Why WWE Released AOP, Sonya Deville & Cedric Alexander—New Details Surface

The WWE roster just got a little smaller. A wave of releases hit the company on February 27, with several notable names now out of WWE—including Akam, Rezar, Paul Ellering, Cedric Alexander, Sonya Deville, and Blair Davenport.

Fightful Select confirmed the details, reporting that the calls were made right as SmackDown went live.

The Authors of Pain had been with WWE for months before they resurfaced on television. However, it seems their return was doomed from the start. According to sources, AOP carried some outside heat due to financial issues from external business ventures. Some within WWE even speculated this was why they were paired with Karrion Kross, who is widely respected in the locker room.

Another sticking point was Paul Ellering. AOP reportedly pushed hard for Ellering to be part of their return, but it didn’t lead to much TV time. After the Wyatt Sicks angle collapsed, there were no creative plans left for AOP or Ellering, making their departure inevitable.

Sonya Deville, meanwhile, was informed that WWE would not be renewing her contract. She’ll officially hit free agency in a matter of weeks. After tearing her ACL in July 2023, Deville has remained sidelined, and WWE has now decided to move on.

As for Cedric Alexander, he was outright released and will be a free agent in 90 days. According to sources in AEW, multiple wrestlers within The Hurt Syndicate are expected to push for Tony Khan to bring him in.

Then there’s Blair Davenport, another name cut from the company. Despite her main roster call-up, WWE reportedly had no creative plans for her, leading to her release. That being said, she’s expected to draw major interest from companies around the world.

Interestingly, internal rosters weren’t updated immediately after the cuts—suggesting more changes could be coming in the next few days.

With Blair Davenport, AOP, Sonya Deville, and more now out of WWE, the question isn’t just where they’ll end up—it’s who could be next. With WrestleMania season in full swing, these cuts have fans buzzing about what’s really going on behind the scenes. Ringside News will continue to keep you updated on their status as information becomes available.