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Released WWE Stars To Join TNA Wrestling

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WWE and TNA Wrestling logos with Motor City Machine Guns and Apollo Crews

On April 24, WWE had its latest round of talent cuts with over two dozen wrestlers being released or departing the company.

With that much talent about to become available, there could be several names that might make their way to other promotions like TNA Wrestling.

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Considering the company is still signing names from all over the world, many of these newly released WWE stars could wind up in TNA sometime down the road.

Here are seven released WWE stars to potentially join TNA Wrestling.

7. Dexter Lumis

WWE's Dexter Lumis

Dexter Lumis previosuly competed as Samuel Shaw in TNA Wrestling

While several names on the latest round of WWE releases first made their name in the company, some others got their start in TNA Wrestling.

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As Samuel Shaw, Dexter Lumis made his presence known with an eccentric character that stood out from the pack during the mid-to-late 2010s.

In 2019, Lumis signed with WWE and became a prominent star on the NXT brand. Whether it be his In-Dex relationship or memorable segments with Johnny Gargano, Lumis was a consistent fixture on NXT before getting released and then returning.

After his time on the main roster with The Wyatt Sicks and winning the WWE Tag Team Championships, Lumis can now take this experience and make a return to TNA where he might reunite with his former on-screen wife Indi Hartwell in the promotion.

6. Erick Rowan

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Another Wyatt Sicks member who was released during this latest round of WWE talent cuts was Erick Rowan.

As the only member of the group who was once part of the Wyatt Family, Rowan brought the connections to Bray Wyatt to the next level.

Playing the role of enforcer for the stable, Rowan was a central figure in what The Wyatt Sicks accomplished over their two year run.

Now that he is a free agent, Rowan has the experience and accomplishments that should make him a highly sought after free agent for a place like TNA Wrestling where his character could work quite well.

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5. Bo Dallas

WWE's Uncle Howdy

Bo Dallas returned to WWE to play Uncle Howdy in 2022

Paying tribute to his late brother Bray Wyatt, Bo Dallas made his return to WWE and created the Wyatt Sicks faction.

As Uncle Howdy, Dallas showcased his passion and love for his brother’s legacy with this group of misfits who were hellbent on destroying anyone and everyone in front of them.

Dallas has long been someone who has been able to play several different roles during his different tenures with WWE.

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Finally exploring his options outside of WWE, Dallas feels like someone who could come in to become a top star in TNA Wrestling and mix it up in the main event picture.

4. Andre Chase

Andre Chase in WWE NXT

Andre Chase spent the entirety of his WWE run in NXT

Andre Chase was a veteran presence who played more of a player-coach role on the WWE NXT brand for years.

As the leader of Chase University, the former Harlem Bravado was a locker room leader and provided his knowledge to the young stars on the NXT roster.

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Now that he is available, any promotion would benefit from bringing Chase into their roster where he can benefit so many competitors.

Chase becoming Harlem Bravado in TNA Wrestling would be interesting and would make him a crucial figure who could help develop different young stars on the roster immediately.

3. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley)

When fans talk about the history of TNA Wrestling, no conversation finishes without mentioning the impact of The Motor City Machine Guns.

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In the tag team division, The Machine Guns are in the discussion as the greatest duo to ever step foot in a TNA ring.

The three-time TNA World Tag Team Champions are also well accomplished singles competitors with both being former TNA World Champions and Sabin having the record as a ten-time X-Division Chamber as well.

After two years with WWE, The Motor City Machine Guns returning to TNA would be fitting and help to bring some nostalgia to the promotion following the start of the new AMC era.

2. Apollo Crews

WWE SmackDown star Apollo Crews

Apollo Crews spent 11 years in WWE between 2015-2026

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Apollo Crews has been someone who has been quite underrated during his entire run with WWE.

Despite not always getting consistent opportunities during his 11 year run with the company, Crews is a former WWE Intercontinental and United States Champion.

While he has left his mark on WWE, Crews was a well known independent star who became a star in various companies as Uhaa Nation.

With all of his experience on the indies and WWE, TNA Wrestling would be wise to bring in someone like Apollo Crews and see what he can achieve under their banner at this stage of his career.

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1. Aleister Black & Zelina

Aleister Black and Zelina were among two of the most surprising names part of this latest round of WWE releases.

In 2025, Black formed a pairing with his real life wife and looked to rise to the top of Friday Night SmackDown.

In recent months, Black has picked up notable victories over the likes of Randy Orton and Sami Zayn, while reports circulated that he was supposed to be part of the Undisputed WWE Championship program heading into WrestleMania 42.

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Black and Zelina feel like a massive acquisition that could immediately become a main event act in TNA Wrestling and might easily mix it up with the top talent, such as Mike Santana, Moose and Leon Slater.

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SP3 joined the WrestleTalk team as a feature writer in 2021. Known from his Tru Heel Heat Wrestling YouTube channel and co-host of Alex McCarthy's Wrestling Daily, SP3 brings his views and outlooks on professional wrestling in written form here. A long-time fan of WWE, WCW, ECW, NJPW, IMPACT and now AEW, SP3 will offer a wide range of features expressing his love affair with the business.

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