Former WWE champions released in shock cuts just hours before SmackDown

WWE superstars Baron Corbin, Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox are all set to leave the company.

The three wrestlers will soon be released from the roster, with the shocking news breaking shortly before tonight’s episode of SmackDown.

Corbin alluded to his exit on social media, as he wrote on X: ‘That’s all she wrote folks. ✌🏼 It’s been real and I appreciate everyone who supported me.’

The 40-year-old former NFL star has been part of WWE for well over a decade since signing in 2012, initially appearing on NXT before moving up to the main roster four years later.

During his time, he won the United States Championship, as well as Money In The Bank, King of the Ring and the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

According to Fightful Select, Corbin has been informed his contract – which is believed to be expiring soon – will not be renewed, while Hartwell and Nox have been given their 90 days notice.

Hartwell, a former women’s tag team champion who first signed in 2019, tweeted: ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’

The 28-year-old Australian, who also held the NXT Women’s Title, had a fan favourite storyline romance with Dexter Lumis and is set to be featured on tonight’s pretaped episode of SmackDown.

Nox, whose run in WWE was hampered by injuries and a lack of opportunities from the creative team, is yet to comment on her release – which is the second time she’s been cut by WWE in three years.

A number of WWE superstars past and present have responded to the releases, with fans and wrestlers shocked by the cuts.

‘Thinking of my friends today 💙🙏,’ wrote SmackDown star Michin, who knows first hand how heartbreaking these situations can be.

‘It was a pleasure getting in the ring with you. The Fraxiom vs. Wolf Dogs trilogy go down in NXT history. Also, you’re a psycho for this,’ wrote NXT’s Nathan Frazer, who teamed with Axiom against Corbin and Bron Breakker.

And former NXT UK star Flash Morgan Webster said: ‘WWE didn’t even scratch the surface of showcasing what @TeganNoxWWE can do.

‘Excited to see what Nixon does next, Unlimited potential and not even out of her 20s yet.’

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