WWE Releases Francois Prinsloo in Latest Wave of Roster Cuts
Another WWE superstar has been released as the company continues to run more budget cuts.
Five days after WrestleMania 42 weekend concluded, WWE released 23 superstars from their contracts on April 23. A week later, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) were unexpectedly released as well.
Unfortunately, the latest wave of budget cuts did not end there.
On Wednesday, 24-year-old superstar Francois Prinsloo announced his WWE departure in an Instagram post. Prinsloo signed with the company last year after competing in the men's discus throw at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Prinsloo won gold for South Africa in discus throw at the 2018 African Youth Games. He moved to the United States to attend the University of South Alabama, where he won gold in discus throw at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
WWE Has Had Mixed Results in Signing Olympians and Pro Athletes
(Photo by Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
To say that WWE has had mixed results when it comes to signing former Olympians and professional athletes would be a giant understatement. Obviously, they did well with Roman Reigns (a former CFL player), Ronda Rousey (UFC) and Bill Goldberg (NFL).
But other talents like UFC legend Cain Velasquez, wrestling Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson and Prinsloo never got a real chance to shine. In Prinsloo's case, he never appeared on television nor wrestled a match for the company.
Prinsloo is only 24 years of age, so his athletic career is far from over. But in WWE's case, it's another reminder that they have to do a better job in maximizing the talents of young athletes and Olympians.