It's a tough day for lots of WWE talent.
Vince McMahon reportedly held a call with company personnel on Wednesday, outlining details about plans to furlough some employees. Some superstars were part of the cuts.
MORE: McMahon is going through a hell of a couple of weeks
WWE unveiled a list of superstars released Wednesday. Kurt Angle, Rusev, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson were the biggest names let go.
The news comes on the heels of one of the worst nights of viewership in "Raw" history, not to mention McMahon reportedly cashing out around $80 million in stock last week.
WWE releases 2020
Kurt Angle
Angle started his career in WWE, becoming a heavyweight champion and later wrestling for its ECW brand revival. After leaving WWE, he spent time in TNA Wrestling between 2006 and 2016, eventually returning to WWE as "Raw" general manager in 2017.
Rusev
The Bulgarian Brute, of "Rusev Day" fame, announced his own release on Twitter, before WWE made the split official.
Thank you All, Rusev out!
— Miro (@RusevBUL) April 15, 2020
Drake Maverick
Originally brought to WWE as the commissioner for "205 Live," Maverick was eventually moved to "Raw" as a manager for the Authors of Pain. Prior to working in WWE, he spent time in TNA as "Rockstar Spud."
My immediate thoughts.@WWE @WWENXT #WWE #NXT @TripleH @ShawnMichaels #Cruiserweight pic.twitter.com/Afw58V7eo1
— Drake Maverick (@WWEMaverick) April 15, 2020
Karl Anderson
Anderson made the jump to WWE along with Gallows, his tag team partner, in 2016. Prior to working in WWE, Anderson was a member of New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he was a stalwart in the Bullet Club stable.
Luke Gallows
Gallows, who wrestled in WWE in years prior as Luke Gallows and Festus, previously spent time in New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA. Gallows and Anderson are two-time WWE "Raw" tag team champions.
Eric Young
Young entered WWE through the NXT brand, where he was the leader of "SAnitY" stable. After being called up to "SmackDown" and losing fourth member Nikki Cross, SAnitY was disbanded. In NXT, he was a one-time tag team champion as part of SAnitY.
EC3
EC3, who became known as Derrick Bateman in the developmental territory FCW, left for TNA, where he rebranded himself as the kayfabe nephew of TNA owner Dixie Carter, Ethan Carter III. After his release from TNA, he landed in NXT in 2018. He was called up to "Raw" in 2019 and is a former TNA world heavyweight champion.
Curt Hawkins
Hawkins has had a winding WWE career, known more for being an enhancement talent than a serious singles competitor. Alongside Zack Ryder, Hawkins is a two-time WWE "Raw" tag team champion.
Lio Rush
Rush came up through the NXT development brand before spending time on the main roster as Bobby Lashley's hype man. He returned to NXT and "205 Live" later, capturing the WWE cruiserweight championship in 2019.
#LioRush 🦋 pic.twitter.com/Jo0BVNWhfo
— Lio (@itsLioRush) April 15, 2020
Heath Slater
As a member of the Nexus, Slater made his WWE debut in 2010. He was a main piece of WWE's "Raw 1000" celebration, losing out to legendary talent every week until the 1,000th episode of WWE's flagship show.
Aiden English
As half a member of the Vaudevillains, English later became a singles wrestler and part-manager for Rusev. He would later become a commentator.
Sarah Logan
Logan worked her way through NXT as a singles competitor, eventually being called up to the main roster along with Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan as part of the Riott Squad in 2017.
Mike Chioda
The longtime referee has been with the company since the 1980s and was one of the more popular in-ring officials in WWE.
Primo and Epico Cólon
Primo broke into WWE as the disappointed brother of Carlito Caribbean Cool. They would later team up.
Epico would make his WWE debut in 2011, teaming with Primo. The Cólons would wrestle as Los Matadores and The Shining Stars, with their last match in WWE in 2019. While still signed, they were inactive in the promotion.
Erick Rowan
Rowan was an original member of Bray Wyatt's Wyatt Family stable, alongside Wyatt and now-departed Luke Harper (Brodie Lee in AEW). After separating from the Wyatt family, Rowan and Harper teamed up as The Bludgeon Brothers on "SmackDown." Rowan was most recently featured in an ill-fated angle which featured a cage and a fake spider.
Mike and Maria Kanellis
After originally wrestling in WWE between 2004 and 2010, Maria was with mainly Ring of Honor and TNA before returning to WWE with her debuting husband, Mike Kanellis/Bennett, in 2017.
Zack Ryder
Ryder, who got himself over through his own YouTube page, came to popularity in the early 2010s. Originally a member of the Edgeheads along with Curt Hawkins, Ryder is a former Intercontinental, United States and WWE tag team champion.
No Way José
José came up through the NXT roster, eventually being called up to WWE. He was in various mid-card feuds along the way.
Love you all 💜💜 #ThankYou @WWE @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/1elDFcDygO
— No Way Jose (@WWENoWayJose) April 15, 2020
Kassius Oho
The Knockout Artist formerly known as Chris Hero reverted back to his Hero persona on Twitter, one of the more recent releases of
#ChrisHeroIsBack pic.twitter.com/ZczaQ0yD0m
— Chris Hero (Is Back) (@ChrisHero) April 21, 2020
Tino Sabbatelli
Sabbatelli spent most of his time in WWE alongside Riddick Moss. A few injuries derailed his once-promising career, as the former NFL safety had the look and charisma to go far.
Curtis Axel
The Genesis of McGillicutty is no more. The son of Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig, Joe Hennig was a one-time Intercontinental Champion and spent more of his time in recent years alongside fellow second-generation wrestler Bo Dallas (Taylor Rotunda).
