A former WWE Champion is among the superstars to be let go from the company in a batch of releases.
Jinder Mahal, who became the first man of Indian descent to hold the title when he picked up an unlikely win over Randy Orton at Backlash in 2017, is set to leave the professional wrestling giant alongside teammates Veer Mahan and Sanga, as well as Xia Li, Xyon Quinn, Von Wagner and Cameron Grimes.
Any talent released from Raw or SmackDown – such as Jinder – will have a 90-day noncompete clause barring them from wrestling for another company.
‘I Quit. Maharaja Out 💰,’ Jinder tweeted, while he changed his X bio to: ‘🔥 Free Agent – 90 Days.’
Despite suggesting he walked out, multiple reports suggest the former 3MB member – who was part of the memorable group with Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater – was indeed released, although the details are still unclear
In a message translated from Hindi, his Indus Sher teammate Veer wrote: ‘When it comes to the honor and respect of Indians, sacrifice comes first. Good Bye WWE 🙏🏾 Jai Jai Shri Ram 🙇🏽♂️🚩’
In a similarly cryptic post, Sanga added: ‘I will die but I will not bow down. Neither me nor my India. Jai Hind 🙏 #wwe’
In a lengthy statement on social media, Xia Li reflected on her seven years since joining WWE as the company’s first female Chinese superstar.
She wrote: ‘I feel incredibly proud! I am sincerely grateful to WWE and HHH for welcoming me into this big family. During this valuable time, I have not only grown tremendously but also learned countless invaluable experiences.
‘Thank you for your trust and the opportunities you have given me to break barriers and set an example.’
She also voiced her gratitude for the coaches at the Performance Center, as well as her co-workers and other staff for their ‘support and assistance’ as she adjusted to life ‘in a foreign land’.
Xia had kind words for the fans and described their ‘backing’ as her ‘strength’.
She continued: ‘This journey with WWE has been wonderful, and I sincerely thank everyone who has been a part of it. This is not the end but a new beginning! Let’s embrace more exciting moments together!’
Her fellow wrestlers have flooded social media with messages of support, as Iyo Sky admitted she was heartbroken.
The WWE Women’s Champion’s Damage CTRL teammate Kairi Sane added: ‘I don’t want to believe it. I’m really sad. I don’t know how many times your kindness has saved me… Love you so much, @XiaWWE.’
‘It’s okay, I’m still here for you,’ replied Xia, while Taya Valkyrie wrote: ‘You’re a ⭐️ @XiaWWE!! You’ve got this, the world has been put on notice 🥰 x’
More Trending
And Chelsea Green tweeted: ‘Xia is one of my favourite people. We bonded at the performance center immediately ♥️ I’m sad to see her go, but she’s one of the most driven people I know. It’s only up from here!!’
Cameron Grimes, whose last in-ring appearance came less than two weeks ago in a loss to Bron Breakker, shared the news on Tuesday in a tearful video.
‘I loved working here, I loved working at the WWE. I wanna thank absolutely everybody that’s helped me,’ he told his Instagram and X followers.
Hot Property Picks from Metro
I tried to sell my house when my husband died but I was fooled by this 'immoral' trick
What I Rent: At 24 years old, I live in a £2,450pcm London flat in Zone 1
The cheapest place to rent in London is this 'quaint' borough
This ‘useless’ tube line is home to London’s most expensive mortgages
A 'ludicrous' £10,000,000,000 project is set to give this London neighbourhood a makeover
‘All I wanna do is work, all I’ve ever wanted to do is work. This is all I got, man! But hey, the good news is, there ain’t gonna be no stopping Trevor Lee now, let me tell you that.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Distraught former WWE champion fired after 5 years in tearful video
MORE: Award-winning soap icon dies after cancer battle
MORE: Richard Madeley says interviewing ‘weird’ pop megastar ‘wasn’t worth’ the six-hour wait
