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Over the last two years, WWE has drastically cut down on their roster, be it the main ones, i.e., RAW and SmackDown or NXT. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 150 Superstars have been let go, including several promising performers as well as big-name superstars.
Even though the company currently performs in front of an audience and has resumed live events, they have continued to lay off superstars from time to time.
Many Superstars who were a part of the Royal Rumble match (both men and women) last year have been shown the exit door. Here, we take a look at 12 WWE Royal Rumble 2021 participants who have been released:
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#12 Ruby Riott - Released by WWE in June
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Ruby Riott, who goes by the ring name Ruby Soho on AEW now, was released in June, bringing to an end to her five-year stint with the company.
At last year's Royal Rumble, she entered the women's Royal Rumble match at #9, lasting almost 11 minutes before Bayley eliminated her.
#11 Ember Moon - Released by WWE in November
Former NXT Women's Champion Ember Moon's release came as a surprise as she was touted to be a top star on the main roster. She was let go in November, ending her six-year run with the company.
At the 2021 Royal Rumble, she came in at #28 but was quickly eliminated by Nia Jax in just under two minutes.
#10 Lana - Released in June
A year after her husband Rusev (aka Miro in AEW) was released, Lana was shown the door in June 2021. She joined the company way back in 2013 and was an on-screen manager and later an in-ring performer.
She, surprisingly, lasted for 10 minutes in the 2021 women's Royal Rumble match after entering at #26 and was eventually eliminated by Natalya.
#9 & #8 The IIconics - Released by WWE in April
Former WWE stars The IIconics, the tag team of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, had a six-year run before being released last year. The duo wrestled together in NXT before being moved to the main roster, winning the Women's Tag Team Championship.
Kay was in her first Royal Rumble match last year, entering at #4 and eliminating Jillian Hall, before being thrown over the top rope by Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan.
Royce, meanwhile, was in her second Rumble match, entering the ring at #11. She stayed in the match for 13 minutes before being eliminated by Charlotte Flair.
The Royal Rumble match was one of their last appearances on television before their release.
#7 Santana Garrett - Released by WWE in June
Santana Garrett joined the company in 2019 after years on the indie scene and promotions like IMPACT Wrestling. She had a dubious loss streak on NXT and ended her television record at one win and 17 losses.
She was a part of last year's Women's Royal Rumble match, her only appearance in the match. Garrett was #12 in the match but didn't last long and was eliminated by Rhea Ripley.
#6 Toni Storm - Released by WWE in December
Unlike the other ex-WWE Superstars on this list, Toni Storm voluntarily asked for her release. The former NXT UK Women's Champion was apparently burned out following her call-up to the main roster and walked out of the company.
Storm was part of the last women's Royal Rumble match, entering at #7, and stayed in the match for 11 minutes before being eliminated by Rhea Ripley. She was also a part of the 2020 women's Royal Rumble match, lasting 18 minutes after entering at #20.
#5 John Morrison - Released by WWE in November
John Morrison's second stint with the company lasted just two years as he was let go last year due to budget cuts.
Morrison and The Miz were eliminated in the 2021 Royal Rumble by Damian Priest after a distraction from Bad Bunny. That interaction led to their tag team match at WrestleMania a few months down the line. In the Rumble match, Morrison was in the ring for under 10 minutes and made zero eliminations.
In his second run, he won the SmackDown Tag Team title with The Miz at the Super ShowDown show in Saudi Arabia in 2020 when they defeated The New Day.
#4 Braun Strowman - Released by WWE in June
Former WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman's release came as a huge surprise to fans as he was thought to be on the path to winning several world titles. He had the size, look, and personality to be a top star in the company, but it never happened, despite him winning a world title.
At last year's Royal Rumble, Strowman was the #30 entrant in the Battle Royale, who eliminated AJ Styles, Cesaro, and Sheamus from the match. He was in the final five alongside eventual winner Edge, Randy Orton, Christian, and Seth Rollins.
Edge, Christian, and Rollins combined to eliminate Strowman, who looked menacing in the ring that night.
#3 Mickie James - Released in April
Mickie James competed in her third women's Royal Rumble match last year, entering the match at #19. She made zero eliminations and was eliminated by Lacey Evans.
The legend was let go in April of 2021, with her Rumble appearance being her last televised show in the company. But the veteran will return for this year's Rumble, despite being under contract with IMPACT Wrestling.
#2 Nia Jax - Released by WWE in November
Former WWE Superstar Nia Jax was another big star released last year. She is a former RAW Women's Champion and two-time Women's Tag Team Champion.
She and Shayna Baszler won the Women's Tag Team titles in the Royal Rumble kickoff show and held it until May. At the Rumble, Jax entered at #29 and was eliminated by Lana, who finally sought retribution after the former had humiliated her previously.
Jax looked strong in the match, eliminating Naomi, Ember Moon, Tamina, and even her tag team partner.
#1 Jeff Hardy - Released in December
Jeff Hardy was reportedly released for issues outside the ring after stumbling away from a match at a live event.
The company had reportedly requested him to enter rehab following his unusual behavior at the live event. He declined their request and was eventually released.
At last year's Royal Rumble, Hardy didn't last long in the ring as he was eliminated by Dolph Ziggler after entering the match at #5.
