Predicting Where Every Released WWE Wrestler Will Go Next
On May 2nd, 2025, WWE made their annual releases following WrestleMania due to budget cuts. Many superstars unpredictably lost their jobs, with Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, and Cora Jade being among the most shocking. There have been instances where they cut talented wrestlers simply because they did not know what to do with them, and that seems to be the case with most here. Now that the WWE has released over a dozen wrestlers, it’s time to look at where they will be heading next.
Cora Jade - TNA
The most out-of-nowhere name to get future endeavored from this bunch is Cora Jade, who has been treated like a star in NXT. At just 24 years old, many were expecting Jade to be a pivotal part of the WWE women’s division for years, but now that will not be the case. With that said, her time in NXT opened up a door for her to further explore, which is signing with TNA. Jade had multiple appearances in TNA because of their partnership with the WWE and even had a match for the Knockouts Championship. She likely built a good relationship with the company during her time there, and a full-time run in TNA could be the best option for Jade.
Gigi Dolin - AEW
Although she recently had appearances for TNA, Gigi Dolin could make her AEW return as Priscilla Kelly. Before joining WWE, Dolin was one of the most popular independent wrestlers in the world and made multiple appearances for AEW, with one of them even being at All Out. She was also previously married to AEW star Darby Allin, and although the two have split, they are still friends. Kelly will be a huge addition to AEW’s women’s roster if she decides to go there, and could potentially end up being the biggest star out of every one of these released wrestlers.
Javier Bernal - Independent Scene
Unfortunately for Javier Bernal, he may have the least amount of options among the names that were released. His in-ring work is not considered above average, he has not had time to showcase his mic skills, and he has only ever wrestled for the WWE. It would not be surprising to see Bernal step away from wrestling, but if he decides not to, then he could become a top name in the Indies. He won’t be finding himself in a mainstream promotion anytime soon, but there are still independent companies who would love to book a former WWE superstar.
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance - TNA
If they are planning to stay together as a team, the best place for Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to go is TNA. TNA has often been credited for showcasing their women’s wrestlers the most in the United States and is now looking for the next crop of talent. Their Knockouts Tag Team division has not been the strongest in recent years, mostly due to constant disbandments. However, Carter and Chance would be two huge additions to their women’s tag scene and could find themselves as Knockouts Tag Team Champions shortly.
Gallus - British Independent Scene
Unfortunately, a majority of the British independent scene ‘died’ years ago, and hasn’t been brought back to life even after NXT UK was disbanded in 2022. However, Progress and RevPro remain the two biggest wrestling promotions in England and still have great talent such as Subculture, Michael Oku, and 1 Called Manders. Wolfgang, Joe Coffey, and Mark Coffey have been in WWE since 2018, but now the British indies could be their next career path. Considering that Gallus was formed and became popular in the UK, it would make perfect sense for them to stay a trio and return to where they flourished most.
Riley Osborne - Independent Scene
Riley Osborne showed promise and potential at just 27 years of age, though WWE likely felt as if he wasn’t developing at the rate they wanted him to, especially considering that he had been on the roster for over half a decade. Before his time in NXT, Osborne was on the British Independent Circuit, but his time in the WWE has likely opened up more opportunities for him. He is a big enough name to enter the US Indie scene, potentially working for companies such as MLW and GCW. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him make a one-off appearance for TNA or AEW, but likely, he won’t be signed.
Jakara Jackson - TNA
Oro Mensah - TNA
Meta-Four looked to be a promising faction for WWE’s main roster, but plans changed as both Oro Mensah and Jakara Jackson have now been released. Jackson would be a great fit in TNA, and it could be the plan, considering that her most recent match was at TNA Rebellion. The same can be said for Mensah, as although he is very talented, he could get lost in the shuffle at AEW and has a much better chance of being in the spotlight at TNA. The two former NXT wrestlers will likely go their separate ways following their releases, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them land in the same promotion.
Dani Palmer - Retirement
Following her WWE release, former NXT talent Dani Palmer has announced that she is ending her athletic career. Palmer was most recently seen on WWE Evolve but is now retiring from professional wrestling. Unfortunately, she did not achieve any success in wrestling, having only under 50 total matches and simply being an enhancement talent. It’s unknown whether Palmer will eventually return to wrestling, but for now, she is hanging up the boots.
Dakota Kai - AEW or Stardom
Eddy Thorpe - Independent Scene or NJPW
With the real-life couple of Dakota Kai and Eddy Thorpe getting released, the two are likely going to make their next decision together. Thorpe was previously known as Karl Fredericks in NJPW before he came to WWE, and many are asking for him to return there following this release. However, that would likely result in Kai heading to Japan as well, with her best option being Stardom, where she could showcase her excellent in-ring work. The more probable choice, though, would be that both of them decide to stay in the US, with Kai being a perfect fit on the AEW roster and Thorpe having a chance to take over the independent scene.
Shayna Baszler - AEW
Shayna Baszler was also a shocking name to get released, especially considering the numerous times they attempted to turn her into a machine. Unfortunately, the WWE never invested in her on the main roster like they did in NXT when she was a dominant women’s champion. Now, Baszler will likely be heading over to AEW so she can join her close friend Marina Shafir as the newest member of the Death Riders. She is certainly past the age to make a return to MMA, and it should be expected for her to remain in the pro wrestling scene.
Braun Strowman - MLW
When former WWE Champion Braun Strowman was first released in 2021, he made the unfortunate mistake of co-founding Control Your Narrative alongside EC3. Fans are hoping that he doesn’t take an untraditional route the second time around, and it’s also best for him to avoid TNA, considering that it kickstarted CYN. Instead, Strowman should remain an independent worker, while making MLW his priority, given all the familiar faces there. Former WWE wrestlers such as Baron Corbin, Donovan Dijak, and Matt Riddle have all made MLW their home, and Strowman would fit right in as he looks to reinvent himself.
