WWE Releases Zelina Vega, Vega Expresses Support for Unions (Updated w/ More Info)

WWE announced today that they have released Zelina Vega.

WWE has come to terms on the release of Zelina Vega. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

WWE has come to terms on the release of Zelina Vega. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.https://t.co/RUebMGwBTA

— WWE (@WWE) November 13, 2020

Ten minutes before the announcement, she tweeted, “I support unionization.”

I support unionization.

— 𝓩𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖆 𝓥𝖊𝖌𝖆 (@Zelina_VegaWWE) November 13, 2020

Vega had a large following on Twitch and also expressed interest in unionization last month when WWE forced wrestlers to shut down their Twitch accounts, which had been a large source of income for many wrestlers.

🤔 hmm..

— 𝓩𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖆 𝓥𝖊𝖌𝖆 (@Zelina_VegaWWE) October 5, 2020

Paige, who has been very outspoken against WWE’s Twitch ban and has also tweeted about unionization, reacted to the news of Vega’s release, tweeting, “This sucks… 😔”

This sucks.. 😔 https://t.co/gSSrVqCTow

— SARAYA (@RealPaigeWWE) November 13, 2020

Vega is married to Aleister Black, who hasn’t wrestled since the October 12 Raw, when he lost to Kevin Owens.

Vega first signed with WWE in 2017.

I want to say thank you all very much for the last 3-4 years @WWEUniverse, it was incredible. I would have never have been able to say “this is for you dad” if certain people did not believe in me. I love you all and I couldn’t have done it without your support 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/R4fI9r64Vm

— 𝓩𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖆 𝓥𝖊𝖌𝖆 (@Zelina_VegaWWE) November 14, 2020

Update

According to Dave Meltzer, Vega’s latest tweet about supporting unionization was made after she learned of her release.

According to PWInsider, Vega was in fact released because of WWE’s edict banning Twitch streaming. Vega had been “extremely vocal” about keeping her account, PWInsider says, and some WWE talents reached out to PWInsider wondering if her release was done to “send a message” to everyone else.

Meltzer added that Vega was making more money from outside WWE (Twitch, etc.) than she was making from her WWE contract, so WWE’s ban was a big blow for her. Meltzer also said that WWE wanted Vega to close her (non-nude) OnlyFans account.

WrestleVotes added that Vega’s husband Aleister Black has also had his own issues with WWE, saying, “While it can’t be directly tied to today’s news, Aleister Black recently requested to move back to NXT and was denied.”

There’s a bit more behind the scenes to the Zelina Vega release. Frustration from both sides is an understatement. While it can’t be directly tied to today’s news, Aleister Black recently requested to move back to NXT and was denied. Dissension amongst the parties involved.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) November 14, 2020