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World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) commenced a substantial wave of talent releases on Friday, in the immediate aftermath of WrestleMania 42, with prominent figures such as Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, and the collective known as the Wyatt Sicks reportedly among those let go. The comprehensive roster adjustment, a recurring pattern in the wrestling industry post-major events, has impacted numerous superstars across both the main roster and WWE’s developmental brand, NXT.
Zelina Vega, a versatile performer known for her managerial and in-ring contributions, officially confirmed her departure during a live Twitch stream, bringing clarity to swirling industry speculation. The releases of both Vega and her husband, Aleister Black (real name Tom Büdgen), have been met with particular surprise within the professional wrestling community, given their consistent television presence and Black’s recent upward trajectory within the SmackDown brand.
Aleister Black’s tenure, particularly his second stint with WWE, had shown considerable promise. Having returned to the company approximately one year prior to these releases, following a respectable run in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the moniker Malakai Black, he had quickly re-established himself as a formidable competitor. His re-entry into WWE was marked by a series of high-profile victories that suggested a renewed push from creative. In the current year, Black secured three notable wins, defeating Sami Zayn, who held the United States Championship at the time, in a non-title encounter; Randy Orton, a multi-time world champion and a main event participant at WrestleMania 42; and independent circuit veteran Matt Cardona. These victories positioned Black firmly within the upper midcard scene, a crucial stepping stone towards main event contention. A pivotal moment in his recent run occurred in October, when he overcame Damian Priest in a gruelling Last Man Standing match, an outcome that many observers believed would springboard him to greater prominence. Despite these indicators, the anticipated ascent did not fully materialize, culminating in his unexpected release. Black, a Dutch professional wrestler with a distinctive striking style honed in various European and international promotions, first gained significant recognition in WWE as NXT Champion, where his enigmatic character and hard-hitting offense resonated strongly with fans before his initial departure in 2021.
Kairi Sane (real name Kaori Housako), a former NXT Women’s Champion and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, also featured prominently among the released talent. Sane, known for her high-flying style and signature InSane Elbow, had made her much-anticipated return to WWE in 2023. Upon her comeback, she aligned herself with the formidable faction Damage CTRL, joining forces with Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Bayley. Her involvement was central to an ongoing, multi-month storyline feud between Asuka and Iyo Sky, where her role was crucial in the group’s internal dynamics and external rivalries. Sane’s initial departure from WWE in 2020 saw her return to Japan, where she served as an ambassador for the company while also attending to personal matters, before her impactful return to active competition.
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The releases also included the entirety of the Wyatt Sicks stable, a group that had debuted in 2024 and had quickly become a poignant and central part of WWE programming. The faction, comprising Uncle Howdy (believed to be Bo Dallas, the real-life brother of the late Bray Wyatt), Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, and Dexter Lumis, was formed, in part, as a tribute to the revered and tragically departed WWE Champion, Bray Wyatt (real name Windham Rotunda). Their unique presentation, steeped in the mystique and psychological elements synonymous with Bray Wyatt’s character, aimed to honor his legacy.
The Wyatt Sicks had recently held the WWE Tag Team Championships, with Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis defending the titles on behalf of the group. Their reign added a layer of legitimacy and narrative depth to the stable, showcasing their collective talent and the potential for their storyline to evolve into a long-term fixture on the main roster. For several months leading up to their release, the group had been embroiled in a heated rivalry with Solo Sikoa and the MFTs (Mighty Samoan Family, a faction loosely based on The Bloodline’s enforcement arm). This feud, characterized by its intensity and personal undertones, seemingly reached its conclusion last Friday when the Wyatt Sicks suffered a decisive loss in an eight-man tag team street fight. The sudden disbandment of the group through these releases has left many questions regarding the creative direction and the handling of a storyline so deeply connected to a beloved figure like Bray Wyatt.
Among the departing members of the Wyatt Sicks, Nikki Cross (real name Nicola Glencross) issued a public statement following her release. Taking to social media, Cross expressed gratitude for her time with the company: "Goodbye and thank you, WWE," she wrote. "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, a Scottish professional wrestler, had been with WWE for nearly a decade, undergoing several character transformations, from the unhinged member of Sanity in NXT to her more recent, enigmatic persona. Her heartfelt message underscored the personal impact of such corporate decisions on individual careers. Erick Rowan, another member of the Wyatt Sicks, was a familiar face to long-time WWE fans, having previously been a key enforcer in the original Wyatt Family alongside Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Braun Strowman. Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis, both graduates of the NXT system, had developed unique and unsettling characters that translated to the main roster, with Lumis’s silent, stalking persona and Gacy’s cult leader gimmick offering distinct dynamics.
These roster adjustments are a customary, albeit often surprising, component of WWE’s operational strategy, typically occurring in the weeks following WrestleMania, the company’s biggest annual event. Such periods are often utilized for talent evaluation, creative recalibrations, and budget management. With WWE now operating under the umbrella of TKO Group Holdings, the publicly traded entity formed by the merger of WWE and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), there is an increased emphasis on maximizing operational efficiency and talent strategy. The company’s ongoing negotiations for television rights, including the recently announced deal with Netflix for Raw, further underscore a period of significant corporate restructuring and strategic planning.
The talent released will now face varying periods of non-compete clauses, typically 90 days for main roster performers, before they are free to explore opportunities with other promotions such such as All Elite Wrestling (AEW), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), or Total Nonstop Action (TNA), or to pursue independent ventures. The departures of such established and recently pushed talent signal a clear shift in WWE’s immediate future plans and will undoubtedly impact the landscape of professional wrestling in the coming months.
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