All 38 WWE exits in 2025 revealed as two huge stars confirm imminent departures
A further two shock exits from WWE means the company's departure tally for 2025 has risen to nearly 40.
Under the TKO Group umbrella alongside UFC, WWE has been experiencing some of the highest-grossing events in their history.
But with shareholders demanding high profits, the company have been administering cuts across the board - starting with a slew of releases at the beginning of 2025.
A spring cleaning exercise took place in May, off the back of an extremely successful WrestleMania 41 event which was streamed live on Netflix.
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Yet just when it looked the clear-out was over and done with, veterans R-Truth and Carlito confirmed on their social media pages that they are both leaving imminently.
Although technically not released, the pair's contracts are not being renewed and they will soon move on to free agency.
Because of the scenario, it does not appear as though they will have to serve the usual 90-day non-compete clause that main roster talents typically have to serve after being wished well in their future endeavours.
Truth and Carlito can still be factored into the list of talent moved on by WWE, with the Smackdown Hotel keeping tabs on wrestlers, hosts and managers who have embarked on new challenges.
Duke Hudson of NXT was the first to relieved of his duties back in January, with Akam, Blair Davenport, Cedric Alexander, Paul Ellering, Rezar, Sonya Deville, Giovanni Vinci and Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson among those to be given the boot in early February.
Carmella departed after her contract came to an end, with Hall of Famer Trish Stratus' latest agreement also finishing.
But May brought the most releases, with Braun Strowman and Dakota Kai - cut for the second time - among the 18 in-ring talents to depart.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newcastler claimed those who were cut were "perceived as not working hard in training" and effectively viewed as "lazy".
Yet Cora Jade and Gigi Dolin, both released, fired back with statements on their social media channels where they refuted the suggestion.
38 talents have all left WWE in 2025 - already four more than the previous year.
Here is the list in full:
Duke Hudson (Wrestler)
Akam (Wrestler)
Blair Davenport (Wrestler)
Cedric Alexander (Wrestler)
Paul Ellering (Manager)
Rezar (Wrestler)
Sonya Deville (Wrestler)
Giovanni Vinci (Wrestler)
Isla Dawn (Wrestler)
Luke Gallows (Wrestler)
Karl Anderson (Wrestler)
Elektra Lopez (Wrestler)
Carmella (Wrestler)
Trish Stratus (Wrestler)
Greg Miller (Host)
Meiko Satomura (Wrestler)
Braun Strowman (Wrestler)
Cora Jade (Wrestler)
Dakota Kai (Wrestler)
Dani Palmer (Wrestler)
Eddy Thorpe (Wrestler)
Gigi Dolin (Wrestler)
Jakar Jackson (Wrestler)
Javier Bernal (Wrestler)
Joe Coffey (Wrestler)
Katana Chance (Wrestler)
Kayden Carter (Wrestler)
Mark Coffey (Wrestler)
Ora Mensah (Wrestler)
Riley Osborne (Wrestler)
Ryan Pappolla (Host)
Shayna Baszler (Wrestler)
Wolfgang ( (Wrestler)
Shotzi (Wrestler)
Mickie James (Coach/producer)
Freedom Ramsey (Wrestler)
R-Truth (Wrestler)
Carlito (Wrestler)
WWE insider explained why WWE superstars are released
WWE also cut staff in digital and creative areas as well as on-screen talent, in what appears to be in response to new hires and balancing the books.
Last month, Ibou, an insider and podcaster for WrestlingPurists claimed that all releases are decided by Paul 'Triple H' Levesque once he is informed of the need to "shed" contracts by his TKO bosses.
"The priority is that their books, and profit margins look good to shareholders after every quarter, which is why to juice up numbers, they shed contracts," he explained on X.
"Figuring out the WHEN on these matters is Ari and Nick [Khan]. Figuring out WHO goes is Paul Levesque. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you’d have to be impressively naive to believe otherwise."
The base salary for main roster talent is believed to be at $350,000-a-year and those not featured regularly on TV are always at risk of being cut.
Josh Lawless