List of former WWE stars who are now free agents following their release post-WrestleMania 42
(Courtesy : Getty)
These names are now free to sing with any promotion.
WWE continued its recent trend of making multiple roster cuts following WrestleMania in 2026. In the weeks after WrestleMania 42 concluded in Las Vegas, the company released several notable names as part of its annual post-WrestleMania talent cuts.
Multiple top names, including Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Alba Fyre, Apollo Crews, Santos Escobar, Zoey Stark, and Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin).
Even massive fan-favorite WWE names like Kairi Sane and the entire Wyatt Sicks faction (Uncle Howdy, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis & Erik Rowan) were all part of the roster cuts.
These stars had to serve the 90-day non-compete clauses, and a new report has revealed the list of stars who are now free agents and are free to sign with any promotion.
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods are not expected to be free agents until next month
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Fightful, the following stars are set to be free agents at midnight on July 23 over the next week:
- Taylor Rotunda (Uncle Howdy/Bo Dallas)
- Joseph Ruby (Joe Gacy)
- Joseph Rudd (Erick Rowan)
- Samuel Shaw (Dexter Lumis)
- Tom Bugden (Aleister Black)
- Thea Trinidad (Zelina Vega)
- Kairi Housako (Kairi Sane)
- Jorge Alcantar (Santos Escobar)
- Theresa Serrano (Zoey Stark)
- Joshua Harter (Chris Sabin)
- Patrick Martin (Alex Shelley)
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley of the Motor City Machine Guns recently shared a video on social media, teasing what’s next for them. Meanwhile, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of The New Day are not expected to enter free agency until August, as they were released in early May.
While there are reports that The New Day will likely sign with AEW, there are no updates on others; this will likely change in the coming weeks as they start their post-WWE career.
What is a non-compete clause in WWE contracts?
WWE’s non-compete clause is a contractual period after a wrestler’s release during which they cannot appear for or sign with another wrestling promotion. The length of the clause varies depending on the talent’s contract.
Which former WWE stars are now free agents?
Several former talents have become free agents following their departures, including Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy), Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, Santos Escobar, Zoey Stark, Chris Sabin, and Alex Shelley.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.