Here is a list of every WWE Superstar who has been released this year.
Dolph Ziggler
Final match: Against JD McDonagh – Raw 05/29/23
Dolph’s 19-year tenure saw him become a two-time World Champion, NXT Champion, and Triple-Crown Champion.
Shelton Benjamin
Final match: Against The Viking Raiders – Main Event 09/11/2023
The Gold Standard spent much of this latest run in WWE as part of the Hurt Business and tagging with Cedric Alexander
Elias
Final Match: #1 Contender Battle Royal – Raw 05/15/2023
Elias has sung his last tune in WWE. There’s no word yet on what this means for his brother Ezekiel, who remains in a coma.
Emma
Final Match: Against Shayna Baszler – Raw 07/10/2023
Emma’s release came mere hours after she expressed her delight about WWE heading to Perth, Australia for next year’s Elimination Chamber show.
Mustafa Ali
Final Match: Against Dragon Lee – NXT 09/05/2023
Ali’s release came during his program with Wes Lee and Dominik Mysterio. There had reportedly been plans for Ali to win the NXT North American title.
Rick Boogs
Final Match: Slim Jim Battle Royal – SummerSlam 2023
Boogs has claimed that forces working backstage were behind his release though has yet to name anybody who deliberately made sure he got cut.
Aliyah
Final Match: Against Damage CTRL – Raw 09/12/2022
Aliyah holds the record for the fastest-ever win in a Women’s match and the longest tenure of any woman in WWE NXT.
Top Dolla
Final Match: Against LA Knight – SmackDown 08/11/2023
Top Dolla’s return to WWE may be best remembered for his botched dive, that actually helped save the wrestler’s life.
Mace
Final Match: #1 Contender Battle Royal – Raw 05/15/2023
At one point in his career, a feud between Mace (Dio Madden at the time) and Brock Lesnar was teased, but it never transpired.
Mansoor
Final Match: #1 Contender Battle Royal – Raw 05/15/2023
Mansoor recently spoke about his time in WWE and when he got major backstage heat at the Super ShowDown 2019 event.
Matt Riddle
Final Match: Against the Viking Raiders – 09/04/2023
Riddle leaves WWE as a former U.S. Champion, two-time Raw Tag Team Champion, and former NXT Tag Team Champion.
Alicia Fox
Final Match: Women’s Royal Rumble – Royal Rumble 2022
While not publicly stated by WWE, Fox confirmed earlier this year that she was no longer working for the company.
Riddick Moss
Final Match: Against ‘Big’ Bronson Reed – Main Event 09/11/2023
Moss, like his fiancee Emma, was released in September. He leaves as a winner of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
Dabba-Kato
Final Match: Against Tyler Bate – NXT 09/05/2023
Before his release, WWE had tested Dabba-Kato as an enforcer for Cora Jade at NXT live events, but the idea didn’t get to TV.
Dana Brooke
Final Match: Against Lyra Valkyria – NXT 09/12/2023
Brooke had her career revitalized as part of WWE NXT. She leaves WWE as a multiple-time 24/7 Champion.
Ikemen Jiro
Final Match: Against Luca Crusifino – NXT Level Up 09/19/2023
Since leaving WWE, Jiro has been competing for AJPW in his native Japan. He has been teaming with Seigo Tachibana.
Quincy Elliot
Final Match: Against Ikemen Jiro – NXT Tampa Live 08/19/2023
Elliot reportedly had significant heat backstage in WWE and reportedly didn’t show the progress WWE had hoped from them.
Shanky
Final Match: Against GUNTHER – WWE Superstar Spectacle 2023
Shanky holds the distinction of being released after challenging for the Intercontinental Championship in his native India.
Yulisa Leon
Final Match: Against Elektra Lopez & Lola Vice – NXT 08/01/2023
Leon is a second-generation wrestler. Since her release, she has worked for the Crash Lucha Libre promotion and is a former Crash Women’s Champion.
Kevin Ventura-Cortes
Final Match: Against Sanga & Veer – Raw 05/29/2023
Ventura-Cortes had just one match during his WWE run. He previously played college football and was signed in 2022.
Brooklyn Barlow
Final Match: Against Dani Palmer – NXT Level Up 08/08/2023
Barlow made her in-ring debut in March of last year. She competed 10 times for WWE and has a 0-10 record.
Bryson Montana
Final Match: Against Hank Walker & Tank Ledger – NXT Largo Live 07/07/2023
Montana debuted for WWE in May of last year. His sole win came on a July episode of NXT Level Up.
WWE also released developmental recruits Alexis Lete, Daniel McArthur, and Melanie Bzezinski this year. More recently, on-screen personality McKenzie Mitchell was released but is excited for what’s to come.
