The past 12 months has seen many notable departures from WWE, whether due to contracts expiring or talent being released from their deals early.
Here are 16 stars that were let go by WWE in 2025.
We wish them all the best for whatever their futures hold.
16. Andrade
After departing AEW following Worlds End 2023, Andrade made a surprise return to WWE during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
The Mexican star would go on to feature fairly regularly on the SmackDown brand, chasing the United States and WWE Tag Team Championships, participating in the 2024 and 2025 Money in the Bank Ladder Match, and having a memorable best of seven series with Carmelo Hayes.
Just as he and Rey Fenix seemed to be building momentum as a tag team, Andrade would surprisingly be released from his contract in September, only to then return to AEW a few weeks later.
The saga would see an unexpected turn when Andrade vanished from AEW following this appearance, with it being reported that WWE were trying to enforce a one-year non-compete clause, a clause that has reportedly now been nullified following negotiations between the two sides, with El Idolo now free to work elsewhere.
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15. Jazmyn Nyx
Jazmyn Nyx was someone WWE looked to keep ahold of, but she turned the offer down due to not being happy with money offered by the company.
As a result she was written off of NXT television after a backstage attack angle on the September 23 episode of the show.
Following this, Nyx was replaced in Jacy Jayne’s Fatal Influence stable by Lainey Reid.
Nyx has expressed an openness to a wrestling return in the future, but has yet to compete inside the ring since her departure.
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14. Lance Anoa’i
After arriving in WWE in November 2024, Lance Anoa’i was recently released by the company in October after just under a year under contract.
Anoa’i failed to make a single appearance for the company, with unfortunate injury setbacks seemingly derailing the former MLW star’s WWE journey.
However, the 33-year-old he has since returned to the independent scene since being let go.
Anoa’i recently turned heads by attacking his own family member Zilla Fatu at a House of Glory show, setting up intriguing Bloodline feud outside of WWE.
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13. Ridge Holland
Ridge Holland departed WWE in November after announcing that the company were not going to be extending his deal.
With Holland out injured at the time of the announcement, the situation resulted in a fair amount of scrutiny towards WWE, particularly given that Holland suffered the Lisfranc injury whilst competing in a match against Moose in partner promotion TNA Wrestling.
Having since underwent neck surgery as well, Holland unfortunately looks set to be out of action for much of 2026 as well.
We wish him well in his recovery and hope to see him back in action once he’s all healed up.
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12. Dakota Kai
Dakota Kai was one of many WWE stars who were let go from their contracts in May this year.
Among the most surprising of the cuts, Kai began the year in a promising spot – challenging Lyra Valkyria in a match to determine the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
After taking a break from the ring following her release, it was recently announced that Kai will be returning to the independent scene in 2026.
Being confirmed as AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander’s opponent at all women’s promotion EVE’s Wrestle Queendom show in London on March 8, Kai will be kicking off an exciting new chapter under the name Charlie.
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11. Shayna Baszler
Former two-time NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler was another WWE release in May 2025.
Being let go less than a year after signing a new multi-year contract, Baszler has since been competing on the independent scene for promotions such as: House of Glory, Prestige Wrestling and GCW.
Interestingly, during her 90-day non-compete period over the Summer, Baszler did some work behind the scenes in NXT as a producer. While this didn’t lead to a full-time return, Baszler would also appear at NXT Homecoming in September.
With she and the company seemingly still on good terms heading into 2026, “The Queen of Spades” has left the door open for a potential return in the future.
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10. Kayden Carter & Katana Chance
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions on the main roster and in NXT, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance were also let go by WWE in May this year.
Since their departures only Carter has continued to compete inside the ring, with the 37-year-old officially signing on with AEW under the name Lacey Lane.
Competing in ROH on several occasions as well as challenging Mercedes Moné for the TBS Championship on Dynamite, Lane looks set to kick on properly with the company in 2026.
Since her WWE release, Chance, real name Kacy Catanzaro, has returned to her roots by appearing as a panelist on American Ninja Warrior.
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9. Giovanni Vinci
In late 2024, Giovanni Vinci was repackaged to a character reminiscent of his time in NXT 2.0., with the Italian star seemingly set to kick on as a singles star on SmackDown.
However, after only wrestling less than a handful of matches on TV, Vinci vanished, with his last match in the company being a non-televised contest against Luke Gallows in December 2024.
Vinci was one of several WWE stars let go from the company in February 2025, and has not wrestled once since his departure.
It remains to be seen whether Vinci will return to wrestling in 2026.
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8. Cedric Alexander
After almost a decade in the company, and not long after signing a new deal, Cedric Alexander was let go from WWE in February 2025.
Wasting no time in returning to action after his 90-day non-compete clause ran out, Alexander has found himself linked with a move to AEW throughout the year, but a move has not yet materialised.
Despite fans expecting Alexander to reunite with MVP, Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin in The Hurt Syndicate, Alexander instead joined TNA Wrestling, and remains a featured star on their roster.
While there’s some uncertainty regarding his long-term future due to his potential expiring contract, this TNA run also saw him make a brief return to WWE via NXT and TNA’s invasion of the brand in the Fall.
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7. Wes Lee
One of WWE’s most recent releases in the past year was former NXT North American Champion Wes Lee.
Lee consistently wowed fans with his in-ring work, particularly during his aforementioned singles title reign on NXT.
Lee has, as many would expect, landed right back on his feet post WWE, returning to TNA Wrestling for a reunion with The Rascalz, as well as competing on the independent scene under his pre-WWE name of Dezmond Xavier.
Given his young age, Lee could be another star who may return to WWE in the future, but for now he looks set for big things outside the company in 2026.
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6. Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows
Ending their second spell with the company, WWE released former Raw Tag Team Champions Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson from their contracts in February.
While the pair arrived back in WWE for a high profile reunion with AJ Styles and feud with The Judgment Day in 2022, that was unfortunately as prominent a spot that they were booked in throughout their second run.
Now that they’re back on the free agent market, Gallows and Anderson have recently returned to their adopted home of Japan via Pro Wrestling NOAH and could be set for more tag team success in the country in 2026.
With close friends in AEW such as The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, perhaps we could see The Good Brothers become officially All Elite in 2026?
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5. Carlito
After almost 15 years away from WWE, Carlito re-signed with the company in 2023.
Being in incredible shape, fans were excited to see the former United States Champion make his return in a totally different WWE landscape.
After becoming a core member of the LWO and Judgment Day across his two year spell, Carlito announced that WWE would not be renewing his contract in June.
While he has since returned to compete in his native Puerto Rico and the United States independent scene, it was disappointing to not see WWE give him a proper sendoff or closure in his angle with The Judgment Day, something Carlito himself has spoken about publicly since his exit.
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4. R-Truth
Along with Carlito, R-Truth also announced that his WWE contract was expiring back in June, with he and the company unable to come to terms on a new deal.
WWE letting Truth go proved to be one of the biggest stories of the year, with countless fans and WWE talent publicly voicing their support for the veteran star following his departure.
The “We Want Truth” movement won out however, and Truth was brought back to WWE a week later. Returning at the Money in the Bank PLE to attack John Cena, Truth kicked off a new run that began with him embracing a more grounded character.
This eventually gave way to Truth embracing his comedic side once again in August, and the former United States Champion has been a constant presence on TV ever since.
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3. Santos Escobar
Much like R-Truth, Santos Escobar was another name who departed the company, only to be re-signed shortly thereafter.
Departing after reportedly turning down a new deal, Escobar was only a free agent for little more than a day before either was reported that he had agreed terms on a significantly improved contract.
Despite rumors of a return and big push after this re-signing, Escobar has yet to reappear on TV and heads into 2026 still technically listed as a WWE alum on their website.
With the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season around the corner, the Legado Del Fantasma leader could potentially show up once again in the coming weeks.
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2. Braun Strowman
Being the only former WWE World Champion to be let go by the company in 2025, Braun Strowman’s release in May was another big surprise.
While he had dealt with some injury issues in his second spell in the company, Strowman consistently received loud reactions from the fans and featured regularly on TV up until his departure.
“The Monster of All Monsters” has confirmed that he’s taking a break from wrestling, and has not competed since being let go by WWE.
Instead, Strowman is finding great success in the television world, hosting a new food show on the USA Network: ‘Everything on the Menu’.
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1. Karrion Kross & Scarlett
Karrion Kross & Scarlett’s departures from WWE in the Summer were among the most discussed stories of the entire year.
Having built a big fan base through his compelling character work and promos both on WWE TV and online, WWE seemed to finally be taking notice of Kross’ popularity heading into the Summer.
Taking part in a high profile feud with Sami Zayn, Kross competed against the Canadian star at both Night of Champions and SummerSlam – the latter of which was his final match in the company.
While many fans at first suspected his and Scarlett’s exits could be a part of a storyline, the couple legitimately departed the company in August at the end of their deals. Since exiting the company they have received plenty of bookings on the independent scene.
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