Stars Who Have Left WWE In 2024

Releases and departures from WWE occur yearly, and 2024 was no exception, with some massive names leaping ship to AEW, others shifting on to new careers, and a few seemingly merely taking break day to be with their households. If something, 2024 was much more so tumultuous than earlier years, with WWE’s merger with UFC to create TKO Group Holdings nonetheless recent from September 2023 and scandals involving former main executives evolving all year long, inflicting main implications for the corporate and its stars.

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The consequence has been a supposed new period for WWE, shortly ushered in and solidified this 12 months, with COO Paul “Triple H” Levesque on the artistic helm of all storylines throughout “WWE Uncooked” and “WWE SmackDown.” Levesque introduced again a slew of expertise when he first gained artistic management of the corporate in 2022, however sadly, a few of these skills did not work out as soon as once more with the corporate and have been launched this 12 months. Different skills handled artistic variations beneath the brand new regime and headed to Tony Khan’s promotion as soon as their contracts expired. Others may very well be thought-about price range cuts beneath TKO, and extra left beneath their very own volition.

The primary particular person to depart WWE this 12 months was former commentator Kevin Patrick. Patrick, who had been “SmackDown’s” lead announcer, was launched in January after almost three years with WWE; a number of sources mentioned “it simply wasn’t figuring out.” Patrick says he holds no ailing will towards the corporate and now hosts “MLS 360” on Apple TV.

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One other early launch in 2024 was Jerry “The King” Lawler. Lawler’s broadcast contract expired this 12 months, ending his 31-year relationship with the corporate. The WWE Corridor of Famer stays beneath a Legends deal, nonetheless, and hadn’t been full-time behind the commentary desk since 2020 as a result of a number of well being points.

The largest departure from WWE in 2024, nonetheless, was former chairman and firm govt Vince McMahon himself. After initially stepping down as CEO in June 2022, then returning to WWE’s board in January 2023, all whereas nonetheless holding a level of artistic management, McMahon formally resigned from WWE, in addition to TKO, on January 26. The information got here simply at some point after Janel Grant, a former WWE worker, filed a civil lawsuit in opposition to McMahon, former head of expertise relations John Laurinitis, and WWE, accusing McMahon of intercourse trafficking and abuse. The authorized points have been ongoing for McMahon all year long, with a federal private investigation being launched into him as effectively. Most just lately, McMahon, his spouse Linda, WWE, and TKO have been named in one other sexual assault lawsuit filed by 5 former ring boys. The alleged victims are accusing former WWE ring announcer Mel Phillips of sexual abuse in opposition to minors, and alleging the McMahons have been conscious of the abuse and let it proceed of their firm.

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With the quantity of authorized points ramping up for McMahon, his return to WWE as soon as once more appears unlikely, however he is reportedly set to launch a brand new leisure firm.

Spring was sadly an enormous season for WWE releases, with three stars being launched in April and the brand new hitting whereas “SmackDown” was on the air. These releases included former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, Xyon Quinn, and Xia Li. Whereas not one of the three had been mainstays of the principle roster previous to their releases, Mahal had just lately been booked in a World Heavyweight Championship match in opposition to Seth Rollins — storyline that grew to become the topic of a collection of indignant posts by AEW President Tony Khan on social media. Mahal misplaced the match, and Quinn and Li misplaced to Breakker and Natalya of their ultimate matches, respectively. Shortly after the Friday releases, it was revealed that Indus Sher’s Veer and Sanga had additionally been launched.

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One other notable launch was Cameron Grimes, who had labored a couple of instances on the principle roster after seemingly graduating from “WWE NXT.” His launch got here simply days after the principle roster cuts, and the previous North American Champion and ultimate Million Greenback Champion posted an emotional social media video confirming the information. Von Wagner was additionally on the listing of names launched, as WWE reportedly felt that his five-plus 12 months tenure within the firm had not led to what they anticipated, and there have been no plans for him on the principle roster.

In the meantime, “NXT” roster member and controversial 2021 Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson was lastly let go in Might; Steveson signed with WWE in 2021, however continued wrestling in school whereas making very sporadic appearances on WWE tv. He was launched after the corporate did not see sufficient progress being made, although a jeering fan reception throughout his sole televised match in opposition to Baron Corbin at Nice American Bash 2023 probably did not assist. His real-life brother Damon Kemp, a member of the No Quarter Catch Crew, did not have his contract renewed by WWE and departed the corporate in August, set to take impartial bookings. It was reported that the brothers’ releases have been unrelated to at least one one other.

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In one other large departure, at the least in the meanwhile, former WWE Ladies’s Champion Becky Lynch hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since Might after dropping a metal cage match and changing into a free agent. Reviews point out that Lynch notified WWE she deliberate to take a hiatus forward of her contract expiring, and there is no sense as of writing that she’s set to go to a different firm. The ladies’s Grand Slam Champion has been quiet since taking break day, however has just lately taken to social media to announce a public talking look in November, the place she’ll deal with what’s subsequent for her at a stay panel at Vulture Competition in Hollywood.

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Former WWE high-flier Ricochet left WWE after his contract expired over the summer season and signed a multi-year cope with AEW; he made his debut throughout the On line casino Gauntlet match at All In. Ricochet has mentioned he left and signed with AEW to “have enjoyable once more” and “create artwork” after many followers thought he was creatively stifled inside WWE. He mentioned it was exhausting leaving after six years, however needed to be a part of AEW. He was written off TV in June, when he was put via a windshield by Breakker and was taken away by ambulance.

Drew Gulak was a controversial determine towards the top of his tenure with WWE, and his contract was not renewed. Gulak left the corporate after accusations of being inappropriate with Ronda Rousey backstage have been levied in opposition to him. Gulak addressed the allegations, saying he was reaching for a handshake, however he was subsequently written on TV after being “killed” by the D’Angelo household. Gulak was reportedly not launched as a result of incident with Rousey, however somewhat as a part of expertise cuts throughout the model, which additionally parted methods with 9 different lesser-known stars.

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In August, Bobby Lashley and MVP grew to become the most recent main stars to depart WWE after their contracts expired, finally becoming a member of AEW to reunite with former Harm Enterprise member Shelton Benjamin. Lashley, a former WWE Champion, had not been factored into artistic plans since WrestleMania 40; the corporate reportedly provided Lashley a brand new contract, however he “wasn’t excited by the small print.” There have been reportedly no main discussions about bringing MVP again into the corporate, and he made his AEW debut on the finish of September, trying to get former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland to hitch his new Harm Syndicate steady. When Strickland refused, Lashley debuted on Halloween to take out the previous champion and solidify the Harm Syndicate’s place in AEW.

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Odyssey Jones had simply gotten on his ft on the principle roster after years within the firm, getting into a storyline with The New Day. Nonetheless, Jones mysteriously disappeared from TV after only a couple weeks. In response to reviews, Jones was taken off tv after WWE discovered a few home violence declare in opposition to him. The 30 12 months previous’s profile was faraway from WWE’s web site, and his final match got here alongside New Day in opposition to The Remaining Testomony on August 19. 

One of many extra sudden departures from WWE in 2024 got here in October, when high-profile ring announcr Samantha Irvin posted to social media that she had left the corporate after three years; WWE introduced again veteran announcer Lilian Garcia to fill Irvin’s function on “Uncooked.” Many followers speculated as as to whether Irvin’s time with WWE was coming to an finish after her fiancé, Ricochet, signed with AEW in August. Nonetheless, following her departure, Irvin revealed she did not get pleasure from ring saying and did not wish to proceed. She responded to a fan on social media and mentioned she needed to handle or change into a basic supervisor within the firm at some point, not ring announce. Irvin mentioned she wasn’t going to AEW and needs to return to singing and performing when she is “able to get again to work.”

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As of this writing, the newest WWE releases got here forward of a taped episode of “SmackDown” on November 1, previous to Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia. Three expertise have been let go, together with former United States Champion Baron Corbin, former NXT Ladies’s Champion Indi Hartwell, and “NXT” and major roster star Tegan Nox. In response to reviews, Corbin was knowledgeable that his contract wouldn’t be renewed (the opposite two have been merely launched).  He had most just lately been working in a tag staff with Apollo Crews on “SmackDown” after being referred to as again up from “NXT.” The discharge ended a 12-year tenure for Corbin in WWE.

Hartwell had two runs with the corporate starting in 2019, successful the NXT Ladies’s Tag Group Championships alongside Candice LeRae and later the NXT Ladies’s Championship. Nox, who began in “NXT” in 2017, had not been featured on WWE tv or stay exhibits for awhile previous to her launch. She was additionally launched following her preliminary major roster call-up in 2021, however was introduced again beneath Levesque the subsequent 12 months.

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