In recent years, WWE has consistently released several superstars shortly after WrestleMania, often citing budget-related reasons. The trend continued this year as well. In April last year, wrestlers like Jinder Mahal, Veer Mahaan, and Sanga were let go. Now, following WrestleMania 41, the company has once again made some surprising and tough decisions that fans didn’t see coming.
As WWE prepares for Backlash 2025, it has officially released 15 superstars from across RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. Some of the names are quite unexpected, and fans are already expressing disappointment and confusion over the cuts. This latest round of releases has delivered a significant shock to the WWE Universe.
Which Superstars Were Released by WWE?
Here is the full list of released talent:
Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Dakota Kai, Shayna Baszler, Braun Strowman, Gigi Dolin, Cora Jade, Eddy Thorpe, Riley Osborne, Jakara Jackson, Gallus (Mark Coffey, Wolfgang, Joe Coffey), Oro Mensah, Xavier Bourne
Updated list of released talent today:
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) May 3, 2025
• Katana Chance
• Kayden Carter
• Dakota Kai
• Braun Strowman
• Shayna Baszler
• Gigi Dolin
• Cora Jade
• Eddy Thrope
• Riley Osborne
• Jakara Jackson
• Gallus
• Oro Mensah
• Javier Bernal
Of these, Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, and Shayna Baszler were part of the main roster, making their releases even more surprising.
Dakota Kai and Shayna Baszler
Dakota Kai and Shayna Baszler had not been seen in action for some time. A few days ago, Kai even shared her thoughts on social media about missing wrestling and the fans. Despite solid performances in the past, neither was given a consistent push in recent months, and now WWE has decided to part ways with them. Their releases are expected to upset many fans who admired their work and potential.
WWE’s Shocking Decision to Release Braun Strowman
Perhaps the most baffling release is that of Braun Strowman. This marks the second time the company has let him go the first being in 2021, after which he returned in 2022. Before WrestleMania 41, Strowman was involved in an intense rivalry with Jacob Fatu and had been regularly appearing on SmackDown, building momentum.
However, he did not compete at WrestleMania 41 and subsequently missed two straight episodes of the blue brand. Despite his imposing presence and crowd reactions, WWE has decided to part ways with him again.
In response to the news, Strowman shared a photo on social media where he appeared to be casually sipping a drink, a subtle nod to his reaction calm and unbothered.
This round of releases has stirred strong reactions from the WWE Universe. With notable names like Strowman, Baszler, and Kai now gone, fans are left wondering what’s next not just for those released, but for the direction WWE is taking post-WrestleMania.
— The Monster of all Monsters (@Adamscherr99) May 3, 2025
Also Read: WWE SmackDown Results: From John Cena Insulted To Chaos In Main Event – Here’s All You Need To Know
