Paul Ellering Released from WWE

WWE has parted ways with Paul Ellering, marking another surprising departure in what seems to be a day of changes within the company.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful broke the news, confirming that WWE sources had informed him of Ellering’s release.

Ellering, best known for managing the legendary Legion of Doom and later leading Authors of Pain (AOP) in NXT, hadn’t been seen on WWE programming in weeks. His absence left many wondering about his status, and now it’s clear—WWE has officially moved on.

His last high-profile run came when he helped AOP dominate NXT, guiding them to the NXT Tag Team Championships before they moved to the main roster. However, WWE split them from Ellering soon after, a decision many felt hindered their momentum.

Ellering’s release follows that of Cedric Alexander, who announced his WWE exit earlier today after an 8 ½-year run. While Alexander referenced WWE’s standard 90-day non-compete clause, there’s no confirmation yet on whether Ellering’s departure follows the same structure.

WWE has yet to comment on why Ellering was let go, but with Authors of Pain reportedly returning to SmackDown as part of The Final Testament alongside Karrion Kross, the company may have decided to move forward without their former manager.

With another longtime WWE figure now out of the company, the question remains—where does Paul Ellering go next? Could he reunite with AOP elsewhere, or is this the end of his time in pro wrestling? Let us know what you think in the comments!