Following the successful takeover of the TKO Group, check out the full list of WWE wrestler releases and roster cuts for 2023 below
Just recently the WWE announced their merger with the UFC thanks to form the TKO Group Holdings.
WWE wrestlers releases and full released superstars list 2023
Dolph Ziggler’s near TWO decade career with WWE has come to an end.
Thank you Dolph. pic.twitter.com/pnmt2llEpR
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) September 21, 2023
Hear from your @ufc & @WWE faves as we celebrate @TKOGrp 🔔 $TKO pic.twitter.com/uZPi07YR9d
— NYSE 🏛 (@NYSE) September 12, 2023
While the newly-formed company looks set to begin with a new chapter, this also involves letting go of several wrestlers.
WWE announces new changes
Just recently, on Thursday, September 21, WWE announced a Premium Live Event in Australia in February the following year. It also announced that SmackDown would go from FOX to the USA Network for a five years deal worth $1.4 billion starting in 2024. NBC would pay around $287 million per year in that deal. The new deal would represent a 40% increase over the previous deal that WWE had with Fox.
WWE full list of wrestler releases and roster cuts 2023
Just an hour after the USA Net work deal announcement, WWE started releasing wrestlers, initiating a roster cut. Given below is the full list of wrestler releases and roster cuts initiated on September 21, 2023:
Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler is one of the biggest releases this year, the wrestler who’s real name is Nick Nemeth, has been with WWE ever since 2004. Ziggler started out his WWE career as a member of The Spirit Squad, through the OVW developmental territory. He later got introduced as Dolph Ziggler in 2008, and has since become one of the most successful WWE wrestlers.
Ziggler has various titles in the WWE including the World Heavyweight, United States, Intercontinental, Smackdown and Raw Tag Team, and NXT Title. He has also won the Mr. Money in the Bank title. Besides his time in the WWE, Ziggler is a three-time All-Mid-American Conference champion in wrestling from Kent State.
Mustafa Ali
Mustafa Ali, real name Adeel Alam, was the first wrestler whose release was announced. Ali worked as a police officer and competed all over the independent scene when he initially joined the WWE. He joined the WWE in 2016 in the Cruiserweight Classic and competed for the Cruiserweight Title multiple times. He has also competed for the Intercontinental Title and served as the former leader of Retribution.
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin is a two-time All-American wrestler and teammate of Brock Lesnar, who joined WWE in 2000. He is a former United States, Intercontinental, 24/7, and Tag Team Champion. In the WWE, Shelton was a part of Team Angle and later The Hurt Business. Outside of the WWE, Benjamin served as a former Ring of Honor World Tag Team Champion. He also had a brief stint in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Elias
Elias, aka Jeffrey Sciullo, joined the WWE back in 2014, and was a former IWC World Heavyweight and WWE 24/7 Champion.
Emma
Emma, aka Tenille Dashwood, has under gone a second release with the WWE. She first joined WWE in 2011 and competed on NXT where her initial gimmick was a clumsy dancer. After her release in 2017, she fought all over the independent scene, from Ring of Honor to Impact Wrestling. She eventually made a return to WWE last year in 2022 before her recent release.
Aliyah
Aliyah, aka Nhooph Al-Areebi, is a 28-year-old former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion who holds the record for the fastest victory in WWE history at a time of 3.17 seconds. She has been with the WWE ever since 2015.
Top Dolla
Top Dolla aka A. J. Francis is a member of Hit Row and the recent release marks his second release under the WWE. Prior to joining the WWE Francis was an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 2013 and registered 20 tackles in total. He initially signed with WWE in 2020 before getting a release in 2021. He returned last year in 2022 before being released again just recently.
Madcap Moss
Michael Rillis is a former college football player who joined the WWE back in 2014. Madcap, formerly known as Riddick Moss, made his main roster debut back in 2020 and also won the 24/7 Title with WWE in the past. After spending a year away from the ring, he returned in 2021 and teamed with real-life partner Emma to won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Rick Boogs
Rick Boogs aka Eric Bugenhagen was an NCAA Championships qualifier before joining the WWE in 2017. Eric underwent many name changes before settling on Rick Boogs and was a two-time 24/7 Champion.
Mace and Mansoor
Mace and Mansoor, both members of Maximum Male Models, were part of the WWE 2023 release. Mansoor was the first Saudi-born wrestler to in the WWE, who joined the main roster in 2021. Mansoor joined joined LA Knight’s stable, Maximum Male Models last year in 2022 alongside Mace.
Mace, aka Brennan Williams, is a former 2013 NFL Draft pick by the Houston Texans before joining WWE in 2016. Mace initially started out as a member of the WWE commentary team before joining Retribution in 2020.
Shanky
Shanky aka Gurvinder Malhotra initially joined The Great Khali’s Continental Wrestling Entertainment and is a former two-time CWE Heavyweight Champion. He later signed with the WWE in 2020 and appeared at the 2021 Superstar Spectacle event. Shanky teamed up alongside Jinder Mahal and Veer as a heel group. After a 14-month hiatus, he recently made a return in a match against Gunther for the Intercontinental Title in India.
Dabba-Kato
Dabba-Kato aka Babatunde Aiyegbusi played in the Polish American Football League before joining the WWE. He signed for the Minnesota Vikings before getting released in 2015. Dabba-Kato made his Raw debut during a Raw Underground segment in 2020 and officially made his mark in 2021 alongside Apollo Crews. Dabba-Kato was re-introduced as Commander Azeez and competed in the main roster and in NXT. He started using the Dabba-Kato name again earlier this year, and competed in several bouts in NXT before his recent release.
Dana Brooke
Dana is an Arnold Classic bodybuilding and fitness competitor who joined WWE in 2013. She is a mainstay on NXT, and joined the main roster of the WWE in 2016. During her time in the WWE, she has been a part of several high profile matches and comedic backstage vignettes. Brooke also holds the record of being a 15-time WWE 24/7 Champion.
Quincy Elliott
Quincy Elliott aka Congo Crush, joined the WWE in 2022 and has only appeared on NXT Level Up and NXT.
Yuliya Leon
Yuliya Leon, aka Jennifer Iglesias is a second-generation wrestler, whose father wrestled as “Bronco.” Back in 2021, Yuliya signed a WWE contract, initially known as Yulisa Leon and competed on 205 Live and NXT. After tearing her ACL in 2022, she returned in May 2023 before her release from the WWE just recently.
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