Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, Emma, and Rick Boogs have already acknowledged their exits from the business in scenes reminiscent of multiple instances during the pandemic when a number of wrestlers were let go.
The cuts come less than a week after WWE began to lay off Stamford-based employees, as reports claimed there could be upwards of 100 positions eliminated by the merger. As a result, several high-profile employees were let go Friday.
Ali was first to announce his exit with a blunt statement on Thursday, with fans initially assuming he had been granted his release.
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He simply wrote: ‘I am no longer working with WWE. I look forward to the future. Thank you, -Adeel’
Shelton Benjamin later confirmed his own exit, and voiced his gratitude for the roster, fans and staff at WWE.
He wrote: ‘I have been released from my wwe contract. I thank @wwe staff , talent, and of course the fans for Everything.
‘Something ends, something new Begins. Looking forward to my next Chapter (sic)’
Meanwhile, SmackDown star Emma – AKA Tenille Dashwood – confirmed her own release 45 minutes after the Australian star voiced her excitement over WWE bringing Elimination Chamber to Perth in February 2024.
‘A dream @wwe,’ she initially wrote sharing a poster for the event, but less than an hour later she provided a heartbreaking update.
The cuts come shortly after WWE announced a new five-year TV rights deal with NBCU to bring SmackDown to the USA Network in the states, plus four prime time specials each year.
