Ex-WWE Star Reveals He Was Released Just Months After Signing New Deal

Javier Bernal is speaking out about his WWE release — and according to him, it happened right after he re-signed with the company.

On the January 18, 2026 episode of the Two Man Power Trip podcast, Bernal revealed that WWE let him go despite locking him into a new NXT contract just six months earlier. The former “Big Body Javi” admitted the news completely blindsided him — especially since he was just returning from injury and had every reason to believe he was secure.

“Yes and no. It caught me off guard because I had just gotten back from an injury. Six months before that, I had re-signed a new contract with NXT.”

Bernal thought he’d be able to get back on track, especially after hearing positive feedback from those within WWE’s developmental system. But even with support from Shawn Michaels and Matt Bloom, Bernal suspects the final call came from someone higher up in the chain of command.

“I had a new deal and everything, so I thought, okay, I can get my footing again. People were telling me, ‘Shawn and Bloom like you, they like who you are as a person and as a wrestler.’ I don’t think they were the decision-makers in the process, but I was still shocked.”

Bernal’s release was part of a quiet wave of NXT cuts that took place on May 2, 2025. Though WWE never issued a public statement, PWInsider first broke the story. Bernal originally signed with WWE in 2021, developing a cult following through his loudmouth “Big Body” gimmick on NXT Level Up and later on NXT proper. His over-the-top character work made him a memorable act, even if it didn’t come with title gold.

Now, with his WWE chapter closed, Bernal’s story is another example of how quickly things can change — even with a fresh contract in hand.

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