WWE released a number of wrestlers on Nov. 4, and it's now being reported that at least some of those releases were the result of individuals forgoing the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to the New York Post, former Raw Women's Champion Nia Jax's release was at least partially tied to her failure to get the vaccine. Fightful then confirmed with WWE sources "that at least five of the released talent were 'openly unvaccinated.'" It's unclear if this was the sole factor for which those individuals were released, but Wrestling Observer Live's Andrew Zarian corroborated Fightful's report.
The full list of talent released by WWE includes Nia Jax, Keith Lee, Harry Smith, Mia Yim, Eva Marie, Scarlett Bordeaux, Franky Monet, Ember Moon, Oney Lorcan, B-Fab (of Hit Row fame), Jessi Kamea, Zayda Ramier, Trey Baxter, Katrina Cortez, Jeet Rama, Gran Metalik (who reportedly requested his release), Lince Dorado and Karrion Kross.
Other recent high-profile releases saw such names as Bray Wyatt, Aleister Black, Desmond Troy, Bobby Fish, Bronson Reed, Jake Atlas, Ari Sterling, Kona Reeves, Leon Ruff, Stephon Smith, Tyler Rust, Zechariah Smith, Asher Hale, Giant Zanjeer and Mercedes Martinez exit WWE.