WWE superstars released 2026 — here is the complete and updated list of every wrestler let go by WWE following WrestleMania 42. A total of 23 superstars were released on April 24, including major names from Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, in one of the largest single-day roster cuts in recent WWE history.
The WWE releases in 2026 came just days after WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, continuing the company’s post-WrestleMania tradition of trimming its roster. Several of the released superstars had appeared on WWE programming in the days and weeks before their departure, making the cuts particularly surprising.
(This list of WWE superstars released 2026 will be updated if further departures are announced)
For the latest on how the post-WrestleMania era is shaping up on Monday nights, see our WWE Raw April 27 2026 match card and preview.
WWE Releases 2026: Complete List At A Glance
| # | Superstar | Brand | Notable Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleister Black | SmackDown | Former NXT Champion |
| 2 | Zelina Vega | SmackDown | Manager / in-ring competitor |
| 3 | Kairi Sane | Raw | Kabuki Warriors tag team |
| 4 | Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) | SmackDown | Wyatt Sicks leader |
| 5 | Nikki Cross | SmackDown | Wyatt Sicks member |
| 6 | Joe Gacy | SmackDown | Wyatt Sicks member |
| 7 | Erick Rowan | SmackDown | Wyatt Sicks member |
| 8 | Dexter Lumis | SmackDown | Wyatt Sicks member |
| 9 | Santos Escobar | SmackDown | Legado del Fantasma leader |
| 10 | Alex Shelley | Raw | Motor City Machine Guns |
| 11 | Chris Sabin | Raw | Motor City Machine Guns |
| 12 | Apollo Crews | SmackDown | Former IC Champion |
| 13 | Zoey Stark | Raw | Former tag team with Baszler |
| 14 | Alba Fyre | Raw | Former NXT UK Champion |
| 15 | Andre Chase | NXT | Chase University leader |
| 16 | Dante Chen | NXT | First Singaporean WWE superstar |
| 17 | Luca Crusifino | NXT | Developmental |
| 18 | Malik Blade | NXT | Developmental |
| 19 | Tyson Dupont | NXT | Developmental |
| 20 | Tyriek Igwe | NXT | Developmental |
| 21 | Tyra Mae Steele | NXT | Developmental |
| 22 | Chris Island | NXT | Developmental |
| 23 | Trill London | NXT | Developmental |
| 24 | Sirena Linton | NXT | Developmental |
Full List Of WWE Superstars Released 2026 After WrestleMania 42
Here is every WWE superstar released today and in the days following WrestleMania 42, organised by roster:
Main Roster Releases
1. Aleister Black — The Dutch striker had returned to WWE in April 2025 after a stint in AEW, kicking off a second run on SmackDown. Black was featured regularly on weekly programming and even competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the WrestleMania go-home SmackDown. His wife Zelina Vega was also released.
2. Zelina Vega — Vega confirmed her release on social media, revealing that the call came from TKO rather than WWE’s Stamford headquarters. She posted that the call arrived at 5:09 PM. This is the second time Vega has been released by WWE, having previously been let go in November 2020 before returning in 2021.
3. Kairi Sane — One of the most shocking names on the list. Sane was an active member of the SmackDown women’s division and was involved in the Kabuki Warriors tag team with Asuka. She competed on the Raw After WrestleMania in a tag match just four days before her release.
4. Santos Escobar — The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion and leader of Legado del Fantasma had been a fixture on SmackDown. His release removes one of WWE’s most prominent Latino performers from the roster.
5. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) — The veteran tag team joined WWE in 2024 after decades on the independent circuit and in TNA Wrestling. Both Shelley and Sabin were released together.
6. Apollo Crews — The athletic powerhouse had been with WWE since 2015 across multiple gimmick changes. Crews had largely been absent from television in recent months.
7. Zoey Stark — Stark thanked WWE in an emotional social media post, saying the company “made a young girl’s dream come true.” She had been a member of the Raw roster and previously teamed with Shayna Baszler.
8. Alba Fyre — The Scottish wrestler, formerly known as Kay Lee Ray in NXT UK, was released despite being a regular on television. Her tag team partner Piper Niven, who remains with WWE, posted an emotional tribute calling Fyre “a true pioneer and soon to be remembered as one of the greatest to ever do it.”
The Entire Wyatt Sicks Faction — Released
The most notable group release was the entire Wyatt Sicks faction, which had competed in an eight-man street fight against MFT on the WrestleMania go-home SmackDown on April 17. All four members were let go:
9. Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) — The leader of The Wyatt Sicks and brother of the late Bray Wyatt. Dallas had returned to WWE in 2024 under the Uncle Howdy character to continue his brother’s legacy.
10. Nikki Cross — Cross posted a farewell message thanking WWE and confirming her departure. The Bella Twins responded with supportive messages.
11. Joe Gacy — Gacy responded to his release with a simple “lol” on social media.
12. Erick Rowan — The former Wyatt Family member had been part of the faction since its debut.
13. Dexter Lumis — The silent, artistic character posted an image on social media without words, consistent with his character, to acknowledge his departure.
NXT And Developmental Releases
The following NXT and developmental talents were also released as part of the roster cuts:
14. Andre Chase — The popular NXT personality and leader of Chase University posted that he is available for bookings starting in June. He called it “one last teachable moment.”
15. Dante Chen — The first Singaporean-born WWE superstar thanked the company for five years and 147 matches.
16. Luca Crusifino
17. Malik Blade
18. Tyson Dupont
19. Tyriek Igwe
20. Tyra Mae Steele
21. Chris Island
22. Trill London
23. Sirena Linton
Why Were So Many WWE Superstars Released After WrestleMania 42?
Post-WrestleMania roster cuts have become an annual pattern in WWE. The list of WWE superstars released 2026 is one of the longest in recent years. The company typically uses the period after its biggest event to restructure the roster, clearing space for NXT call-ups and new signings. The first SmackDown after WrestleMania saw multiple NXT debuts — Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Lainey Reid), with Blake Monroe and Ricky Saints also announced for upcoming episodes.
A notable detail this time: multiple released superstars confirmed that the calls came from TKO, WWE’s parent company, rather than from WWE’s Stamford offices. Zelina Vega specifically noted the caller ID said TKO instead of the usual Stamford number. Bodyslam’s Cory Hays reported that all talent departures were communicated directly by TKO.
The timing is also connected to WWE’s evolving roster strategy under the Netflix era. With Raw on Netflix and SmackDown on USA Network, WWE has been actively reshaping both rosters with younger, NXT-developed talent while releasing veterans and underutilised performers.
Which Released Superstars Were Active On TV Before Being Let Go?
Several of the WWE superstars released 2026 were actively featured on programming in the days before their release, which makes the cuts particularly jarring:
Kairi Sane competed in a tag match on the Raw After WrestleMania on April 20 — just four days before being released. Aleister Black competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 17. The Wyatt Sicks (Bo Dallas, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis) competed in an eight-man street fight against MFT on the April 17 SmackDown — their final match coming exactly one week before the releases.
Alba Fyre and Zoey Stark were both regular television performers. Santos Escobar had been a featured SmackDown talent throughout 2025 and into 2026.
Where Could The Released WWE Superstars Go Next?
The WWE superstars released in 2026 typically have a 90-day non-compete clause before they can appear for other promotions. Based on that timeline, the earliest any of these performers could debut elsewhere would be late July 2026.
AEW, TNA Wrestling, and the Japanese promotions (NJPW, Stardom) are the most likely landing spots. Aleister Black previously competed in AEW as Malakai Black. The Motor City Machine Guns have extensive history in TNA. Kairi Sane is a former Stardom champion and could return to Japan. Andre Chase and the NXT talents may appear on the independent circuit.
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