WWE spring cleaning 2025: The most surprising class ever
So WWE went into spring cleaning mode yet again, and while we don’t know if this is the end of this year’s cuts or if more wrestlers will be released this weekend, I wanted to address these releases and what the future might hold for them.
EVOLVE/NXT
Gallus: The warning signs were there for them, so I’m not that surprised they got released. They lost a “loser leaves town” match on NXT at the beginning of the year, only to get demoted and sent to EVOLVE when WWE restarted the brand. That doesn’t send a good message if you’re an NXT talent getting sent down to WWE’s developmental brand. Like I said, I’m not surprised—they clearly felt they didn’t need them. As for their future, I imagine they’ll return to the UK wrestling scene and work for multiple companies until WWE potentially brings them back when the NXT Europe project finally launches.
Riley Osborne: What I said about Gallus applies to Osborne too. He went from being part of Chase U to wrestling in the warehouse behind the Performance Center. It seems WWE didn’t think he was evolving enough to keep him on the NXT main roster, and after being sent to EVOLVE, he didn’t show enough improvement, so they cut ties. It’s sad for him since he didn’t get much time in NXT to prove himself, but that’s the nature of the business. I could see him going back to the indies, gaining experience, and maybe returning to WWE someday.
Javier Bernal: Let’s face it—Big Body Javi was hired to be a jobber for just about everyone on NXT and Main Event. You could tell years ago that WWE had no long-term plans for him, and he was never getting called up. After a short run on EVOLVE, he’s now gone. I expect he’ll return to the indies, though I’m not sure any major company will take a chance on him.
Oro Mensah & Jakara Jackson: Since they were in the same faction, I’ll address them together. NXT recently did an angle where they disbanded Meta-Four. At first, it seemed like it would give all four members a shot to shine as singles stars, but in the end, it just felt like a way to cut the dead weight and focus on Dar and Legend, who WWE sees as stars. I’m a bit surprised Jackson was released, but Mensah wasn’t—it’s never a good sign when you’re demoted and sent to EVOLVE. I don’t see much of a future for Mensah outside of the indies, but Jackson might get picked up by TNA or MLW—she’s talented, a good talker, and could be a solid pickup for a smaller promotion.
Eddy Thorpe: They tried him as both a face and a heel, but he consistently struggled to connect with the NXT crowd. While I saw some progress in the ring, it clearly wasn’t enough for WWE, and they cut him. I still think he has a bright future and wouldn’t be surprised if he gets picked up once his 30-day non-compete is up.
Cora Jade: This one was a surprise. She was a featured player on NXT, and I thought she was close to being called up. I’m guessing her injury history worked against her—especially her most recent one, which may have hurt WWE’s partnership with TNA. They probably saw her as too much of a risk. I could see her either leaving wrestling altogether to start an OnlyFans page or getting signed by TNA.
Gigi Dolin: This was also a bit surprising. I thought she and Tatum Paxley were doing well as a tag team. But she’s been in NXT for four years, and when she wasn’t injured, she wasn’t really improving in the ring. WWE likely wanted to make space for new recruits. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up in TNA once her 30-day clause is up.
Main roster cuts
Katana Chance & Kayden Carter: Are we really surprised? I’m not. They hit their ceiling in WWE a while ago and didn’t work as singles stars. Since losing the titles to Damage CTRL two years ago, they’ve floundered—disappearing from RAW, only wrestling on Main Event, and having one match on SmackDown. With WWE scaling back on house shows, there wasn’t any real use for them, so they were cut instead of being paid to do nothing. I hope this isn’t the end for them. They were a solid tag team with potential, but since most promotions don’t have a women’s tag division and neither stands out as a singles competitor, it might be tough for them to find new homes.
Dakota Kai: I’m a bit surprised to see her go, but it was clear from her booking that she was always going to be Iyo’s sidekick in Damage CTRL and never the focal point. Her multiple injuries probably played a role in her release. Still, I doubt she’ll have trouble finding work once she’s free to sign elsewhere.
Shayna Baszler: Another Pure Fusion Collective member released. I always felt WWE could’ve done more with her, but they didn’t. At least now, she can do what she wants outside of WWE for the remainder of her career instead of waiting for a push that wasn’t coming. If she wants to keep wrestling, she’ll be one of the most sought-after free agents of this batch. If AEW doesn’t pick her up, TNA or even GCW might.
Braun Strowman: Let’s be real—this was a cost-cutting move. Braun had a big contract, and it’s easier to cut him than to release a more over upper-card talent. He’s a good attraction-style wrestler, but there’s not much you can do with him long-term. Given his likely high asking price, AEW or NJPW are the only companies that could realistically afford him, so if he does return to wrestling, that’s probably where he’ll end up.
So those are my thoughts on the current list of releases. I do think more cuts are coming. I could see Nikkita Lyons, Wendy Choo, Omos, Ashante Adonis, and maybe even Zoey Stark and Kiana James either getting released or just not re-signed in the near future.