On Thursday, WWE announced that it had severed ties with a number of wrestlers.
One WWE news post read:
“WWE has come to terms on a release of Billie Kay, Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Tucker and Wesley Blake as of today April 15, 2021. We wish Billie, Mickie, Chelsea, Tucker and Wesley the best in all of their future endeavors,” the statement read.
Another read:
“WWE has come to terms on the release of Samoa Joe, Chelsea Green, Tucker, Kalisto, Bo Dallas and Wesley Blake.”
In short, the names keep coming.
Now confirmed is Peyton Royce as well:
“WWE has come to terms on the release of Peyton Royce. We wish her the best in all of her future endeavors.”
Late Thursday afternoon, WWE added Mojo Rawley to its list of released wrestlers.
The veteran of the group, by far, is former women’s champion Mickie James, who has been in wrestling since 1999. She tweeted out her thanks:
Grateful for the memories. Grateful for the locker room. Grateful for the fans. Grateful for these little keys to my golden handcuffs. You can never expected others vision of you to be big as your own dreams. Thank you @VinceMcMahon #AlwaysBlessedAndGrateful
— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) April 15, 2021
There is word that more talent will be affected in the coming hours and days.
Until recently, Samoa Joe had been an announcer, and when he left the booth, it was expected that he would be back in the ring, his health issues behind him. Like Mickie James, he debuted in 1999.
The IIconics — Billie Kay and Peyton Royce — were a top women’s tag team until they were inexplicably broken up. Billie Kay had just started teaming with Carmella as a new tag team on Smackdown.
Chelsea Green had been battling health issues too, and was on the road back to the ring. Her tweet Thursday afternoon seemed to indicate that she’s ready to return to some of her more creative experiences in Impact:
Welcome back, it’s been a while. 💄 pic.twitter.com/AsAuhy6RdL
— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) April 15, 2021
Wesley Blake had been in the Forgotten Sons tag team, but his partner, Steve Cutler, had quietly left WWE in February 2021.
Tucker was drafted to Raw while Otis, his long-time partner in Heavy Machinery, stayed on Smackdown. His last appearance was in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on Smackdown last Friday. On Thursday afternoon, he tweeted out, “Freedom baby!!” followed by “Looking forward to telling my story.”
Other names, such as Bo Dallas, had hardly been seen on television in months.
As has been the tradition as well, still-employed WWE talent and others in the industry offer up their support and encouragement to those blindsided by their release.
Shocked by a bunch of the releases.. IIconics were and are absolute gold. @PeytonRoyceWWE @BillieKayWWE I love you ladies so much. You’re stars and will continue in your next step as stars. Won’t be long till you’re scooped up and a well deserved spotlight is shined on you both❤️
— SARAYA (@RealPaigeWWE) April 15, 2021
To all my friends today. It’s scary at first, but you are all unbelievably talented and you will all accomplish amazing things. You have just been delivered the biggest blessing in disguise….Freedom. Go out there and kill it. See you guys soon 🙏🏻❤️
— Mike Bennett (@RealMikeBennett) April 15, 2021
I take a one hour nap and wake up to way too many people losing their jobs again. Please know that you are in my heart. I wish you all the very best as I'm sure the future will be even brighter from now on. ❤️
— LuFisto (@LuFisto) April 15, 2021
Y’all are literally releasing STARS. Shit is nuts
— Lio Rush (@TheLionelGreen) April 15, 2021
.@PeytonRoyceWWE – that one stings. One thing is for sure though – no matter where she and Billy Kay go, they will do crazy big things. They are two of the best in and out of the biz. Really sad loss for WWE, but someone else’s gain.
— Kayla Braxton (@KaylaBraxtonWWE) April 15, 2021
Well call me crazy but I feel positive for everyone and think they will have no problems finding work bc of their talent. I choose to be hopeful and positive. I respect and believe in them all https://t.co/uODh5Sj0zz
— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) April 15, 2021
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