WWE make shock decision to RELEASE former world champion - who argues he QUIT and wasn't let go - as three superstars suddenly part ways with the company

WWE have reportedly released several stars during Friday night’s airing of SmackDown, including a former world champion.

It came as AJ Styles defeated LA Knight in a No 1 contenders match, with the former besting his opponent with a thumb to the eye and a Phenomenal Forearm.

Styles is now set to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash as a challenger for his Undisputed WWE Universal Champion title.

Bayley and Naomi also squared off for the WWE Women’s Championship, and despite both wrestlers colliding with several holds and strikes, the bout was ruled a no-contest, with Bayley retaining her title.

Amid the action, it was reported by Fightful and PWInsider that Jinder Mahal, Xia Li and Xyon Quinn had all been released by the company.

Mahal, who joined WWE in 2010 after debutising in Premier Martial Arts Wrestling, is a former WWE Champion, having clinched the title back in 2017.

WWE released several stars, including a former world champion, on Friday night

The reports came during Friday’s airing of Smackdown, as AJ Styles defeated LA Knight

The agency released former world champion Jinder Mahal, who conversly claimed he had quit

The outlets claim that each fighter is subject to a 90-day non-compete clause, after which they will become free agents.

Mahal, meanwhile, took to social media to claim that he had actually ‘quit’, but the reports say it was the company’s decision to part ways with the Indian-Canadian wrestler.

On Saturday, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to write: ‘I quit. Maharaja out’ while adding a ‘money bag’ emoji.

In January, Mahal was seen ranting to crowds at Monday Night RAW but his speech was interrupted by The Rock, who made a surprise return during the event. The People’s Champion lambasted Mahal and delivered ‘The People’s Elbow’ to the former WWE Champion. Mahal would subsequently challenge The Rock to a match in India.

While that match never materialised, Mahal went on to suffer defeats against Seth Rollins in a championship match, before losing against Ricochet, twice, Apollo Crews and Akira Tozawa. He would also appear in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal earlier this April – his last WWE appearance.

Mahal wrote on X (formerly Twitter): ‘I quit,’ following the reports that he had been released

Mahal recently appeared in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal earlier this April

Xia Lee was another star to be released by the agency, and thanked WWE on social media

Lee was also released from the agency and took to social media to thank Triple H and WWE, having joined WWE’s Performance Centre back in 2017.

‘It has been over seven years since I joined WWE and as the first female Chinese superstar, I feel incredibly proud!’ She wrote in a post on X. ‘I am sincerely grateful to WWE and HHH for welcoming me into this big family.’

She added: ‘This journey with WWE has been wonderful and I sincerely thank everyone who has been a part of it. This is not the end but a new beginning! Let’s embrace more exciting moments together!’

According to reports, Lee had also been shown in an advertisement for a new battle royal event to crown a new Women’s World Champion during RAW’s event on April 22, but it seems she will no longer be making an appearance for the match.

Lee said that this ‘was not the end but a new beginning’ in a statement released on X

Xyon Quinn was also released by the agency but has not yet released a public statement

Quinn apologised to his followers on X after suffering defeat to Bron Breakker in March

Her last appearance in WWE came during Monday’s episode of RAW, where she was beaten by Natalya.

Quinn, a former professional Rugby League player, is yet to comment on his release after he had been moved to the main roster following the 2023 WWE draft.

The 34-year-old Australian, who had signed a development contract with WWE in 2018, made his last appearance on March 1, suffering defeat to Bron Breakker, with the latter pinning his opponent in just six seconds.

Quinn subsequently apologised to his fans on X, writing: ‘Sorry to all my supporters… Just know that as long as I’m breathing, I’ll never give up. Til the end.’