WWE releases Motor City Machine Guns, Aleister Black and others

sportsApr 24, 202622338

WWE released the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), Aleister Black, Kairi Sane and Santos Escobar in a recent round of roster cuts. Shelley and Sabin are a veteran tag team known for Impact Wrestling and multiple tag-title runs; Aleister Black is a former NXT and main-roster singles star, Kairi Sane is a former NXT Women's Champion, and Santos Escobar led the cruiserweight-focused Legado del Fantasma. Their departures remove established midcard and tag-team depth from WWE and make all four free to sign with other promotions or pursue independent bookings.

maffew uhhh

@maffewgregg.bsky.social

Aleister Black came back for a year of no PLE/PPV matches and people saying the rumour was that he would be the next Karrion Kross

12045d ago

winnerwood.bsky.social21

The haters said he couldn't do it. And they were 100% correct. Honestly, great call by the haters.

tweets mcgee is not changing his name to something else18

"check this shit out motherfucker" *i burn all my bridges, it's not really clear what i was trying to do*

MK Zero10

I mean, to be fair, he was. He stood around backstage with his wife telling people to be evil and then got released before anything cool came of it.

EnragefulEric/EvilEric4

Meanwhile Brody King has managed to surpass him in every way. We knew who was better.

itsjustjon3

Well, that was true just not in the way people thought

Jesse Maximum2

I mean, he kinda was in the end.

Zach2

Well in a certain way, he did become the next Karrion Kross…

M@2

to be fair he was

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful

@seanrosssapp.bsky.social

Motor City Machine Guns, Santos Escobar, Zelina, Aleister Black, Kairi Sane all believed to be among the WWE departures, Fightful Select has learned.

5445d ago

Chris A.14

every annual post-Mania big wave of releases has sucked but this is genuinely one of the most confusing ones I've ever seen. genuinely feels like someone is drunk at the wheel

Zach5

Can I sue TKO for emotional trauma? I’m serious, this is some actual bullshit.

livingpleasantly.bsky.social2

Ooo they working their way up the card in order. Curious how high it goes.

Steve Kasan2

I didn't expect Kairi that is shocking

Fightful Wrestling

@fightful.com

Aleister Black and Zelina Vega are believed to be among the WWE departures, Fightful Select has learned

3545d ago

Bocc Kob9

You could start a whole new company with just the people cut from Smackdown today and they'd put on better shows than TNA.

W.M.3

Hope Aleister likes it in MLW.

tominaug.bsky.social2

Damn, from almost being in a main event angle to cut.

⛥B̸̢̢̪̤̼̰͇̂̾̑͑̅̈́̓͊͝en 𝕭𝖆𝖗𝖙𝖟𝖆𝖇𝖊𝖑 Selwood⛧

@mrbartzabel.bsky.social

Aleister Black getting released from WWE when he only just re-signed with them in April last year is wild. #wrestlesky

2145d ago

Christopher Bird

@mightygodking.com

WWE releasing wrestlers immediately after press releases about how WrestleMania made more moneys than ever before will never not be the lowest of low shit, but it *is* grimly amusing that Aleister Black got fired from WWE before his AEW contract would have ended if he hadn't negotiated an opt-out.

1545d ago

Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast

@gettingovercast.bsky.social

Pure insanity for WWE to release Kairi Sane, if that is indeed true. Aleister Black and Zelina is shocking, too. #SmackDown

1045d ago

WrestleTalk

@wrestletalk.bsky.social

More WWE stars gone from the company including Aleister Black, Zelina Vega and Kairi Sane: wrestletalk.com/news/more-ww...

645d ago

JCバスケス (JC Vazquez) 🇵🇷 🌎

@jc1986.bsky.social

Kairi Sane Apollo Crews Aleister Black and Zelina Vega Santos Escobar Motor City Machine Guns ALL RELEASED!!!

645d ago

Everett Parrott

@everettparrott.bsky.social

Aleister Black is a great wrestler, but if half the rumors about his backstage behavior during his AEW run are true, he’s not worth the headache. I can’t get invested in a guy who’s stop-start booking is entirely self-inflicted.

845d ago

Alexis

@alexisbrainrot.bsky.social

Aleister Black humiliation ritual where he comes back to AEW but he has to exclusively be in "I shit my pants full of doodoo" matches.

845d ago

BrokenKnight70

@brokenknight70.bsky.social

What a waste of talent man. Aleister Black is awesome, he was one of the guys that got me interested in wrestling again a few years back, along with Penta. It’d be cool and pretty funny to see him pull an Andrade and yo-yo from WWE to AEW back to WWE then back again to AEW 😂

845d ago

JRock

@jrockdraws.bsky.social

Holy shit, Aleister Black was released?! L O L Honestly, a lot of these releases are funny/sad.

745d ago

Brynn Jade 🏳️‍🌈

@brynnjade92.bsky.social

The last four WWE departures I’ve heard about today Aleister Black Zelina Vega Santos Escobar MCMG (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) Remember … “departure” in this context means either they were released or their contract is not being renewed.

445d ago

TeamKaos

@teamkaoselite.bsky.social

Those first fed cuts were interesting but....hold up malakai black, mcmgs, zelina vega, Kari saine, apollo crews gone too? Nick khan is one ruthless mofo. #wwe

645d ago

Dan D'Amico

@dannomico.bsky.social

AEW bringing Aleister Black back and just jobbing him out would be hilarious.

545d ago

Packers draft CB Brandon Cisse, No. 52 overallsports Dillon Thieneman drafted by Chicago Bears, No. 25 overallsports Nickeil Alexander-Walker wins 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Playersports Steelers select Penn State QB Drew Allar at No. 76sports

WWE releases Motor City Machine Guns, Aleister Black and others

Related