As has become customary for this time on the tails of WrestleMania, A total of 18 Superstars were cut from the roster, sparking a plethora of reactions from fans.

With the recent acquisition of AAA by TKO, coupled with several new gs, including Ricky Saints, Penta, Rey Fenix, and the returning Rusev and Aleister Black, WWE appears to be course-correcting on some Superstars while moving on creatively from others. The pool of opportunities in wrestling is larger than ever, and the current landscape of professional wrestling will allow all the released talent to find new avenues and positions outside of Stamford.

Major Departures: Strowman, Baszler, and More Exit WWE

Several Departures and Releases Were Head Scratchers

On Friday, May 2nd, WWE announced a slew of talent that were either released or had their contract options non-renewed, including Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, and Dakota Kai. Strowman and Kai, who were released in 2021, had both returned during the initial regs of the Triple H Era in 2022, and both had competed for championship gold through the beginning of the year, while Baszler had been a mainstay of the women's division in both NXT and the main roster since 2017.

Other releases on May 2nd included Gigi Dolan, Cora Jade, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Eddy Thorpe, Gallus, Riley Osborne, Jakara Jackson, Oro Mensah, Javier Bernal, and Dani Palmer, all of whom either talent that had just moved to the main roster or were continuing their training in NXT. Immediately following the news, X (formerly Twitter) s took to their feeds and expressed dismay and anger of the releases.

Behind the Scenes: Factors Influencing the Releases

Injuries, Creative, Both, Or None?

WWE, largely, does not comment on the reasons for their choice of releases or contract non-renewal, and throughout these processes, fans tend to speculate on the reasons behind why the talent was released. In the case of Braun Strowman and Dakota Kai, fans have theorized that their recent string of injuries caused the eventual releases to occur, as Strowman underwent neck surgery in 2023 and suffered a torn groin late last year, while Kai suffered back-to-back knee injuries last year.

Shayna Baszler is a more curious case, as the Queen of Spades has been one of the most destructive forces in WWE since she went on her vicious reign as NXT Women's Champion through 2019, and went on a very powerful main roster outing at the beginning of 2020, setting her up for a Raw Women's Championship match against Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 36. According to Lynch, Vince McMahon made the decision not to have Baszler beat Lynch, and she never fully regained her creative footing after the loss, bouncing around the mid-card throughout the remainder of her time in WWE. This uncertainty and forced inability to get over with the crowd in a dominant way never allowed her to fully get traction and cost her opportunities to show how

One thing is for sure, and that's that WWE is not shy of g new talent. The first half of 2025 has seen major arrivals, including the Lucha Bros, Penta and Rey Fenix, and the return of two alumni who came back from AEW after failing to find the proverbial greener pastures there. However, fans also noted that the majority of the stars released were women, which sparked debate about the current state of the women's division.

Future Prospects: What's Next for the Released Talent?

So Much Opportunity For All Superstars

With major companies like AEW, TNA, and NJPW in the mix, plus an unbelievable number of independent promotions in the wrestling world, there is no shortage of opportunity and movement for the newly released WWE talent to land. Shayna Baszler, in particular, seems primed to potentially get back into mixed martial arts, having a successful appearance last year at Bloodsport. The NXT talent are all in the infancy of their careers, and it's plausible that some may end up making their way back to the company within a few years. Cora Jade has already announced an Onlyfans page, seemingly following the lucrative example of former WWE star Mandy Rose.

For Braun Strowman, wrestling is not necessarily in the future. Like all big men in the business, after too many years of strain, his body seems unable to keep up. Knee issues are a common cause of retirement, but Strowman could keep working if he takes extensive time off or goes to a company with a lighter schedule. However, AEW would probably not be a good choice, as the company is notoriously unable to book big men properly, and Strowman would probably not fit their fast-paced style.

Dakota Kai has already announced that, as soon as her non-compete clause expires, she will be eager to work for any company that wants her. AEW and NJPW may be in her scope, but there is also a plethora of indies where a star with a recognizable name such as her can find work. Matt Cardona, known as Zack Ryder in WWE, has released a post on X where he encourages the released talents to follow his example, reinvent themselves, and find success and prosperity outside of WWE. Shotzi even answered that she's coming for Cardona's title of "King of the Indies."

Speculation continues to run rampant about the reasons behind their releases, and whether it's injury-related, budget cuts, or a mix of both, WWE is painfully and unexpectedly making changes for their future. Whether the talent decides to take a step into another rival promotion, MMA, or a field outside of wrestling completely, the opportunities are endless.