As was noted earlier, several WWE stars were released on Friday evening while SmackDown was on the air.
The names released include Xyon Quinn, Veer, Sanga, Jinder Mahal and Xia Li. There are no more names expected to be released in the near future. Obviously, releases are going to happen from time to time as more talent comes up to the main roster.
PWInsider reports that there was great sympathy for Mahal and Li specifically. In Mahal’s case, the company didn’t do much with him after he lost the WWE Championship a few years ago. The belief was that he got that big push because the company was ambitious about expansion plans in India. When things didn’t pan out, Mahal was moved down on the card. PWInsider also noted how Mahal did great in his segment with The Rock in January and then there was no follow up. There’s been a running joke among the talents about Mahal feuding with Tony Khan on AEW Dynamite this summer. Mahal has a 90-day non-compete and there’s no word yet on which promotions are interested in him.
As for Li, the feeling on her was that she was hurt by the constant start and stop pushes that happened during the Vince McMahon era. Like Mahal, she was well-liked backstage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GXbXFtORYg
