'I couldn’t breathe' - Former WWE champion admits to shaking and crying after being brutally cut
Former WWE champion Zoey Stark has revealed the emotional impact of her release from the promotion, which left her shaking, crying and struggling to breathe.
Stark, a former one-time NXT Women’s Tag Team champion, described the devastation she felt about being released from the WWE, while answering questions on her YouTube channel.
The American, formerly known as Zoey Serrano, described the news as having “hit like a ton of bricks,” provoking what she felt was a panic attack.
Zoey Stark describes immediate aftermath of WWE release
Stark’s departure came in late April of 2026, ending her five-year tenure with the promotion. In May 2025, the now 32-year-old endured injuries to her meniscus, ACL and MCL.
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Stark was hurt while performing a springboard dropkick at Monday Night Raw, and underwent multiple surgeries following the Triple Threat match.
Speaking to her YouTube channel, Stark confessed: “When I got released from WWE, it hit like a ton of bricks. [It] kind of makes me want to cry now. Mainly because I wasn’t expecting it.
“I was actually at the gym. All day long, [I’d been] hearing about releases happening today. And for whatever reason, I just had this strange feeling.”
The American was unaware at the time, but her Raw appearance in May 2025 was to be her final rodeo with the promotion. Stark admitted that she cast her doubt aside, having recovered from her WWE-sustained injuries.
“I was kind of just putting it to the side because I just got cleared from my knee injury, right? So, I wasn’t really expecting it,” she continued.
“So, when I got the phone call, there were multiple things running through my mind. My first thought was, obviously, this really sucks. I am heartbroken.”
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Zoey Stark describes panic attack sensations following WWE release
The former WWE champion then confessed that her “body started to shake” upon hearing the news, as Stark experienced a panic attack.
“My body started to shake. Obviously, I started crying. I went to the car immediately and I truly, truly thought I was having a panic attack,” continued the American.
“Because, like, I couldn’t breathe. Every worst case scenario was going through my head and I was having a really hard time.”
Stark then admitted her thoughts turned to the caller, who was tasked with revealing the American’s release. She also described having “lost herself” throughout her five-year WWE tenure.
“Secondly, I felt really bad for the gentleman who had to call me,” explained the 32-year-old. “That’s not an easy day at the office for him. I could hear it in his voice. It hurt, it really hurt.
“It’s one of those things now where, as much as it hurt… Where I am today, I get the opportunity to find myself again.”
“And I get to have fun. I lost who I was along my WWE career, and now I get to find that again. And I feel like I am definitely finding it, I’m finding my confidence.”
“So, things happen for a reason. I truly do believe that. And this is a blessing in disguise. I know that there’s always a lesson to be learned out of everything. Just got to find the silver lining,” concluded Stark.
Kedar Bayley