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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused problems for a number of companies all over the world. WWE has had its own fair share of setbacks since the company was forced to announce that SummerSlam, much like WrestleMania, will be taking place from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida next month.
The show will also not be allowed to have an audience of fans in attendance either, something that the company has been pushing for since the beginning of the pandemic.
These setbacks have meant that WWE was forced to make wholesale changes to their roster back in April. The names that were released almost three months ago will now be free to wrestle for any company outside of WWE, and here are the 18 stars.
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#18 & #17. Maria and Mike Kanellis
Mike and Maria Kanellis had reportedly requested their WWE release a few months before they were released from the company on April 15th. Their releases came just two months after Maria had given birth to their second child, a son called Carver Mars.
The couple has since gone on to create their own podcast but haven't yet hinted where their future lies. Mike and Maria have worked at Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling in the past and could easily make the move over to the two promotions in the coming weeks.
#16. EC3
EC3 was a star in Impact Wrestling before he moved over to WWE and the company completely wasted him and his talent. The former NXT star wasn't a surprise release back in April, but he looks to have put down some groundwork when it comes to finding a new home.
The Man formerly known as Ethan Carter III has already teased that he could be making his way to All Elite Wrestling on Twitter when his no-compete clause comes to an end this week.
#14 & #15. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson competed back at WWE WrestleMania since they were part of AJ Styles' match against The Undertaker. Merely days later, they were named on the release list, as WWE looked to clear out some names and free up some money.
Gallows and Anderson like many other stars on the release list have history in a number of companies and have teased making their return to New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The duo recently teased joining Impact Wrestling when Karl Anderson shared an image of his long time teammate wearing an Impact Wrestling shirt. Fightful reported at the end of June that the former Tag Team Champions had signed with Impact Wrestling.
#13. Rusev
Whilst his wife Lana is still part of on-going storylines on Monday Night RAW, Rusev was missing for a number of weeks before the talent cuts began. Reports suggested that The Bulgarian was dragging his feet when it came to signing a new contract and WWE then decided to cut their losses.
Rusev has since revealed that his wrestling name outside of WWE will be Miro. The former United States Champion recently made headlines after contracting COVID-19, something that his wife Lana's mother and father also fell victim to.
Impact Wrestling did tease that Rusev could be part of Slammiversary, when a Bulgarian flag was seen in their teaser video, but Rusev down played these hints.
#12. Lio Rush
Lio Rush could have already become a free agent given the fact that it's unknown if he had a WWE NXT contract or a main roster deal when he was released. That being said, The Man of the Hour has already teased that he might be done with the wrestling business all together.
Rush is a former Cruiserweight Champion in WWE and made his name on the main roster as Bobby Lashley's hype man. Despite this, he was still one of the shock names on the release list on April 15th. He has since taken to Instagram to reveal that he is planning to have his final wrestling match in just over a week's time.
#11. Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder had been part of WWE for more than a decade when he was one of the shock releases back in April. The former Intercontinental Champion has been active on social media over the past few weeks where he has been teasing where he could go following his WWE release.
From teasing a move to AEW to challenge Cody Rhodes, to a move over to Impact Wrestling and making an appearance at Slammiversary, it appears that Ryder is looking to keep wrestling fans on their toes this week.
#10. Heath Slater
Heath Slater was a WWE veteran when he was released from the company a few months ago. Despite the fact that he made a surprise appearance last week on RAW, Slater is still a free agent this week.
The former Tag Team Champion tied up loose ends in his RAW appearance last week and there has since been teases on his Twitter account that he could be heading over to Impact Wrestling this weekend at Slammiversay to team with his old friend Rhino.
#9. Eric Young
Eric Young's WWE career started off brightly as the leader of Sanity in NXT, but this all came to an end when the group was promoted to the main roster and split into different directions.
Young made rare appearances on RAW as an enhancement talent and wasn't one of the releases that came as a surprise. Given his main roster contract, he is one of the stars who will become a free agent at some point this week.
Young is one of the many former WWE stars who are expected to return to Impact Wrestling at Slammiversary, since TNA was where Young first rose to fame. He was seen in their trailer teaser which can be seen above.
#8. Sarah Logan
Sarah Logan was the only main roster female wrestler who was released from WWE as part of these budget cuts. But whilst there were rumors that the former Riott Squad member would be re-signed, this wasn't the case.
Logan announced last week on her Youtube channel that she was expecting her first child with husband Erik, who is one half of The Viking Raiders on WWE TV. This means that at least for now, Logan will be taking an extended break from the wrestling business that could last through 2021.
#7. Aiden English
Aiden English was providing commentary on 205 Live after his feud with Rusev came to an end quite a while ago. The former Tag Team Champion has taken the release as a positive and has been able to focus on his Wrestling With Whiskey brand over the past few months.
English was one of many former WWE stars who initially teased that he would be part of Impact Wrestling's Slammiversary this weekend, but it appears that English has started to downplay his role in this weekend's show.
#6 & #5. Primo and Epico Colon
Primo and Epico Colon have been known under a number of names in WWE, from Los Matadores, to The Shining Stars, and even The Colons. But, the duo haven't been seen on WWE TV in more than a year.
Many believed that the team had been released from WWE at the end of 2019, but this wasn't the case. The company had given the duo permission to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council Promotion in Puerto Rico, which is where they are expected to continue to work when they become free agents.
#4. Erick Rowan
Erick Rowan was a surprise name on the release list since he was only recently part of an interesting storyline involving his pet spider. Whilst many of the other released stars have dropped hints regarding their next move, Rowan has remained tight-lipped about any move that he may have planned.
Rowan has also been featured as part of the Swamp Match between Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman at Extreme Rules this weekend. So don't be surprised if the former Tag Team Champion makes his return to WWE this weekend.
#3. Curt Hawkins
Curt Hawkins had the longest defeated streak in WWE history, something that he pushed for himself since WWE was not going to give him a big pay off at the end. The streak finally ended at WrestleMania when he and Ryder won the Tag Team Championships.
This is the second time Hawkins has been released from the company and has been counting down the days to his freedom so that he can compete elsewhere, even though he hasn't revealed where that will be.
WrestlingInc reported earlier this month that Curt Hawkins was teasing a debut for Impact Wrestling at Slammiversary
#2. No Way Jose
No Way Jose revealed in a number of interviews himself that he knew his name would put up barriers for him in WWE. Jose's time on the main roster didn't exactly set the world alight, but it now that he's a free agent, he will be able to dance into any promotion of his choosing.
The former NXT star hasn't hinted where he may be heading at present, but for many stars who would usually be heading to the Independent Circuit would be delayed since the pandemic has stopped many promotions from running shows.
#1. Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle was released from the company on April 15th. Even though he was actually asked to manage Matt Riddle on the main roster, Angle turned down the offer.
The former General Manager of Monday Night RAW was working for WWE as a producer backstage before he was released from the company. He even turned down the role that would bring him back to WWE TV.
There have been reports that Angle is one of the stars that the company will re-sign in the coming weeks, but at present, he will become another free agent this week.
