WWE Star Speaks Out After Being Released Amid 12 Wrestler Cuts
A WWE star released by the company has issued a statement after joining 11 other wrestlers in being cut.
WWE have been administering a series of cuts throughout 2025, with a flurry of exits in February.
Following on from a record-breaking WrestleMania 41 event in Las Vegas, WWE conducted a spring-cleaning exercise which resulted in a whole host of top talents departing in May.
And the latest batch of releases emerged prior to Saturday's Crown Jewel event in Perth, Australia, with 12 performers being released from their contracts.
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On this occasion, there was no main roster superstars on the list, with Fightful Select reporting that the cuts were down to "natural progression of cycling out developmental talent".
Former NXT North American champion Wes Lee was arguably the most high-profile release, while Roman Reigns' cousin Lance Anoa'i, Stevie Turner, Kylie Rae, Zayda Steel, Brayden 'BJ' Ray, Haze Jameson, Summer Sorrell, Drako Knox, Jin Tala, Jamar Hampton and Zara Zakher have also left.
Some have spoken out following on from their release, with Tala penning a lengthy statement on her official X account.
Tala had joined WWE as as Leigh Laurel, appearing on the LFG reality show and eventually competing on the Evolve developmental brand.
She also appeared on a handful of NXT live events, with her last appearance coming on 4 October against LFG season one winner Tyra Mae Steele before she was removed from the roster.
WWE star responds to release
In her first words since the news, Tala reflected on her period in WWE and the improvements she made - vowing to continue her wrestling journey after catching the bug.
"I have been trying to collect my thoughts & find the right words to address my recent release," she wrote on social media.
"Before WWE, I've been a jack of all trades with many hobbies but couldn't settle on one thing... was always missing that flame of passion.
"With contract in hand, I kept thinking 'What if... what if this was what I've been missing?'
"I found my passion and I was all-in. I wasn't just fascinated by the physical aspects of pro wrestling, what hooked me was the psychology... the emotions that can be expressed by wrestlers & felt by the audience.
"So for those questioning my commitment, dedication... I can say with a hand on my heart that I didn't falter. I knew I had weak points in my promos & wrestling, so I put 110%, fed myself with knowledge from my coaches & main roster talent who came through the PC.
"And in the past month, I saw it & I think everyone saw it. I broke down some of those big walls I had failed to break during LFG. My promos were showing range because I finally let go... My move set I recently developed in the ring showed aggression, everything the Legends were looking for. And I was able to showcase that in recent matches. And for me... that was a win.
"Maybe it came down to timing, did I break down those walls quick enough? Maybe I was just an unrecognizable name on a list, or maybe they just don't see what I see in myself. "At the end of the day, the only person I have to prove my worth to is me. I'm not giving up, Jin Tala may be no more. But Leigh Laurel has always been a fighter."
Laurel received a number of messages of supporter, with WWE interviewer and presenter Cathy Kelley writing: "One of the sweetest and most talented humans i’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting!! This girl’s got big things ahead."
Laurel then clarified that she will still be looking to wrestle elsewhere, stating: "For clarification, if we look up, 'Not giving up' in the dictionary, it means I’m still going to wrestle."
According to Cagematch, she had 17 matches under the WWE umbrella, starting in December 2024.
Typically, NXT talent have around 30 days before they can compete again - with main roster stars forced to wait 90 days before they can return to the ring.
Josh Lawless