'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
When one of Chikara Pro Wrestling's top stars Kimber Lee signed with WWE in 2016, big things were expected - and things were looking great after a strong showing in the Mae Young Classic.
However, Pro Wrestling Sheet is today reporting that Lee, known as Abbey Laith during her time with WWE, has been released.
In case you didn’t know…
Abbey Laith was born as Kimberly Frankele, competing in several indie promotions since 2011. In late 2016, Laith wrestled as Kimber Lee in NXT, but was presented as an enhancement talent and lost to Ember Moon - but obviously impressed as she signed the very same month.
While Laith never got a proper NXT run, she did compete in several televised matches - notably against Ruby Riott and, in a number one contender's battle royal for the NXT Women's Championship, where she was also eliminated by Riott.
Laith did, however, have an incredible run in the Mae Young Classic tournament, defeating Jazzy Gabert in round one and Rachel Evers in round two before being defeated by one of the favorites to win the tournament, Mercedes Martinez.
The heart of the matter
Well, it would seem today that things just haven't worked out for Lee as Pro Wrestling Sheet has confirmed today that Abbey Laith has been released from her NXT contract.
There are no details on why Laith was released as of yet, but Pro Wrestling Sheet says sources believe she was given the news today.
Neither WWE nor Laith have confirmed the news yet, but Laith posted a quote from Rocky that would appear pretty apt in context.
What's next?
We'll keep you updated with more on this as we get it.
Author's take
It's always sad when someone is released, but you'd probably have to think that Laith will go back to performing on the indies at Kimber Lee. WWE isn't for everyone, and things sometimes just don't work out, but who knows? We may see Laith back in WWE in the future. One thing's for sure, she definitely has a bright future
