List of Current 2026 WWE Releases – Carlee Bright was among the talent released during WWE’s latest wave of roster cuts on April 24. While her name was not initially reported, the former NXT star confirmed the news herself through a message shared on social media.

Bright revealed that, despite her release, she will still appear on season three of WWE LFG. However, her time with WWE has officially come to an end after signing with the company in 2022.

“This wasn’t how I imagined this chapter ending, but if there’s one thing this journey taught me, it’s how to fight through uncertainty and the moments that test who you really are,” she wrote. “I don’t know if there’ll ever be enough words to express the gratitude and love I have for this chapter. From all the hours filming, hair spray & makeup, long drives, and intense training days, I really did feel like my very own Hannah Montana — living the best of both worlds. I cherish the laughs, the memories, and the people who made this experience better than I could have ever imagined. You’ve changed my life, and that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

She closed her message with a clear statement about her future.

“If there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s this: mom & dad didn’t raise a quitter,” she concluded. “This chapter may be closing, but my story is far from finished.”

According to Bryan Alvarez, more releases may still come to light. He noted that there was an expectation internally that additional names from WWE NXT could be affected, suggesting not all departures have been publicly reported yet.

Bright, whose real name is Kennedy Cummins, spent time developing within WWE’s system. She made a brief appearance on NXT television alongside Kendal Grey before transitioning to Evolve, where she competed regularly leading up to her release.

Her departure is part of a broader round of roster changes impacting WWE RAW, WWE SmackDown, and NXT. With several talents exiting and others expected to join, WWE continues to reshape its roster following WrestleMania 42.

List of Current 2026 WWE Releases

• Nikki Cross
• Joe Gacy
• Alba Fyre
• Zoey Stark
• Bo Dallas / Uncle Howdy
• Andre Chase
• Dexter Lumis
• Erick Rowan
• Aleister Black
• Zelina Vega
• Motor City Machine Guns
• Santos Escobar
• Apollo Crews
• Kairi Sane
• Luca Crusifino
• Tyson Dupont
• Tyriek Igwe
• Sirena Linton
• Trill London
• Malik Blade
• Tyra Mae Steele
• Chris Island
• Carlee Bright

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A significant round of WWE roster cuts took place on April 24, leading to strong reactions within the company. The situation created uncertainty throughout the week, as talent across WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown began to sense that changes were coming.

By late Friday afternoon, many wrestlers were already preparing for possible news. Around 5 PM Eastern Time, notifications started going out internally. Some talent were informed they had been released, while others learned their contracts would not be renewed. An internal email was also sent to select departments confirming the departures.

Several wrestlers remain under contract during the standard termination period. Main roster talent usually have a 90-day clause, while those from WWE NXT typically have a 30-day term. In cases where contracts expire naturally, there is no added non-compete period beyond the end date.

Reports from within WWE indicate that TKO Group Holdings had some influence on the direction of these changes. Final decisions were handled by key figures including Triple H, Nick Khan, and the talent relations team.

A number of the releases are believed to be part of roster reshuffling. WWE is making room for new talent, especially with ongoing discussions about WWE SmackDown possibly returning to a two-hour format in the near future.

One notable case involves Santos Escobar. He re-signed last year but has not appeared on the main roster recently. He is currently dealing with an injury and is expected to be out for several months. Similar situations have happened before, including releases involving Karl Anderson, BJ Ray, and Ridge Holland while awaiting medical clearance.

On the other hand, Zoey Stark has recently been cleared to return to in-ring action.

There was also strong internal reaction to the departure of Kairi Sane. Many within WWE were surprised due to her involvement in a storyline alongside Asuka and IYO SKY. Reports suggest frustration behind the scenes, as her exit came before the storyline reached a clear ending.

Sane is expected to receive interest from multiple promotions. Meanwhile, several NXT talents were also released as part of the broader changes, with more Performance Center signings expected soon.

WWE Roster Cuts Spark Internal Reaction And Major Changes

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