What is being said about how many “no-cut” contracts there are in WWE

A narrative circulating online has suggested that the WWE talent departures in 2026 are different from previous years due to the involvement of WWE’s parent company TKO. However, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com noted that WWE has conducted roster cuts on an annual basis, with multiple releases typically taking place each year. In many cases, the list includes unexpected names, including talented performers and wrestlers involved in ongoing storylines.

Meltzer stated the following about the situation…

“Most of the cuts are people in the middle of contracts. There may be one or two no-cut contracts but for 99 percent of the talent they can be cut at any time. The cuts are more roster size than anything else and Vince McMahon did the exact same thing. Now, restructuring of contracts in the middle was not common, but it did happen under McMahon many times. Nothing is new here.”

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer added that even some of WWE’s biggest stars have tried to negotiate no-cut protection but were turned down, with the company instead verbally assuring them they would not be released without putting that guarantee into the contract itself.