Mass WWE releases are nothing new. 51 members of the company’s talent roster had already been cut in 2021. The first 10 were let go in April and four subsequent rounds of releases followed in May, June and August. And now a further 18 names can be added to the list of “future endeavoured” wrestlers. It’s a sad trend that proves one indisputable fact. WWE suck at creating (and capitalising on) exciting new stars.
Before we delve into who was released, it’s important to understand the context. WWE has never been more profitable than it is now. The company reported third quarter 2021 revenue of $255.8 million on the same day it unceremoniously released 18 people. So, you’re probably asking why WWE released superstars when it’s making so much money? Budget cuts, apparently. The exact reasons for these supposed budget cuts could fill a whole other article, frankly. Instead, let’s focus on the WWE’s biggest flaw – why do they repeatedly fail to to utilise some of the best talent in the business?
WWE releases: Who was released from WWE?
The following main roster superstars were released by WWE on 4th November 2021:
- Keith Lee
- Mia Yim
- Nia Jax
- Karrion Kross
- Eva Marie
- Lince Dorado
- Gran Metalik
- Harry Smith
- B-Fab
Who was released from WWE NXT?
The following NXT superstars were released by WWE on 4th November 2021:
- Scarlett
- Ember Moon
- Franky Monet
- Jessi Kamea
- Katrina Cortez
- Jeet Rama
- Oney Lorcan
- Trey Baxter
- Zayda Ramier
While the individuals in these lists are noteworthy for different reasons, two names immediately stand out. Keith Lee and Karrion Kross. These wrestlers were seemingly destined for greatness on the main roster.
Keith Lee released
Keith Lee was popular with fans and offered a unique blend of size, speed, power and agility. His NXT run ended following the tremendous high-point of holding the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship simultaneously. He was moved to the main roster soon after and placed in some high profile feuds and matches, albeit briefly. Lee even had a WWE Championship match against Drew McIntyre back in January. And although it was only 11 months ago, it might as well have been a decade ago. He disappeared from television shortly afterwards.
It ultimately transpired that he was actually sick with Covid-19 and later heart inflammation. He finally returned to Raw in July in a losing effort against Bobby Lashley. The remainder of his run was spent in nothing matches against random opponents. By the time he became Keith “Bearcat” Lee, the writing was on the wall. The Bearcat gimmick felt like an uninspired attempt to reinvent Lee as more of a ‘character’. Not that he needed a nickname – he was a growing star with plenty of momentum when he joined the main roster. Even before then, fans were excited about Lee and his potential as a big name. Just go back and watch his Royal Rumble 2020 stare down with Brock Lesnar.
Sadly it seems WWE never truly appreciated what they had and didn’t really know what to do with him. It’s baffling to even write that, to be honest. But it raises the question what exactly his NXT run and brief main roster stint were even for. What’s the point spending years building someone up only to drop them unceremoniously because they weren’t an immediate mega star? How can you expect them to be when they receive minimal TV time and have nothing interesting to do?
WWE releases: Karrion Kross released
Karrion Kross’s main roster run was… awful. There’s no other way to put it. In NXT, it was clear Kross was being groomed for stardom immediately. He had the look, an incredible entrance, a gorgeous valet, and the NXT Championship. Then he debuted on Raw. He lost in a quick match to Jeff Hardy (who had been doing nothing of note for months) and it was all down hill from there. Kross failed to get over with fans and was hastily given a stupid mask to try and mend the damage. Of course, that didn’t work. And it failed to make up for the notable absence of Scarlett who was integral to his prior success.
Quite why Scarlett was removed from the equation is anyone’s guess. And with her being released at the same time as Kross, it stands to reason they never had high hopes for her. But the WWE way is to undo everything that got a character over in the first place and deliberately ignore what fans enjoy. So it’s no surprise they decided to go with Kross as a solo act.
It’s also indicative of the reason why many fans have long since lost faith in NXT to produce stars. Time after time ready-made superstars have debuted on the main roster only to be stripped of everything that made them great. It’s funny, actually. If you look at YouTube comments on videos of Kross’s underwhelming Raw appearances, some people claim fans should “give it time” before complaining about a character. According to these people, WWE were eventually planning to debut Scarlett to show the incredible impact she has on Kross’s ability. At which point, he’d start winning. Obviously, that was never going to happen – because it requires actual creative planning.
Stop watching WWE – it’s never going to change
This isn’t me saying you have to stop watching WWE. If you want to keep watching, that’s cool. But if these releases frustrate you and you want it to get better, it’s the only way. Fans have been “giving it time” for years. The same arguments about WWE programming and what needs to happen to improve it have been raging for YEARS.
The problem is, they never listen or learn. Sure, there are snippets of good stuff. But when characters like Keith Lee, The Fiend, Karrion Kross, Alastair Black, and many, many more are dropped for no good reason time after time, you have to accept it as just the way things are. There’s no long-term planning to create new stars. And why bother getting invested in a wrestler when they could be released at a moment’s notice? So ask yourself this – why should you support a company that disrespects your intelligence and commitment to its product over and over again?
Are you disappointed with the latest round of WWE releases? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other film & TV articles…
