6 former champions who were released by WWE in 2021

WWE has released a host of superstars in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic related budget cuts.

The trend has been consistent throughout the year, with November seeing a mass release of talent. Eighteen superstars were let go from the company on November 4 with some renowned names like Nia Jax, Keith Lee, Karrion Kross and Eva Marie.

Another round of departures happened after eight more superstars were let go on November 18. Prominent names like Drake Maverick, the entire Hit Row faction (B-fab released on November 4) and most famously WWE veteran John Morrison.

The talents released by WWE this year include many former champions of the promotion. Here's a look at six former champions who were released in 2021:

#6 The IIconics - Former WWE Women's Tag Team Champions

The IIconics, consisting of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, were certainly one of the more famous tag teams on the WWE roster over the last few years.

Having made the step up from NXT to the main roster in 2018, they captured the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 35, defeating The Boss 'n' Hug Connection (Sasha Banks and Bayley), Nia Jax & Tamina and Beth Phoenix & Natalya in a Fatal Four-Way contest.

The win made them the first Australian female duo to win a major championship in WWE. The two women were released from the company in April 2021. Following which they signed with Impact Wrestling under the new name 'The IInspiration'.

#5 Drake Maverick - Former WWE 24/7 Champion

Drake Maverick had a solid run which saw him win the 24/7 Championship on eight different occasions.

Maverick first started out as the Manager of 205 Live in 2017 and would also serve as the on-screen manager of AOP (Authors of Pain). In 2020 he moved to NXT and had his first release at the time due to budget cuts.

However, his release was put into a storyline and the former TNA veteran earned himself a contract offered by Triple H. In the process, Drake Maverick was rehired by WWE and then he went on to form a tag team with Killian Dain. Together, the duo had a good run in the NXT Tag Team Division but never held the NXT Tag Team Titles.

Dain was released from his WWE contract on June 25 and Maverick was brought to RAW as part of the WWE draft where he won the 24/7 title on two different occasions before being released for a second time in the latest round on November 18.

#4 Keith Lee - Former WWE NXT Champion

Keith Lee was one of the most dominant and intimidating superstars to step into a WWE ring.

The Limitless One signed with WWE in 2018 as part of the NXT Brand. He climbed up the ranks and became the NXT Champion by defeating an established name in Adam Cole at the Great American Bash event in July 2020.

Keith, with his fine display, made the step up to the main RAW roster in August 2020 and was a force to be reckoned with. His feuds against top names like Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley were second to none. WWE earlier this year even repackaged him as Keith 'Bearcat' Lee, before he was let go in the November 4 batch of releases.

#3 Andrade - Former United States Champion

Andrade was one of the brightest talents on the WWE roster, being a former NXT and United States Champion.

The Mexican wrestler had some memorable bouts with fellow superstars like AJ Styles, Braun Strowman, and Rey Mysterio. Andrade beat Mysterio to become the United States Champion in December 2019 at a house show in Madison Square Garden.

On March 21, 2021, WWE released the former United States Champion after the Fastlane pay-per-view. Andrade joined AEW in June 2021, debuting under his new ring name "Andrade El Idolo."

#2 Nia Jax - Former WWE RAW Women's Champion

Former WWE superstar Nia Jax has certainly been one of the most powerful women to step foot in the squared circle.

The Irrestible Force, since debuting on the main WWE roster in 2016 went from strength to strength. She captured the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 34 in 2018 by beating then champion Alexa Bliss.

After teaming up with Shayna Baszler in 2020, Nia Jax also achieved success in the tag team division by becoming a former two-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion. The duo registered wins over the established teams of Sasha Banks & Bayley and Charlotte Flair & Asuka.

Having soared to success in the business, it was surely a tough pill to swallow when the giant was released from the company amid the earlier batch of lay-offs in November.

#1 John Morrison - Former ECW World Champion

One of the most surprising releases in the current batch on November 18 was WWE veteran John Morrison.

Morrison debuted in WWE back in 2004 as Johnny Nitro feuding with Eugene at the time. He then became part of the famous faction MNM with Joey Mercury and Melina. Mercury and Nitro won the WWE Tag Team Titles by beating the team of the late Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. This would be their first out of the three reigns as WWE Tag Team Champions.

Morrison's biggest championship win would come against a former WWE legend in C.M. Punk, whom he beat at Vengeance: Night of Champions pay-per-view in 2007 to claim the ECW World Championship.

Apart from this esteemed title, Morrison has also been a former three-time Intercontinental Champion and a former three-time Tag Team Champion (World, WWE & SmackDown) with his partner and real-life friend, The Miz.

With the superstar boasting such accolades, it was certainly sad to see Morrison released by the company and we surely hope to see him excel in his future endeavors.