WWE has announced the release of a number of Superstars following the company announcing plans to cut costs amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
"WWE has come to terms on the release of Kurt Angle, Drake Maverick (James Curtin), Zack Ryder (Matthew Cardona), Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers), Karl Anderson (Chad Allegra), Luke Gallows (Drew Hankinson), Heath Slater (Heath Miller), Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz), Rowan (Joseph Ruud), Sarah Logan (Sarah Rowe), No Way Jose (Levis Valenzuela), Mike Chioda, Mike Kanellis (Mike Bennett), Maria Kanellis, EC3 (Michael Hutter), Aiden English (Matthew Rehwoldt), Lio Rush (Lionel Green), Primo (Edwin Colon) and Epico (Orlando Colon Nieves)," the company said in an official statement on WWE.com. "We wish them all the best in their future endeavors."
One of the final cuts to be announced is Rusev, who debuted on the WWE main roster at the 2014 Royal Rumble. Rusev was partnered with his wife, Lana, for the majority of his WWE tenure, and the duo gained popularity with the invention of "Rusev Day." The Bulgarian Brute is a former United States champion.
Rusev reacted to his release on Twitter, with the statement, "Thank you All, Rusev out!"
Gallows and Anderson, aka The O.C., recently worked a WrestleMania 36 program with AJ Styles against The Undertaker and reportedly signed a new five-year contract in 2019. Maverick's release comes after he was announced as one of the eight competitors to decide the new Interim NXT Cruiserweight Champion in a tournament due to commence on April 15.
As for EC3, he floundered a bit since being called up to the main roster from NXT, with a concussion from November 2019 hampering his push. Rush, a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion himself, had a short stint as Bobby Lashley's hype man, while Hawkins is a multiple-time Raw Tag Team Champion.
Angle, a WWE Hall of Famer, has been primarily active in a backstage capacity.