Per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, NXT stars Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens, and more have been released by WWE. While not much information was given in terms of Kai’s release, Sapp detailed that Bivens was asked by the company to re-sign in February. However, he made it clear that he didn’t want to do so. In the minutes that followed, additional names were revealed; in total, there were 10 WWE releases disclosed. See the full list of released WWE talent below.
- Dakota Kai
- Malcolm Bivens
- Paige Prinzivalli
- Harland
- Persia Pirotta
- Sanjana George
- Draco Anthony
- Mila Malani
- Raelyn Divine
- Dexter Lumis
Dakota Kai, Malcolm Bivens and More Released by WWE
What to Know About Recently Released Stars from WWE
Fightful has learned Dakota Kai has been released by WWE.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) April 29, 2022
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Dakota Kai began wrestling in her home country, working for Impact Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Alliance Australia, and other independent organizations before eventually making a name for herself worldwide. She competed in SHIMMER Women Athletes and SHINE Wrestling, in addition to World Wonder Ring Stardom, before eventually signing a deal with WWE in December of 2016. She competed primarily on the NXT brand, winning the first Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and capturing the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship twice alongside Raquel González, who’s currently known as Raquel Rodriguez on Friday Night SmackDown.
Formerly known as Stokely Hathaway in Major League Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and elsewhere, the man known as Malcolm Bivens actually began his professional wrestling career as an in-ring competitor. From ROH to CHIKARA and beyond, he wrestled close to 50 documented matches, even capturing the Outer Limits Championship in Alpha-1 Wrestling. However, he found most of his success in wrestling as a manager. Such names he worked with include, but aren’t limited to, TJP and Timothy Thatcher in EVOLVE Wrestling, Moose in ROH, and most recently, Diamond Mine in WWE.
Fightful has learned that Malcolm Bivens has been released by WWE. The company had asked him to re-sign in February, and he'd made it clear he didn't want to do so.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) April 29, 2022
Harland and Persia Pirotta, both of whom have been featured prominently on NXT 2.0, were among the most surprising names seen on the recent list of released names. Real name Parker Boudreaux, Harland made his NXT debut this past October, becoming a follower of Joe Gacy. Prior to this, Boudreaux gained considerable buzz, with names such as Paul Heyman touting his potential. Meanwhile, Pirotta debuted last year as the close friend of Indi Hartwell, who she would go on to team with on a routine basis. Their latest storyline saw them and their on-screen love interests – Dexter Lumis in the case of Hartwell and Duke Hudson in the case of Pirotta – clash before teaming up.
Speaking of Lumis, this was yet another released name that took the wrestling world by surprise. Formerly known as Samuel Shaw on the independent scene and in IMPACT Wrestling, Lumis signed with WWE in February of 2019. Following that year’s NXT Breakout Tournament, in which he competed, “The Tortured Artist” became a more prominent figure on the show. He debuted as a heel, though he eventually found momentum as a babyface, maintaining his unnerving demeanor. He was also involved in an on-screen romance with Hartwell, as mentioned earlier, even being wedded to her this past September on NXT television.
Fightful has learned that Dexter Lumis has been released by WWE.
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) April 29, 2022
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