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WWE has worked hard to build some of the best wrestling talent in the world. To ensure that those who signed with the company get the best possible training and preparation, WWE created the NXT brand.
But NXT has slowly turned into a complete third brand of the company, from being just a developmental brand. The NXT and NXT Women’s Championships are now two of the most prized titles in the wrestling industry.
Several superstars have gone on to win these NXT titles in their careers before heading to the main roster. This has allowed WWE to test their abilities before giving them a major push on RAW or SmackDown.
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However, a few former NXT Champions have not been able to replicate their success on the main roster. On the other hand, other reasons may have also halted their rise in WWE. This has resulted in some former NXT stars being released from the company over the past few years.
Let’s take a look at five former NXT and NXT Women’s Champions released by WWE, and what they are doing today.
#5 Former NXT Champion Bo Dallas could go into the real estate business following his WWE release
Bo Dallas enjoyed a relatively long stint with WWE. However, his 13-year long relationship with WWE came to an abrupt end on April 15th, 2021, when he was one of the superstars who was released by the company.
Dallas joined WWE in 2008 and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). The third-generation WWE Superstar became part of NXT in 2012 and went on an impressive run with an interesting gimmick.
Dallas defeated Big E to win the NXT Championship on May 23, 2013. The superstar enjoyed a 260-day NXT title reign that saw him have a few great matches. He moved to the main roster in 2014 and competed as an individual performer as well as in several tag teams.
Dallas won the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship with Curtis Axel as part of The B-Team. He requested time off from WWE in December 2019, which was granted. However, after Axel was released by the company in April 2020, Dallas also faded away.
The superstar did not compete in any more matches for WWE and only won the 24/7 Championship once in a backstage segment. Dallas was released from his contract on April 15th, 2021, and his future remains unclear.
Dallas is reportedly in a relationship with WWE Superstar Liv Morgan. The two live together on their own farm and have set up a family real estate business. It looks like Dallas will likely focus on his new business rather than return to the ring.
#4 Former NXT Champion Adrian Neville was released from WWE in August 2018
After competing in several European promotions and Dragon Gate, Adrian Neville signed with WWE in 2012. The superstar teamed up with Oliver Grey to form British Ambition in NXT.
Neville defeated Bo Dallas in a Ladder Match to win the NXT Championship at NXT Arrival. He held the title for 286 days before losing it to Sami Zayn. Neville continued to have rivalries on NXT, and also became a top draw in WWE’s Cruiserweight division.
He ended up winning the Cruiserweight Championship twice in his career. However, a rivalry with Enzo Amore didn't sit well with the star and he decided to no-show WWE events.
WWE froze Neville’s contract in January 2018 and eventually released him in August the same year.
Neville returned to Dragon Gate about two months after his WWE release. He started performing under his former ring name, PAC. Neville also signed with WWE’s rival promotion AEW in January 2019. He is still performing as part of the promotion and is currently in a tag team with Rey Fénix.
Unlike some other former WWE Superstars on this list, Neville is one man who has managed to make it big after being released by the company.
#3 Former NXT Women's Champion Kairi Sane headed back to Japan following her WWE release
Kairi Sane enjoyed a successful career in World Wonder Ring Stardom before she made the move to WWE in 2017. She initially competed in the Mae Young Classic, following which she became a top performer on NXT.
Sane spent a couple of years competing in NXT and had some memorable rivalries. Her rivalry against Shayna Baszler put her on the map, and she defeated Baszler to become the NXT Women’s Champion at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV.
Sane had a short NXT Women’s Championship reign and moved to the main roster in April 2019. The Pirate Princess teamed up with Asuka on the main roster to form The Kabuki Warriors. The duo soon won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Sane decided to ask for her release from WWE so that she could heal some injuries and move back to Japan to spend more time with her husband. She departed the company in July 2020.
The Pirate Princess has since moved back to Japan and tried to work closely with WWE. She is the company’s ambassador in the country. Sane has also reportedly tried to get permission from the company to appear for a Stardom show, but failed to get approval.
She has taken to social media regularly to remind fans that she is still very much in touch with WWE, and continues to retweet content from the company’s shows.
#2 Former NXT Champion Andrade "Cien" Almas is looking at new options following his WWE release
Andrade "Cien" Almas joined WWE in 2015 after enjoying successful careers in Mexican promotions and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). After perfecting his skills in the WWE Performance Center, Andrade became a major part of the company’s NXT brand.
It did not take the WWE Superstar long before he could enter the NXT Championship picture. He challenged Drew McIntyre for the title and won it at NXT TakeOver: WarGames after a great contest.
Andrade moved to the main roster in 2018 and, with the help of Zelina Vega, continued to make headlines. He won the United States Championship on December 26, 2019, during a house show at Madison Square Garden, by defeating Rey Mysterio.
While it looked like Andrade would soon head to the WWE Championship picture, he quickly disappeared off television after Vega was released. In March 2021, Andrade requested his release from WWE and was initially denied, but the company eventually granted his release on March 21.
Sin Cara spoke with Sportskeeda's Riju Dasgupta and revealed why Andrade may have asked for his release.
"That was the main thing why I left. That's why Andrade left also. It wasn't because he wanted to leave or because we were just trying to become news out there. It's not about that but trying to fight for your ideals and what you want to accomplish in your life. And for me it's not about the money. And for Andrade it's not about the money," Sin Cara admitted.
The former NXT Superstar has since teased signing with some other promotions sooner than later. On an edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed that Andrade could end up on CMLL, NJPW, or even AEW.
Which promotion would you like to see Andrade compete in?
#1 Former NXT Champion Samoa Joe did not compete for over a year before his WWE release
Samoa Joe joined WWE in 2015 after enjoying great stints with Ring of Honor (ROH), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and other promotions. Joe joined the WWE NXT brand following his signing.
Joe teamed up with Finn Bálor during his time in NXT, but the two soon entered into a rivalry. Joe defeated Bálor to win the NXT Championship on April 21, 2016, at an NXT live event.
Joe lost the title to Shinsuke Nakamura after a 121-day reign, but won it back from Nakamura for another short reign. The Samoan Submission Machine moved to the main roster in January 2017.
Even though Joe was part of several World Championship rivalries in WWE, he failed to win the top titles. Instead, he won the United States Championship twice during his main roster career.
The star suffered multiple injuries that have kept him out of the ring since early 2020. He took over a commentary position on RAW, but did not make it back to the ring for any more matches with the company.
WWE released Joe on April 15, 2021, soon after his appearance as a commentator at WrestleMania 37. Backstage reports suggested that Joe wanted to return to the ring soon, but WWE did not medically clear him.
It is currently not known whether Joe will be taking to the ring again or whether he will join another promotion.
