Backstage news items regarding the 2026 WWE departures including Kairi Sane

Several WWE departures were announced on April 24th 2026 and Fightful Select provided some news regarding the situation.

The cuts had been heavily speculated among talent throughout the week, particularly as Friday at 5:00 PM approached. Several wrestlers began learning around or before 5:00 PM ET that they had been released or that their contracts would not be extended. By approximately 5:20 PM ET, Fightful started to confirm that releases were indeed taking place after reaching out to WWE earlier in the day without receiving a response. At this time, it’s unknown which departures were outright releases versus contract expirations, which is why the term “departures” has been used. An internal email was also sent to select departments informing them of the situation.

Talent remain under contract during this time under a 90-day right of termination notice. For main roster talent, that period is 90 days, while NXT talent are subject to a 30-day notice. In cases of contract expirations, deals simply conclude at their agreed-upon end dates.

There has been considerable discussion regarding TKO Group Holdings being responsible for the cuts. However, WWE sources indicate that Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE President Nick Khan, and WWE Talent Relations were ultimately the primary decision-makers.

According to WWE sources, the majority of the releases were made to create space for incoming talent, as well as in anticipation of a possible reduction of WWE SmackDown to two hours in the near future.

WWE notably re-signed Santos Escobar last year, but he was never utilized again on the main roster. He is currently sidelined with an injury and expected to be out for several months. While this type of move was once against company policy, it has occurred more frequently in recent years, with talents such as Karl Anderson and Ridge Holland being released or not retained while awaiting medical clearance.

There was also significant shock surrounding the release of Kairi Sane, as she had been actively involved in a storyline alongside Asuka and Iyo Sky. Sources indicated frustration over the decision, as the storyline had yet to reach any meaningful payoff. She is widely expected to have strong interest from multiple promotions moving forward.

Additionally, several NXT releases were made, with new Performance Center signings expected to be announced soon.