4 WWE world champions released and 3 whose contracts expired since Brock Lesar's last match

#6 Big Show - WWE contract expired

Paul Wight wrestled his first match in AEW at All Out

Big Show, who now goes by his real name Paul Wight in AEW, left WWE at the start of the year, bringing to an end his 20-year run with WWE.

Welcome to @AEW, @PaulWight! Watch #AEWDynamite tonight for more info on Paul’s arrival here, and for more info on our new show AEW Dark: Elevation! It will be streaming soon every Monday night on AEW YouTube! pic.twitter.com/z5BaztjfF3

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 24, 2021

Wight left WWE as he was frustrated with the creative direction of his character in the company. The two-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion bears no grudges against his former boss Vince McMahon and revealed that he left because of a lack of opportunities.

"Here's the thing, Vince actually called me the day it was announced that I signed with AEW, wished me a lot of luck, agreed that I'm a big asset to AEW and thanked me for all the years I worked in WWE. There's no animosity, there's no anger, there's no dirt, so to speak. This just came down to, you know, contract negotiations and opportunities," said Paul Wight.

He debuted on AEW television in February and will be an in-ring performer as well as commentator on AEW's Dark: Elevation YouTube show.

. @PaulWight and @tonyschiavone24 rundown what you'll see TONIGHT on #AEWDarkElevation Watch #AEWElevation now - https://t.co/Y9cbcQ0kl8 pic.twitter.com/xQDbVAiGfe

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 14, 2021