There have already been multiple examples of WWE stars being removed from big matches throughout 2025 for a number of different reasons.
From storyline attacks to real-life injuries, there have been some big matches changed up after wrestlers had to be removed.
Here are six WWE stars who have been removed from big matches in 2025.
6. Zoey Stark
During a Money in the Bank qualifying match on WWE Raw, Stark suffered an injury mid-match.
Stark was delivering a springboard dropkick to Kairi Sane when she landed awkwardly on a leg she’d already had surgery on in the past.
While she had to be taken out of the three-way match and carried to the back, the match continued as a singles match between the other participants, Kairi Sane and Rhea Ripley.
With the original match finish intact of Ripley winning the bout, the pair had to soldier on with Sane taking pinfall defeat in her return match – after being out with injury since December 2024 – instead of Stark who was supposed to be pinned.
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5. Bayley
Bayley was set to tag team with WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria at WrestleMania 41 to take on Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the Women’s Tag Team Championship.
However, after she was shown as the victim of a unwitnessed backstage attack, Bayley was pulled from the match.
While there was a short-lived mystery as to who could team with Valkyria, it was eventually Becky Lynch who joined Lyra as her tag partner for the match.
It was later revealed that the attacker was Becky Lynch, after Lynch herself claimed ownership of the attack. With Bayley yet to get her revenge on Becky Lynch, perhaps a showdown is around the corner.
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4. Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens announced that he would be unable to compete at WrestleMania 41 for his match against Randy Orton due to the discovery that he would be required to undergo neck surgery.
When the segment went from a somber affair with Owens’ announcement into Randy Orton expressing his frustration at the possibility of missing Mania by delivering an RKO to Nick Aldis, the sad moment turned into the newest mystery.
In the weeks that followed, Orton still pledged to wrestle at WrestleMania 41 and fan frenzy kicked into overdrive trying to figure out who he would face.
In the end the mystery was maintained until night two of WrestleMania 41 when it was revealed that Orton’s opponent was none other than TNA Wrestling star, Joe Hendry.
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3. Eddy Thorpe
Originally advertised on the match graphic for a 25-man NXT battle royal to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Championship, Eddy Thorpe wouldn’t end up making it into the match.
While he was in the graphic from the announcement on the past week’s NXT, he ended up being released from the company before the match took place.
WWE released 17 wrestlers across NXT and the main roster, including Eddy Thorpe, on May 2, 2025.
Formerly a regular in NJPW Strong as Karl Fredericks, it seems likely that his career in professional wrestling will continue.
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2. Shotzi
While Alexa Bliss surprised WWE fans with her entry into the 2025 Royal Rumble after a long absence, there was set to be a totally different return in her place.
Having been out of action on the main roster in WWE after suffering a mid-match injury on NXT almost a year earlier, Shotzi was poised for her first main roster match since last year’s Royal Rumble.
It was later reported by Fightful that Alexa Bliss’ addition to the match came with late notice as the other talent were still unaware as of that morning. Bliss did not attend rehearsals on Friday and instead Shotzi was planned to make a return in the spot that ultimately went to Alexa Bliss.
Despite the fact WWE did not confirm the Royal Rumble report regarding Shotzi, it would not be the first time Shotzi was pulled from a big match. Picking up her aforementioned injury during an NXT Championship match against Lyra Valkyria in February 2024, the match had to be stopped. Subsequently Shotzi was pulled from an upcoming Elimination Chamber qualifying match against Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown.
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1. Rey Mysterio
In another change to the card for WWE WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas, Rey Mysterio picked up an injury that changed his Mania plans.
Rey Mysterio was scheduled to face off against El Grande Americano, but sustained a groin injury ahead of the event on SmackDown the night before.
During the WrestleMania 41 pre-show it was confirmed that Mysterio would not be medically cleared to compete, with Rey Fenix announced as replacing him.
Using underhanded tactics which he has become known for, Americano would beat Fenix in the match which marked his WrestleMania debut.
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