Earlier tonight, Cedric Alexander announced his departure from WWE after an eight-year tenure, with Fightful confirming his release. The news doesn't stop there: Authors of Pain (AOP) and Blair Davenport have also been confirmed as released from WWE, as reported by Fightful. Additionally, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Ellering is also out. Sonya Deville has received notice that her WWE contract will not be renewed upon expiration in a few weeks. AOP, consisting of Akam and Rezar, made a comeback to WWE television about a year ago after their release in September 2020 and formed a lower card heel faction with Karrion Kross called The Final Testament. This group feuded with notable talents like Bobby Lashley and the Street Profits during WrestleMania 40, but they haven't appeared in matches thus far in 2025, with their last match recorded on Main Event in December. Upon her return to WWE TV in 2024, Sonya took the lead of the lower card heel faction, Pure Fusion Collective. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding situation. WWE is reportedly engaging in another round of mass talent cuts that began late Friday night. According to reports from PWInsider and Fightful, Blair Davenport is among the latest group of releases. If accurate, Davenport's WWE career has ended less than a year after her promotion to the main roster in April 2024, as she lacked substantial creative plans since her call-up. Davenport participated in only five matches on SmackDown, securing one win, and her last match on November 22 ended in a first-round defeat in the tournament to crown the inaugural women’s United States Champion, losing to eventual champion Chelsea Green. She previously gained recognition in the independent circuit, particularly in World Wonder Ring STARDOM, and is likely to attract global interest as a free agent. Davenport recently married NXT star Riley Osbourne and was spotted at TNA Emergence. Now, her name is added to the list of WWE talent releases alongside Sonya Deville, the Authors of Pain, Paul Ellering, Cedric Alexander, and Duke Hudson, marking another chapter in the tumultuous 2024 WWE Draft.
