WWE Felt Wyatt Sicks ‘Ran Its Course’ Before Post-WrestleMania 42 Releases

WWE’s decision to release Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and the Wyatt Sicks after WrestleMania 42 came down to one simple issue — the company felt the group had reached its limit.

The Wyatt Sicks — Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan — were among the names cut during the post-WrestleMania roster changes. According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE internally believed the faction had already delivered everything it could creatively.

Meltzer explained that the Wyatt Sicks concept was always seen by some as something that might not last long-term, especially since it was built as a tribute tied closely to Bray Wyatt’s legacy.

“It was just felt that the group had run its course. Even at first there were those who saw it as a short-term idea. It was basically a tribute to Bray Wyatt and was over big at first but it was limiting how they could be used with that gimmick over the long haul.”

He also noted that Aleister Black and Zelina Vega were released because WWE didn’t see clear creative plans for them moving forward.

“The feeling was they got all out of the Wyatts they were going to get and Black and Vega was just a decision made on who they weren’t going to do anything more with. The reality is that even though they recruited Black hard to get out of AEW, once he returned, they really didn’t have much in the way of ideas for him.”

There had been talk online suggesting the cuts happened because WWE leadership didn’t want darker characters on television. Meltzer addressed that rumor directly and said it wasn’t true.

“Regarding the story that the Wyatts and Black were released because TKO didn’t like dark characters, we were told that was ‘bullshit’ and that these were not decisions that even reached that level.”

Meltzer also pointed out that Zelina Vega had interest from AEW in the past when she was released years ago, but those talks didn’t lead anywhere.

“(Tony Khan) did negotiate with Zelina when she was let go the last time, but she pretty much ghosted him and signed back.”

The Wyatt Sicks started strong and got attention early, but WWE ultimately decided the group had reached the end of its run. With Black and Vega also removed from the roster, the company appears to be shifting focus toward new creative directions following WrestleMania season.