WWE releases ten performers from developmental program
Cageside Seats • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 1:42 PM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026

WWE terminated the contracts of ten performers from its developmental program on September 4, 2026. The list of released individuals includes Wendy Choo, Adrianna Rizzo, Zena Sterling, Anya Rune, Braxton Cole, Jasper Troy, PJ Vasa, Gary Wilson, Ellen Akesson, and Marcus Brown. Wendy Choo and Adrianna Rizzo were cited as the most prominent figures among the departures due to their previous involvement in NXT storylines. Several performers, including Jasper Troy and PJ Vasa, acknowledged the news through social media posts shortly after the reports emerged. Fightful Select confirmed the full list of ten releases late Friday night. Industry reports indicate that the company does not currently expect any further releases from the main roster.
- •WWE released ten developmental wrestlers on September 4, 2026.
- •Wendy Choo and Adrianna Rizzo are the most notable figures among those cut.
- •Jasper Troy and PJ Vasa confirmed their respective departures via social media.
- •No additional releases from the main roster are expected at this time.
- 1:42 PMCageside Seats — Wendy Choo, Adriana Rizzo among WWE NXT cuts
"Yesterday afternoon (Fri., Sept. 4), LFG season one winner and former Men’s Speed champion Jasper Troy cryptically announced he’d been released from his WWE contract. A report soon followed that it meant what fans thought it meant: that the former college football player was just one of several cuts WWE made from the Developmental program. Troy has since changed his social media handle to “Kairo D. Reign”. Since his real name is Antione Frazier, we’re guessing that means the former college football player isn’t done in the squared circle. LFG season two runner-up PJ Vasa confirmed her release several hours later, less mysteriously but using the same hashtag: God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good! Fa’afetai I le atua Thank you @WWE for opening the door for me into pro wrestling… what a journey! Looking forward to more motion, more blessings, more life 🙏🏽 #30Days God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good! Fa’afetai I le atua Thank you @WWE for opening the door for me into pro wrestling… what a journey! Looking forward to more motion, more blessings, more life 🙏🏽 #30Days — Penina Tuilaepa (@PJVasa_WWE) September 4, 2026 Vasa worked an Evolve Women’s title program with Kendal Grey earlier this year, and had a match with Ivy Nile on Main Event last month. As you can see above, she’s back to her shoot name Penina Tuilaepa. Later Friday night, Fightful Select compiled a list of ten names whose contracts were terminated. The biggest names are Wendy Choo and Adrianna Rizzo, both of whom were a prominent part of NXT storylines during their time in WWE. Choo was Tian Sha’s leader Mei Ying, a narcoleptic babyface and a dark, possibly demonic version of the same character, and most recently a fairly straight-forward babyface who won the Evolve Women’s champ. Rizzo was a part of Tony D’Angelo’s Family when the former NXT champ was still playing his mob boss-inspired character. She’s been out with a knee injury since that storyline ended last month. Wendy Choo Adriana Rizzo Zena Sterling Anya Rune Braxton Cole Jasper Troy PJ Vasa Gary Wilson Ellen Akesson Marcus Brown In our Feed, our regular Evolve recapper/reactor and one of my favorite Cagesiders* Starvenger, provided detail on Sean Ross Sapp’s full list: More details, but hopefully not more names, will come in the days ahead. For now, Fightful’s report notes the outlet hasn’t heard if there were more cuts made or planned, but did say — as PWInsider had earlier — that there was no main roster releases expected. * If they weren’t already, they are after this.
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