WWE has released over 20 superstars from their contracts as part of budget cuts brought on by the coronavirus.
Former world champion Kurt Angle and former tag team champions Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are among the names released along with Mike Chioda, the longest-serving referee in WWE history having served for more than 20 years.
WWE announced Wednesday it was making various efforts to cut costs with the financial impact of the Covid-19 hitting hard, including: reducing the salaries of executives and board members; decreasing operating expenses; cutting talent expenses, third party staffing and consulting; and deferring spending on the construction of the company's new headquarters for at least six months.
The moves came even with the company allowed to continue to run live TV shows in Florida after WWE was an essential business by state officials.
Full list of WWE superstars released
Kurt Angle
Rusev (Miroslav Barnyashev)
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)
Epico (Orlando Colon Nieves)
