Multiple WWE Releases Surprised People In The Company

The releases of some WWE superstars were surprising to current members of the roster.

Several WWE veterans were released earlier in February 2024. Those wrestlers were Giovanni Vinci, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Isla Dawn, Cedric Alexander, Elektra Lopez, AOP (Rezar and Akam), their manager Paul Ellering, and Blair Davenport.

In addition to those releases, Sonya Deville was told that her contract would not be renewed when it expires in the coming months, which is another way of saying she was being let go.

Most of those wrestlers found out about those releases on February 7th when SmackDown took place that night. In Lopez’s case, she was actually on Smackdown briefly that night.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there was a surprise in WWE about at least three of the names released.

“None would be considered shocks but from those in the company, Deville was a surprise, and to an extent Anderson & Gallows if only because Anderson was injured and they usually don’t cut wrestlers while still recovering from surgery.”

Regarding Karl Anderson, he has about three months left of rehab before he will be able to wrestle again.

WWE Bringing Back Familiar Faces

The news of wrestlers being let go never makes fans happy, but it’s part of the business to let people go just like it’s part of the business to bring people in.

It has been reported that former WWE superstars Rusev (aka Miro in AEW) and Aleister Black (aka Malakai Black in AEW) are going to return to the company since they are free from their AEW contracts.

Ricky Starks also made the jump to WWE by appearing on NXT TV this week after getting out of his AEW deal. Rey Fenix is also expected to depart AEW soon and join his brother Penta as a WWE superstar.