WWE released more than 80 wrestlers this year

One of the biggest stories in pro wrestling this year has been WWE’s staggering amount of roster cuts.

WWE amassed an extremely large roster in recent years in an attempt to hoard talent and keep AEW from becoming a viable competitor. That strategy failed. WWE also decided to rebrand NXT this year, in an attempt to address the glaring disconnect that has always existed between Triple H’s vision of NXT and Vince McMahon’s vision of the main roster.

As a result, WWE has fired over 80 wrestlers since the start of 2021. The company cited budget cuts as the driving force behind most of the roster cuts, even though WWE has achieved record profit levels during a global pandemic.

I’ve written so often about the latest round of WWE roster cuts this year that I felt it would be worthwhile to round them all up into one post. With that in mind, here is the list of 81 wrestlers fired by Vince McMahon thus far in 2021:

1. Aleister Black
2. Alexander Wolfe
3. Andrade
4. Ari Sterling
5. Ariya Daivari
6. Arturo Ruas
7. Ashante Adonis
8. Asher Hale
9. August Grey
10. B-Fab
11. Billie Kay
12. Bo Dallas
13. Bobby Fish
14. Braun Strowman
15. Bray Wyatt
16. Bronson Reed
17. Buddy Murphy
18. Chase Parker
19. Chelsea Green
20. Curt Stallion
21. Dezmond Troy
22. Drake Maverick
23. Ember Moon
24. Eva Marie
25. Ezra Judge
26. Fandango
27. Franky Monet
28. Giant Zanjeer
29. Gran Metalik
30. Harry Smith
31. Isaiah Swerve Scott
32. Jake Atlas
33. Jake Clemons
34. Jaxson Ryker
35. Jeet Rama
36. Jessamyn Duke
37. Jessi Kamea
38. John Morrison
39. Kalisto
40. Karrion Kross
41. Katrina Cortez
42. Kavita Devi
43. Keith Lee
44. Killian Dain
45. Kona Reeves
46. Lana
47. Lars Sullivan
48. Leon Ruff
49. Lince Dorado
50. Marina Shafir
51. Matt Martel
52. Mercedes Martinez
53. Mia Yim
54. Mickie James
55. Mojo Rawley
56. Nia Jax
57. Oney Lorcan
58. Peyton Royce
59. Ruby Riott
60. Samir Singh
61. Samoa Joe
62. Santana Garrett
63. Scarlett
64. Shane Thorne (SLAPJACK)
65. Skyler Story
66. Stephon Smith
67. Steve Cutler
68. Sunil Singh
69. Tegan Nox
70. Tino Sabbatelli
71. Tony Nese
72. Top Dolla
73. Trey Baxter
74. Tucker
75. Tyler Breeze
76. Tyler Rust
77. Vanessa Borne
78. Velveteen Dream
79. Wesley Blake
80. Zachariah Smith
81. Zayda Ramier

Some of these wrestler have resurfaced in AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Impact Wrestling in the aftermath of being fired by WWE. But there aren’t enough spots to go around for the flooded free agent market, especially when you consider the fact that Ring of Honor is going on hiatus very soon and releasing all of its contracted wrestlers.