Wrestlers come and wrestlers go, and that’s been true in the WWE as it is everywhere.
Some leave on good terms and some on bad. Some agitate for a departure and some are happy to work out their contract. Some retire, while some go on to bigger and better things.
The shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant many more top-level stars have been “future endeavoured” since the turn of the decade than in previous years.
Meanwhile, the emergence and rise (and rise) of AEW, along with the improved profile of IMPACT Wrestling has meant that many wrestlers are in a better place now than they ever were with the WWE.
Related: Is wrestling real or fake? All your WWE questions answered
Below – and in reverse chronological order – we round up every (major) WWE release of the 2020s, and we also let you know where they are now.
We’ve stuck to main on-screen talent, so just wrestlers, announcers, referees and on-screen interviewers.
Things move fast, and sometimes it’s hard to track down the exact date of a release, or wrestlers who are working in Parts Unknown, but we’ll be keeping this as up-to-date as we can as the decade continues.
Dakota Kai – free agent/no-compete clause
Malcolm Bivens – free agent/no-compete clause
Paige Prinzivalli – free agent/no-compete clause
Harland – free agent/no-compete clause
Persia Pirotta – free agent/no-compete clause
Sanjana George – free agent/no-compete clause
Draco Anthony – free agent/no-compete clause
Mila Malani – free agent/no-compete clause
Raelyn Divine – free agent/no-compete clause
Dexter Lumis – free agent/no-compete clause
January 6, 2022
Samoa Joe – at AEW
William Regal – at AEW
Road Dogg – free agent
Scott Armstrong – free agen
Ace Steel – at AEW
Dave Kapoor (Ranjin Singh) – free agent
Cathy Corino (Allison Danger) – free agent
Ryan Katz – free agent
Timothy Thatcher – free agent
Danny Burch – free agent
Hideki Suzuki – at Pro Wrestling NOAH
November 18, 2021
Ashante Adonis – free agent
Top Dolla – free agent
Drake Maverick – at WWE as a writer
John Morrison – free agent/independent, wrestling at AAA and GCW
Tegan Nox – free agent
Jaxson Ryker – free agent
Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott – at AEW as Swerve Strickland
Shane Thorne – free agent
November 4, 2021
Keith Lee – AEW
Karrion Kross – at Major League Wrestling as Killer Kross
Nia Jax – free agent
Ember Moon – free agent/independent as Athena, wrestling at Warrior Wrestling
Eva Marie – free agent
Mia Yim – free agent/independent
Harry Smith – free agent at NWA as Davey Boy Smith Jr
Lince Dorado – free agent
Gran Metalik – free agent
Jeet Rama – free agent
Katrina Cortez – free agent
Trey Baxter – independent as Blake Christian, wrestling at GCW, Beyond Wrestling and DEFY Wrestling
Zayda Ramier – at AEW as AQA
Jessi Kamea – free agent
B-Fab – free agent
Oney Lorcan – free agent
Franky Monet – at IMPACT Wrestling as Tara Valkyrie
Scarlett Bordeaux – free agent
August 27, 2021
Adam Cole – at AEW
August 6, 2021
Bobby Fish – at AEW
Bronson Reed – at NJPW
Mercedes Martinez – at IMPACT Wrestling
Tyler Rust – at Ring of Honor
Kona Reeves – free agent
Leon Ruff – at GCW
Stephon Smith – independent
Jake Atlas – independent, then at ROH, then retired
Ari Sterling –independent
Desmond Troy – independent as Denzel Dejournette
Zechariah Smith – independent
Asher Hale – at AEW as Anthony Henry
Giant Zanjeer – independent
August 3, 2021
Ric Flair – appeared at Triplemania XXIX for AAA and NWA 73
July 31, 2021
Bray Wyatt – independent – now working in movies
June 25, 2021
Killian Dane – independent as Big Damo
Curt Stallion – at AEW as Stallion Rogers
August Grey – at AEW as Anthony Greene
Marina Shafir – independent
Sunil Singh (The Bollywood Boyz/ The Singh Brothers) – independent
Samir Singh (The Bollywood Boyz/ The Singh Brothers)
Tyler Breeze – independent as The Prince of Pretty
Fandango – independent as Dirty Dango
Arturo Ruas – at AEW as Adrian Jaoude
Tony Nese – independent, at NYWC
Ariya Daivari – independent, at NJPW
Tino Sabbatelli – independent
June 2, 2021
Ever-Rise (Chase Parker and Matt Martel) – at AEW as 3.0 (Jeff Parker and Matthew Lee)
Braun Strowman – independent, wrestling at Free The Narrative
Aleister Black – at AEW as Malakai Black
Buddy Murphy – out of contract/independent
Lana – out of contract/independent
Ruby Riott – at AEW as Ruby Soho
Santana Garrett – independent, with appearances at AEW and SHINE
May 19, 2021
Jessamyn Duke – independent, gaming on YouTube
May 4, 2021
Daniel Bryan – at AEW as Bryan Danielson
March 21, 2021
Andrade – at AEW as Andrade El Idolo
February 2021
Lars Sullivan – retired from wrestling
Big Show – at AEW as Paul Wight
February 4, 2021
Steve Cutler – at IMPACT Wrestling as Steve Maclin
April 15, 2021
Samoa Joe – re-signed and back at WWE
Peyton Royce (The IIconics) – independent, as Cassie Lee (The IInspiration) – later retired
Billie Kay (The IIconics) – independent, as Jessica McKay (The IInspiration) – later retired
Mickie James – at IMPACT Wrestling
Chelsea Green – at IMPACT Wrestling
Tucker Knight – out of contract
Kalisto – independent, wrestling teacher as Samuray Del Sol
Bo Dallas – independent, a YouTube chef as Taylor Rotunda
Wesley Blake – planning return to wrestling as Westin Blake
November 13, 2020
Zelina Vega – re-signed and back at WWE
July 29, 2020
Kairi Sane – working as a WWE ambassador in Japan
June 26, 2020
Ligero – released following allegations of misconduct during the Speaking Out movement
Travis Banks – released following allegations of misconduct during the Speaking Out movement
June 19, 2020
Jack Gallagher – released following allegations of misconduct during the Speaking Out movement
May 2020
Sting – at AEW
April 28, 2020
Cain Velasquez – independent
April 20, 2020
Taynara Conti – at AEW as Tay Conti
April 17, 2020
Mohamed Fahim – independent/unknown
Mars Wang – independent/unknown
Tino Sabbatelli – briefly at AEW as Sabby, reportedly re-signed to WWE but released again
Cezar Bononi – at AEW
Marco Gomesg – independent, now a Muay Thai coach
April 15, 2020
Akam (AOP) – independent as Sunny Dhinsa
Rezar (AOP) – independent as Gzim Selmani
Rusev – at AEW as Miro
Zack Ryder – independent, with work at AEW and IMPACT Wrestling as Matt Cardona
Mike Kanellis – at Ring of Honor as Mike Bennett
Maria Kanellis – at Ring of Honor asMaria Kanellis-Bennett
Primo Colón – at World Wrestling Council as Eddie Colón
Epico Colón – at World Wrestling Council as Orlando Colón
Erick Rowan – independent, as Erick Redbeard
Sarah Logan – on indefinite hiatus
Karl Anderson (The OC) – at IMPACT, with appearances at AEW and NJPW
Luke Gallows (The OC) – at IMPACT as Doc Gallows, with appearances at AEW and NJPW
EC3/Ethan Carter III – independent, with appearances at IMPACT and Ring of Honor
Lio Rush – at AEW
Curt Hawkins – at IMPACT as Brian Myers
Drake Maverick – returned to WWE, then released again in November 2021
Renee Young – podcasting and YouTube-ing as Renee Paquette
Heath Slater – independent, with appearances at IMPACT Wrestling and Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling
Eric Young – at IMPACT Wrestling
Curtis Axel – independent as Joe Hennig
No Way Jose – at IMPACT Wrestling as No Way
Hurricane Helms – returned to WWE
MJ Jenkins – independent as Marvelous MJ Jenkins
Deonna Purrazzo – at IMPACT Wrestling and AAA
Kassius Ohno – independent as Chris Hero
Aleksandar Jaksic – independent as Zora Vesta
Kurt Angle – returned to WWE, but later retired
Aiden English – at impact and NJPW as Matt Morris
Mike Chioda – at AEW
Nick Ogarelli – at AEW as Nick Comoroto
Hussain Aldegal – independent/unknown
Faisal Kurdi – MMA Fighter & Trainer
Serena Deeb – at AEW
Edgar Lopez – independent/unknown
Dorian Mak – independent as Dan Matha, also acting and podcasting
April 10, 2020
Scott Dawson (The Revival) – at AEW as Dax Harwood (FTR)
Dash Wilder (The Revival) – at AEW as Cash Wheeler (FTR)
February 16, 2020
Cathy Kelley – moved into acting
Yifeng/Rocky – independent/unknown
January 2020
Killer Kelly – independent
Jazzy Gabert – independent, started own promotion SIRIUS Sports Entertainment
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