WWE continues its ongoing roster cuts, with Santos Escobar and Apollo Crews now believed to be among the latest names released.
Escobar’s situation follows a difficult stretch with injuries in 2026. He underwent surgery to repair a tricep injury and later revealed he would need a second procedure on his ulnar nerve. He described the follow-up surgery as the result of a “hiccup” during the initial operation.
Before his injury, Escobar had been featured as part of WWE’s involvement with Lucha Libre AAA. His last match took place in March during the Rey de Reyes tournament final, where he suffered a pec injury that added to his setbacks.
Escobar originally joined WWE in 2019 under the name El Hijo del Fantasma. He quickly made an impact in NXT, where he won the NXT Cruiserweight Championship and later led the Legado Del Fantasma faction. His run included appearances across multiple brands as he became a regular presence in WWE programming.
Apollo Crews is also reported to be released as part of the same round of cuts. Crews had been with WWE since 2014 and worked across WWE NXT, WWE RAW, and WWE SmackDown during his tenure.
Crews returned to action in November at an AAA event after being sidelined since early 2025 due to a torn pectoral injury. His most recent WWE appearance came on a taping of WWE Main Event prior to tonight’s SmackDown episode.
During his time with WWE, Crews captured both the United States Championship and the Intercontinental Championship, establishing himself as a consistent mid-card title contender across multiple eras.
The reported releases come as part of WWE’s broader post-WrestleMania roster adjustments, which have seen numerous talents exit the company in recent weeks.
List of 2026 WWE Release (so far:)
- 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
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