World Wrestling Entertainment executed a massive series of roster cuts across its developmental pipeline on September 4, 2026. What began as an isolated release quickly escalated into a sweeping purge across WWE NXT, WWE Evolve, WWE LFG, and the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
By the end of the day, 10 personnel were confirmed released from their contracts. Internal sources indicate that no main roster talent from RAW or SmackDown were impacted during this specific round of departures.
Established Names & Championship Holders
The releases included several recognizable names who had achieved main-card NXT presence and held developmental titles:
- Wendy Choo: One of the most established performers in the system, Choo spent years in developmental under multiple iterations, including Mei Ying and her signature pajama-wearing gimmick. Choo previously challenged for the NXT Women’s Championship before capturing the Evolve Women’s Championship in April 2026.
- Jasper Troy: The former WWE Speed Champion and winner of WWE LFG Season 1 was the first departure confirmed. Signed in 2022, Troy teased his impending exit on social media prior to the announcement, pinning a cryptic “30 Days” message to his Twitter profile.
- Adriana Rizzo (Anna Keefer): Known to fans as “Big Rizz” of The D’Angelo Family alongside Tony D’Angelo, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Luca Crusifino. Rizzo had recently returned to in-ring action following recovery from a severe knee injury.
Evolve & LFG Developmental Prospects
Several mid-tier prospects who were actively featured on WWE Evolve and WWE LFG programming were also cut:
- PJ Vasa (Penina Tuilaepa): The former rugby player confirmed her exit on social media, expressing gratitude for her time in the system following featured runs on LFG and Evolve.
- Braxton Cole (Camden Gagnon): The former football athlete was recently featured in a prominent Evolve Championship program against Harlem Lewis and Aaron Rourke.
- Zena Sterling: A rising prospect in the women’s division who was actively gaining reps across Performance Center events and Evolve broadcasts.
Recent Recruits & Official Personnel
The purge extended directly into newly signed recruits from the 2025–2026 tryout classes, as well as officiating staff:
- Anya Rune (Airica Demia): Signed following the February 2026 tryouts, Rune was released less than seven months into her developmental tenure.
- Marcus Brown: A fitness influencer and bodybuilder introduced as part of the May 2026 Performance Center class.
- Ellen Akesson: A Swedish powerlifter and world-level arm wrestler recruited following the 2025 SummerSlam tryouts.
- Gary Wilson (Edwin Franken): A regular referee across NXT and Performance Center live events, demonstrating that the operational cuts extended beyond ring competitors.
Complete List Of WWE Releases (September 4, 2026)
| Name | Real Name / Details | Notable WWE Career Highlights |
| Jasper Troy | Antoine Frazier | Winner of WWE LFG Season 1 and former 105-day WWE Speed Champion. |
| Wendy Choo | Karen Q / Mei Ying | Former WWE Evolve Women’s Champion; veteran who portrayed multiple gimmicks since signing in 2019. |
| Adriana Rizzo | Anna Keefer | Member of The D’Angelo Family; transitioned into in-ring action and Evolve broadcast roles. |
| PJ Vasa | Penina Tuilaepa | Former rugby player; featured on WWE LFG and WWE Evolve. |
| Zena Sterling | — | Signed in 2023; featured across WWE LFG and WWE Evolve. |
| Braxton Cole | Camden Gagnon | Former college football prospect; featured in Evolve title contention program. |
| Anya Rune | Airica Demia | WWE ID talent signed in March 2026; featured in the Evolve women’s division. |
| Marcus Brown | — | Bodybuilder signed in March 2026 as part of the Performance Center class. |
| Ellen Akesson | — | Powerlifter/arm wrestler signed in May 2026; released prior to official in-ring debut. |
| Gary Wilson | Edwin Franken | Developmental referee who worked NXT, Evolve, and live events. |
The widespread cuts mark one of the largest single-day developmental purges for the company in 2026 as WWE reorganizes its Performance Center roster ahead of the autumn television tapings.
For live results, backstage updates, and complete coverage across WWE RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, stay tuned to WrestlingAttitude.com.
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