Wendy Choo’s WWE release reportedly caught people at the company’s Performance Center off guard.
WWE announced another round of NXT roster cuts on Friday, with Choo among the names let go. PK Vasa, Adriana Rizzo, Zena Sterling, Jasper Troy, Anya Rune, and several other talents were also released as part of the latest cuts.
According to a report from Bryan Alvarez, Choo’s departure came as a surprise to those at the WWE Performance Center. He said,
“Apparently the whole PC was shocked that Wendy Choo was released.”
Additionally, Fightful Select is reporting that it was previously expected that she could potentially receive an opportunity on the main roster. She had worked with virtually every gimmick WWE presented to her and consistently made the most of those opportunities.
There is also a belief that Choo could have a future behind the scenes once her wrestling career comes to an end, particularly as a coach or producer. TNA is expected to be a potential destination for her, while several people in AEW have also long been fans of her work.
Choo, whose real name is Karen Yu, is 34 years old and has been with WWE since February 2019. Before joining the company, she became a notable name on the independent wrestling scene and eventually captured the EVOLVE Women’s Championship.
During her WWE tenure, Choo initially portrayed Mei Ying as part of the Tian Sha faction before eventually undergoing a character change that saw her adopt the Wendy Choo persona.
In recent months, Choo had primarily been appearing in dark matches at NXT television tapings. Her final WWE bout took place at the August 25 NXT taping, where she was defeated by Karmen Petrovic. She also competed against RAW Superstar Maxxine Dupri on Main Event last month.
Choo also made an appearance for TNA in July 2026, challenging Xia Brookside for the TNA Knockouts World Championship.
Despite her recent activity, Choo is now officially a free agent following her WWE release, bringing an end to more than seven years with the company.
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