Dexter Lumis, Dakota Kai Headline Latest Cuts

Several WWE NXT stars have been released as WWE continues to make routine—albeit heartbreaking—cost-cuts. WWE’s latest round of cuts feature both stars from NXT’s black and gold era in addition to top prospects in NXT 2.0 such as Harland and Draco Anthony.

In an era where the promotion is looking to carry as little weight as possible, making budget cuts at every turn, mass releases have unfortunately become commonplace.

WWE NXT Releases on April 29, 2022

• Dakota Kai
• Malcolm Bivens
• Dexter Lumis
• Harland
• Persia Pirotta
• Draco Anthony
• Sanjana George
• Raelyn Divine
• Mila Malani
• Paige Prinzivalli

The ingredients were in place for a Friday massacre as WWE prepares for its Q1 2022 earnings call next week on May 4. Most of WWE’s mass releases have come on the precipice of earnings presentations with WWE looking to bolster its share price. WWE NXT 2.0 has seen a philosophical shift as WWE moves toward developing more NIL athletes with no professional wrestling backgrounds. Many of these athletes, however, will be on a shorter leash to develop, and with limited ring time it’s difficult to imagine how WWE can fairly assess many of these talents and their potential to become top WWE Superstars.

Though some fans will naturally discuss top NXT prospects’ chances in AEW, AEW has made cuts of its own of late, including Joey Janela and Lio Rush. Marko Stunt’s contract reportedly expires in May, and his future with the company remains up in the air.

AEW is also facing its own share of uncertainty amid the recent WarnerMedia Discovery merger. With new executives on their way, Warner Bros.-Discovery axing scripted programming and budget cuts imminent, AEW may not be in the best position to take on released WWE stars, especially with the countless former WWE stars whom the promotion is struggling to consistently promote as it is.

With hundreds of WWE Superstars and front-office staff released from their duties over the last couple years, WWE releases will continue to be a necessary evil in an era where WWE’s business has soared with record revenues and profits.