WWE releases several names from its women’s division. Divine Dominion retains the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. Rosemary chats with WrestleZone and more!
Releases Hit WWE’s Main Roster & Developmental System
Last weekend, about two dozen stars from WWE’s main roster and developmental system were released from the company. Among them, several emanated from the WWE women’s division.
This includes former NXT Women’s and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Kairi Sane, who played an integral role in the ongoing feud between IYO SKY and Asuka. Without Sane, WWE is now moving forward with a singles match between SKY and Asuka at Backlash on May 9.
Fellow former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Nikki Cross was also affected by the latest wave of roster cuts. In recent years, Cross found herself working amongst The Wyatt Sicks, a tribute stable to the late Bray Wyatt. All of Cross’ stablemates — Bo Dallas, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy and Erick Rowan — leave the company alongside her.
Elsewhere, WWE let go of former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Zoey Stark. WWE fans last saw Stark in May 2025, when she competed in a triple threat Money in the Bank qualifier alongside Rhea Ripley and Kairi Sane. A mid-match springboard dropkick resulted in Stark tearing her ACL, MCL, and meniscus. At the time of her release in April 2026, however, reports indicated that Stark had been medically cleared for an in-ring return. As for Fyre, her WWE exit puts an end to a seven-year run with the company, which began with a lengthy reign as NXT UK Women’s Champion. Most recently, Fyre aligned herself with former Women’s United States champion Chelsea Green, specifically as a member of the Secret Hervice.
Zelina Vega, another former Women’s US Champion, is also amongst this batch of departures. In Vega’s case, her exit comes after a return to WWE in 2021, which immediately resulted in her crowning as the first-ever Women’s Queen of the Ring.
Within the batch of developmental releases was Olympic gold medalist Tyra Mae Steele, who burst onto the WWE scene with a win on season one of LFG. Following that, Steele teamed with fellow Olympian Tavion Heights to take on Chelsea Green and Ethan Page at NXT Heatwave 2025. She wrestled her final matches under the WWE EVOLVE brand.
Carlee Bright, a former cheerleader at the University of Minnesota, announced her farewell from WWE on Instagram. Since signing with WWE in 2022, she notably teamed with Kendal Grey, who then became a regular on the EVOLVE brand. On the heels of her departure, Bright will still appear in season three of WWE LFG.
Rounding out this wave is Sirena Linton, a WWE LFG contestant. Linton, a former gymnast from the University of Arizona, competed on seasons one and two of LFG under the teachings of Mickie James and Booker T. Like Bright, fans will still see Linton in season three of LFG, which premiered on April 26.
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Divine Dominion Retains AEW Tag Titles
In their third test as AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions, Lena Kross and Megan Bayne defended their titles against a pair of former Women’s World Champions, Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida, on AEW Dynamite.
In the match’s final moments, Bayne neutralized Shida with a suplex, leaving Statlander bridely outnumbered in the ring. Together, Bayne and Kross weakened Statlander with a Shining Wizard-German suplex combo. When Shida reentered the action, she then met a double powerbomb from the champions, which secured them the winning pinfall. With it, Kross and Bayne, known as the Divine Dominion, also retained their titles once more.
Kross and Bayne captured the titles at AEW Revolution, with successful defenses against the Babes of Wrath as well as Hyan and Maya World coming in the weeks after. Their next challengers have yet to emerge.
Elsewhere on this week’s Dynamite, Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor, known as The Brawling Birds, took on indie standouts Emily Jaye and Jordan Blade. The Brawling Birds eventually double-teamed Blade with a Hayter Line-spinebuster combo for the victory.
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INTERVIEWS
Former TNA Knockouts Champion Rosemary spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about Abyss’ recent return to TNA Wrestling, his reunion with Father James Mitchell, the return of the Lockdown event, the journey through the Undead Realm, resurrecting Allie, her aspiration to reclaim the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, and more.
Former WWE star Dakota Kai sat down with Chris Van Vliet to discuss being released from WWE, her first match in over a year against Kris Statlander at Pro Wrestling EVE in London, being a part of the Damage CTRL faction with IYO SKY and Bayley, Wrestling Trish Stratus, Lita and Becky Lynch at WrestleMania, training with Stehanie McMahon for her match with Ronda Rousey, what’s next for her in wrestling, dream opponents, and more.
NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley appeared on TMZ’s Inside The Ring to discuss AJ Lee’s viral praise about her, wanting to work with Paige, her WWE call-up goals, her brutal casket match against Blake Monroe, extreme in-ring style, and what’s next for her in NXT, and more.
WWE Raw star Roxanne Perez chatted with Denise Salcedo about the WWE Hall of Fame 2026 red carpet, her time away in WWE, making her return, her friendship with Liv Morgan, having AJ Lee back in the WWE, and more.
New WWE signee Lizzy Rain joined Busted Open After Dark to talk about her successful debut on NXT, her journey getting to WWE, what went through her mind in her first NXT match, her love for rock and roll, her exciting finishing move called Thunderstruck, and more.
WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella spoke on The Nikki & Brie Show about their returns to WWE, Brie stepping back into the ring as Tag Team Champion with Paige, what Nikki’s life looks like in her recovery era, soaking up meaningful moments at home with Matteo, burnout, boundaries, updates on Bonita Bonita, what’s ahead for the Bella Twins, and more.
