The wrestling world was rocked as WWE announced the departures of three fan-favorites: Indi Hartwell, Tegan Nox, and Baron Corbin. With fans and independent promoters alike clamoring to see what’s next for each, here’s a peek behind the curtain at the backstage reactions and early plans.
Baron Corbin, who has recently kept fans entertained with his partnership with Apollo Crews, reportedly knew the end was near for his WWE deal, which is set to expire at the close of 2024. While Corbin and Crews share a strong personal friendship, Corbin felt their recent alliance wasn’t quite the encore to his Wolf Dogs days with Bron Breakker in NXT. Now, with one offer already from former WWE talent Tyrus and indie promoters eager to book him, it seems Corbin’s calendar may be filling up fast.
Tegan Nox, beloved by fans for her unique style and relentless energy, was formally released and placed under a 90-day non-compete period, which keeps her out of action until February 2025. Sources suggest WWE didn’t have any long-term creative plans for Nox in recent months, leaving her last appearance on WWE Raw back in April.
Indi Hartwell stirred the rumor mill when she playfully hinted on social media that she learned of her release from a Fightful report—a joke that sent fans into a frenzy. Fightful quickly clarified that Hartwell was informed beforehand and that they don’t publish talent news without prior notice to those involved. Known for her creative social media skits, Hartwell was reportedly “coming into her own,” with backstage staff seeing great potential in her developing character. Her last match with Candice LeRae against Bayley and Naomi on SmackDown is likely her final WWE appearance.
With their exits now official, both Nox and Hartwell may face visa hurdles if they plan to compete in the U.S. soon, as each must secure work permits before joining American promotions. While WWE remains tight-lipped on the exact reasoning behind these cuts, Fightful reports that this trio completes “this round,” though there’s no clear timeline for any future roster shakeups.