WWE Releases Rusev, Kurt Angle, Zack Ryder and More, Due to Coronavirus Cuts

WWE released a large number of Superstars, backstage producers, referees and writers on Wednesday as part of a cost-cutting effort amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company announced on Wednesday morning via a press release that the firings and furloughs could potentially save the corporation $4 million, stating "Given the uncertainty of the situation, the Company also identified headcount reductions and made the decision to furlough a portion of its workforce effective immediately."

Here's a full list of every wrestler who has been released:

• Rusev
• Drake Maverick
• Karl Anderson
• Luke Gallows
• EC3
• Curt Hawkins
• Heath Slater
• Eric Young
• Lio Rush
• Aiden English
• Sarah Logan
• Erick Rowan
• Primo
• Epico
• Mike Kanellis
• Maria Kanellis
• Zack Ryder
• No Way Jose
• Deonna Purrazzo
• Aleksandar Jaksic
• MJ Jenkins
• Dan Matha
• Alyssa Marino
• Taynara Conti
• Nick Comoroto
• Cezar Bononi
• Tino Sabbatelli
• Kassius Ohno (Reportedly)
• Mohamed Fahim
• Marcos Gomes
• Faisal Kurdi
• Hussain Aldagal
• Yifeng (Rocky)
• Cain Velasquez

And here's the full list of every backstage producer/referee/writer who have either been released or furloughed:

• Kurt Angle
• Shane Helms
• Lance Storm
• Billy Kidman
• Mike Rotunda
• Dave (Fit) Finlay
• Pat Buck
• Sarah Stock
• Shawn Daivari
• Scott Armstrong
• Mike Chioda (Referee)
• Andrea Listenberger (Writer)
• Chris Guy (Performance Center Trainer)
• Serena Deeb (Performance Center Trainer)
• Kendo Kashin (Performance Center Trainer)
• Jerry Soto (Spanish Announcer)
• Josiah Williamson (Interviewer)
• Jon Quasto (Announcer)
• Gerald Brisco

WWE's press release from Wednesday morning read as follows:

"WWE (NYSE: WWE) today provided an update on measures taken by the Company in response to the current impact of COVID-19 on the organization. Due to COVID-19 and current government mandated impacts on WWE and the media business generally, the Company went through an extensive evaluation of its operations over the past several weeks."

"This analysis resulted in the implementation of various short-term cost reductions and cash flow improvement actions including:

• Reducing executive and board member compensation;
• Decreasing operating expenses;
• Cutting talent expenses, third party staffing and consulting;
• Deferring spend on the build out of the Company's new headquarters for at least six months."

"Given the uncertainty of the situation, the Company also identified headcount reductions and made the decision to furlough a portion of its workforce effective immediately," the release continued. "The decision to furlough versus permanently reduce headcount reflects the fact that the Company currently believes the furlough will be temporary in nature. The Company's reductions of employee compensation and headcount result in an estimated monthly savings of $4 million along with cash flow improvement of $140 million primarily from the deferral in spending on the Company's new headquarters."