Notes on When and Why WWE Released Zelina Vega, Vega Issues Full Statement

UPDATE 3: Zelina Vega has issued a statement on her release from WWE. Vega posted the following to Twitter tonight:

I want to say thank you all very much for the last 3-4 years @WWEUniverse, it was incredible. I would have never have been able to say “this is for you dad” if certain people did not believe in me. I love you all and I couldn’t have done it without your support 🙏🏽

https://twitter.com/Zelina_VegaWWE/status/1327427296807022592

UPDATE 2: A new report has details on why and when WWE chose to release Zelina Vega from her contract. PWInsider reports that multiple WWE sources have confirmed that the release was due to fallout from WWE’s demand that talents end their relationships with platforms like Twitch and Cameo as the company wanted to handle such options for the talent themselves. Vega was reportedly informed she was being released this afternoon and the report confirms that her tweet about unionization had nothing to do with it, as she was released well before that.

Vega was apparently very vocal about holding onto her Twitch account and continued streaming until October 30th, the day after several stars met with Vince McMahon about the new edict.

Vega is under a no-compete clause that will last 90 days, meaning that she is off televised companies until mid-February — ironically, just before AEW Revolution. It must be said that there’s no word on whether AEW will be interested but one would imagine that it is likely.

Paige, who has been another vocal opponent of WWE’s new policy regarding Twitch and has in fact continued to stream all the way through yesterday at least has posted to Twitter to react to Vega’s release:

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/1327387345910337538

UPDATE: While this was already largely believed to be the case, Zelina Vega’s release was not specifically about the tweet she made supporting unionization. According to POST Wrestling, Vega’s release was known about inside the company before she posted it.

Vega has taken to her Instagram since her release to reference a return to streaming, posting, “See you on Twitch!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Thea Trinidad Büdgen (@zelina_vegawwe)

ORIGINAL: In a surprising development, WWE has released Zelina Vega from her contract. WWE announced on Friday afternoon that they have released Vega from her contract, issuing the following statement:

Zelina Vega released
WWE has come to terms on the release of Zelina Vega. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Shortly before the release was announced, Vega took to her Twitter account to post that “I support unionization.” Vega recently launched an OnlyFans account after WWE has come down against third-party platforms and told talent they are taking over their Twitch accounts. Vega has been openly critical of WWE’s actions in that regard.

https://twitter.com/Zelina_VegaWWE/status/1327382306491928576