Backstage Update on WWE’s Recent Talent Releases – Cora Jade & Gigi Dolin Responds to Claims of “Not Working Hard” for Releases Reason, Jade Claims She was Body-shammed by Bosses & Co-Workers

As noted before, Dakota Kai, Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, Cora Jade, and Gigi Dolin were among 15 talents released from WWE this past Friday. Shotzi and Dani Palmer were later revealed and confirmed to also have been released bringing the currently known total to 16 talents released and one talent not having their contract renewed.

Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources stated that many of those cut within NXT and developmental were perceived by WWE officials as not working hard in training for the reason for their releases.

Meltzer reported that the current feeling within WWE’s management is that if you are not working hard in training and using the term “lazy” to describe those people, then the ones who are lazy are going to be gone. Meltzer also reported that WWE officials also felt that several talents did not stand out as another reason for the recent releases.

Meltzer stated:

“Many of those cut were perceived as not working hard in training. And if you don’t work hard in training, there’s so many people who do. And at this point, if the feeling is you’re not working hard in training – I saw the term ‘lazy’ – the ones who are lazy are gonna be gone, and the ones who didn’t stand out are gonna be gone.”

Meltzer also reported that those spoken to stated that Riley Osborne’s release was due to non-wrestling factors.

In regards to main roster talent, Meltzer reported that those spoken to stated that the reason for those releases was due to a combination of age, salary, and lack of usage and creative plans for them.

Following Meltzer’s report, Dolin and Jade responded on Twitter over the claims of them not working hard enough in training to keep their jobs.

Dolin stated:

“When I wasn’t traveling to work for either of the two companies I was working for, I trained very hard 3-4 days a week, bumping my ass off and doing cardio drills with one of the best/toughest coaches I’ve worked with. And worked out every single day. With live events every other weekend. So yeah I don’t wanna hear this lol. The way my body feels says otherwise.”

When I wasn’t traveling to work for either of the two companies I was working for, I trained very hard 3-4 days a week, bumping my ass off and doing cardio drills with one of the best/toughest coaches I’ve worked with. And worked out every single day. With live events every other…

— Priscilla Kelly (@PK_from_Hell) May 4, 2025

Jade responded in agreement with Dolin’s comments and also claimed that she went to her own gym outside of work because she was being body shammed by her bosses and co-workers. Jade also stated that she was being body shammed by fans as well during her time in the company.

“This, plus can’t forget having to go to my own gym outside of work after “strength and conditioning” that wasn’t doing anything for me other than get me body shamed by my bosses, coworkers, and fans :) crazy!”

This, plus can’t forget having to go to my own gym outside of work after “strength and conditioning” that wasn’t doing anything for me other than get me body shamed by my bosses, coworkers, and fans :) crazy!

— Elayna Black (@CoraJadeWWE) May 4, 2025