5 WWE Superstars who were abruptly released while inactive

There have been several talent cuts in WWE over the past two years, seeing more than 100 stars released by the company.

Many of these releases saw some of the company's biggest stars, including Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt, being inactive at the time.

WWE puts superstars off-screen when they cannot find a place for them on-screen. The following list looks at just five times when WWE Superstars were abruptly released while inactive.

---

#5. Former WWE RAW Women's Champion Nia Jax

One of the biggest surprises of the latest budget cut was former RAW Women's Champion Nia Jax.

Jax joined WWE back in 2014 and dominated NXT for several years before moving to the main roster. She then added to several high-profile storylines, including Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey.

Jax was attacked by her former teammate Shayna Baszler following their match and has been sidelined since September. WWE announced that she would require surgery on her elbow, but this was just a way to write the star off-screen.

Jax was not part of the WWE Draft last month and remained a free agent ahead of her return, but it was rumored that she was set to take a lengthy hiatus from the company.

Less than two months after her attack at the hands of The Queen of Spades, Nia Jax was one of the women included in WWE's talent cull on November 4th, ending her run in WWE after six years.

After the layoffs were made public, Nia Jax's best friend and fellow superstar Alexa Bliss responded to the release on her Twitter account with a broken heart emoji.

#4. Former WWE NXT Champion Bo Dallas

Former NXT Champion Bo Dallas was seen as a future WWE Champion.

However, when Dallas was promoted to the main roster in 2014, his career started to go downhill. The former champion unveiled his popular "Bo-Lieve" gimmick but was unable to break the glass ceiling.

Bo went on to be part of several storylines over the years before he was finally aligned with Curtis Axel as The B-Team. The duo went on to become Tag Team Champions. In November 2019, Dallas asked for some time away from the company.

After Axel was released in 2020, it became clear that Bo Dallas also wasn't returning to WWE anytime soon. The latter was released in April 2021 as part of WWE's budget cuts.

At the time of his release, Dallas had already started preparing for life outside of the company, working in Real Estate.

#3. Former WWE Superstar JTG

One of the most famous WWE releases of all time is Cryme Tyme member JTG.

Alongside Shad Gaspard, JTG found success in the group in 2008. The duo started feuding in 2010 when Gaspard attacked JTG. The feud ended when the former went to FCW in 2010, and the latter became a pro on NXT's first season.

For the next few years, JTG appeared on TV as a jobber. His final match for the company came in September 2013, when Santino Marella defeated him. After more than a year's absence, he was released in 2014.

The WWE Universe expected JTG to be released much earlier since he had been inactive for a long time. However, he managed to stick around in various talent culls until May 2014.

#2. Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie

Eva Marie was recently released from WWE after returning to the company in June. After being off-screen for more than a year, the former Total Divas star was initially released from WWE back in 2017.

Marie was suspended in the summer of 2016 for violating WWE's Wellness Policy and was then released from the company a year later. Marie has since worked on several movies and piqued Vince McMahon's interest.

Marie returned to WWE back in June in her new look. She was accompanied by NXT UK star Piper Niven aka Doudrop.

After a short-lived alliance with Doudrop and a brief feud with Alexa Bliss, Marie was attacked by Shayna Baszler and sidelined to work in a movie.

Once again, while on hiatus from the company, Eva Marie learned of her release last night as part of the most recent budget cuts on November 4th.

#1. Former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt

Bray Wyatt was seen as one of the biggest stars in WWE at the time of his release earlier this year.

Just months after appearing at WrestleMania 37, Wyatt was released on July 31st. The former WWE Champion's last appearance was in April when he returned to RAW in a Firefly Funhouse segment.

From mid-2020 to early-2021, the 'Eater of the Worlds' feuded with Randy Orton before Alexa Bliss cost him a match at WrestleMania. It was believed that he would step into a feud with the latter on WWE TV.

However, Wyatt was released from the company while Bliss moved on to unveil Lilly as her new friend. He remained on hiatus until WWE released him, reportedly due to budget cuts.

There have been several rumors surrounding Wyatt's release over the past few months. The former Champion is yet to comment on the release.