WWE Announces Massive Roster Overhaul After WrestleMania 42, Releasing 25 Talents Including Wyatt Sicks Faction
- WWE implemented a significant roster reduction on Friday, April 24, 2026, releasing approximately 25 performers in the immediate aftermath of WrestleMania 42.
- Among the notable departures were Aleister Black and his wife Zelina Vega, both confirmed to have left the company.
- Kairi Sane, who had returned to WWE in 2023 and become a key figure in the Damage CTRL faction alongside Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Bayley, was also among...
WWE implemented a significant roster reduction on Friday, April 24, 2026, releasing approximately 25 performers in the immediate aftermath of WrestleMania 42. The cuts spanned multiple tiers of the organization, affecting established main roster stars, NXT talent, and developmental prospects, with the entire Wyatt Sicks faction among those released.
Among the notable departures were Aleister Black and his wife Zelina Vega, both confirmed to have left the company. Black, who had returned to WWE a year prior for his second stint with the organization, had been featured prominently on SmackDown and had recently secured victories over Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, and Matt Cardona. Vega announced her departure during a Twitch stream, confirming the reports of her release.
Kairi Sane, who had returned to WWE in 2023 and become a key figure in the Damage CTRL faction alongside Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Bayley, was also among those released. Her departure ended her involvement in the ongoing feud between Asuka and Iyo Sky that had been featured on television for several months.
The Wyatt Sicks faction, which had been featured on television programming, was released in its entirety. This group included Uncle Howdy, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, and Dexter Lumis. Nikki Cross shared a message on social media following her release, expressing gratitude for her time with the company and excitement for her future endeavors.
Additional talent released included Santos Escobar, who had been featured on SmackDown programming, and the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), who had competed as a tag team in WWE. Other names appearing across multiple reports as part of the wave of departures were Alba Fyre, Andre Chase, Apollo Crews, Bo Dallas, Chris Island, Dante Chen, Luca Crusifino, Malik Blade, Sirena Linton, Trill London, Tyra Mae Steele, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson Dupont, and Zoey Stark.
The releases occurred as part of a broader post-WrestleMania roster refresh, a timing pattern WWE has historically followed after its annual flagship event. Multiple wrestling news outlets confirmed the scale of the reductions, with reports indicating approximately 25 talents were affected by the cuts made on Friday, April 24, 2026.