Questions Raised Over WWE’s LFG After Releasing Winner

WWE released more than 20 superstars from its roster on Friday.

One of these wrestlers was former Olympian Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who competed under the name Tyra Mae Steele.

After making an appearance at the 2021 SummerSlam, she signed with the Stamford promotion in May 2023. She was part of Legends & Future Greats, WWE’s reality TV show, which also acts as a talent development platform.

On the show, the talents are assigned to a mentor, who is usually an industry legend, and are tested and graded based on different skills, such as in-ring ability, charisma, character work, adaptability, etc.

Steele’s mentor was The Undertaker, who retired from professional wrestling in 2020.

Following her Season 1 victory, Steele earned her NXT contract and made her debut on the WWE developmental brand on June 3, 2025, where she defeated Ariana Grace.

The following month, she announced that she was moving to EVOLVE while also making occasional appearances on NXT.

She was involved in a feud with Chelsea Green and Ethan Page while pairing up with fellow Olympian Tavion Heights.

The rivalry culminated in a mixed tag team match at NXT Heatwave, where Green and Page secured a victory.

The 33-year-old’s final NXT TV appearance was on November 4, where she lost to Kelani Jordan in a singles match. Steele continued competing on EVOLVE while also making a couple of appearances on Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling.

NXT Talents Puzzled After Tyra Mae Steele’s WWE Release

Tyra Mae Steele’s release on Friday raised a few eyebrows backstage, considering she won Season 1 of Legends & Future Greats.

According to a report by Wrestling Observer‘s Bryan Alvarez, there was commotion on NXT, where talents questioned the relevance of the reality show if its winner struggled to keep their place in WWE.

A lot of people in NXT questioning what the point of LFG is if they’re just going to cut the winner.

While Steele was let go from the company, her male counterpart and winner of Season 1, Jasper Troy, is still being featured on NXT.

Troy was involved in a feud with Keanu Carver after Carver threatened his LFG mentor, Booker T, during an episode of the black & silver brand.

Steele’s departure has received criticism because a show like WWE LFG guarantees opening new doors, or ‘does it?’ seems to be the new question.