
The cuts spanned a wide range of talent, from established heavyweights to up-and-coming prospects. Braun Strowman, the towering former Universal Champion, was a headliner whose exit raised eyebrows, given his recent appearances on SmackDown. Shayna Baszler, a former UFC fighter turned WWE mainstay, was another surprise, having re-signed with the company just last year and pitched in at NXT events as recently as April. Dakota Kai, a key player in the women’s division, also got the boot, with reports already swirling that other promotions are circling, eager to snap her up. The NXT roster took a brutal hit too, with names like Cora Jade, Gigi Dolin, Eddy Thorpe, Riley Osborne, Jakara Jackson, Javier Bernal, Oro Mensah, and the entire Gallus faction—Mark Coffey, Joe Coffey, and Wolfgang—sent packing. Former Women’s Tag Team Champions Katana Chance and Kayden Carter were also let go, rounding out a list that left no corner of the company untouched.
Details on the logistics were stark. Main roster talents face a 90-day non-compete clause, meaning they’re sidelined until early August before they can wrestle elsewhere. NXT departures, however, got a shorter leash—30 days—freeing them up by early June. The releases came on the heels of corporate layoffs the day prior, signaling a broader cost-cutting push within WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings. No official statement from WWE pinned down the exact reasoning, but the timing, just weeks after WrestleMania 41 and amid a packed 2025 schedule, suggests a strategic overhaul as the company eyes new NXT call-ups and international expansions, like its recent acquisition of Mexican promotion AAA announced on April 21.
Backstage, the mood was grim. The cuts caught many off guard, with some talents learning their fate mere hours after tapings for SmackDown at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Baszler’s release, in particular, stunned colleagues, given her recent mentorship role at NXT. Kai, meanwhile, was already drawing interest from rival promotions by Saturday morning, her versatility and fanbase making her a hot commodity. The NXT cuts, while less high-profile, hit hard for a developmental brand already lean on recognizable names. Cora Jade, once pegged as a future star, and Gigi Dolin, a standout in the women’s division, now face uncertain futures, though their youth and skills likely ensure soft landings elsewhere.
This isn’t WWE’s first rodeo with mass releases. In 2024, names like Bobby Lashley and Jinder Mahal were cut, and earlier in 2025, stars like Cedric Alexander and Sonya Deville joined the alumni section. But the scale of this purge—15 talents in one night—stands out, even in an industry known for its volatility. With WWE’s 2025 calendar packed, including Survivor Series in San Diego on November 29 and Money in the Bank in Los Angeles on June 7, the company seems hell-bent on reshaping its roster to match its ambitions.
The fallout is already underway. Fans flooded social media with tributes, while wrestling news outlets churned out updates as the names kept coming. For the performers, it’s a harsh pivot—some will land in rival promotions like AEW or TNA, others may fade from the spotlight. For WWE, it’s a gamble that shedding this much talent won’t backfire in a business where loyalty and star power are everything.
The released talents are Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Cora Jade, Gigi Dolin, Eddy Thorpe, Riley Osborne, Jakara Jackson, Javier Bernal, Oro Mensah, Mark Coffey, Joe Coffey, and Wolfgang. Main roster non-compete clauses last 90 days; NXT clauses last 30 days.