WWE release 22 Wrestlers after WrestleMania in brutal round of cuts

Twenty two wrestlers have been released from their WWE contracts just a week on from WrestleMania.

The star-studded event did not disappoint as Cody Rhodes retained his WWE Championship as he defeated Randy Orton in the main event on Saturday night.

On Sunday night CM Punk squared off against Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship, with the Florida native emerging victorious.

As the fanfare settles down following WrestleMania 42, the WWE has announced their latest round of releases.

The WWE tends to simply allow contracts to expire before deciding not to renew them; however, there are occasions when the company does still have 'windows' for main roster and NXT talents to be released.

Now WWE have announced 22 more wrestlers that have been released from their contracts.

The list of names, reported by Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, includes Kairi Sane, the NXT Female Competitor of the Year in 2018, and Zelina, the 2021 Queen of the Ring, who has spoken out about how she was informed about her release.

Zelina Vega opens up about how she found out about her WWE release

A major name to be released from their WWE contract was Zelina, who joined the WWE in 2017 and has been an individual who has been battling for titles since joining the organisation.

However, at least for the time being this will not be the case for her, as she has been released from her WWE contract, and she has opened up about when she received the news.

Zelina said: “When people call me, usually from there it would say 'Stamford calling'; that’s when your heart is like ‘Oh F**K!’ This time it was TKO, so I was like, 'Yeah, very telling.'

“5:09 pm is when I found out. So, yeah, that is the thing.”

Rhea Ripley speaks out after the WWE cuts

Australian wrestler Rhea Ripley joined the WWE in July 2017 and has continued to entertain the fanbase throughout her time with the organisation.

Ripley is the current WWE Women's Championship title holder while being named Pro Wrestler of the Year in 2025 with Thunder Rosa.

Now she has taken to social media to let her thoughts be known following the WWE’s decision to release these 22 wrestlers.

Ripley said: “Today’s been a very sad day… Absolutely guttered for my friends and comrades. Worst time of the year. Go prove them all wrong!”

Full list of WWE releases in October 2025

The full list of releases is as follows:

• Kairi Sane
• Aleister Black
• Zelina
• Uncle Howdy/Bo Dallas
• Nikki Cross
• Santos Escobar
• Motor City Machine Guns
• Dexter Lumis
• Apollo Crews
• Rowan
• Joe Gacy
• Andre Chase
• Zoey Stark
• Alba Fyre
• Tyra Mae Steele
• Sirena Linton
• Tyson
• Tyriek
• Chris Island
• Malik Blade
• Trill London
• Luca Crusifino