Zelina Vega has declared that wrestling will not be the only platform fans see her on following her April 2026 WWE release, opening independent bookings and hinting at a broader entertainment future.
On a Twitch stream shortly after her release was announced, Vega addressed the news without bitterness but made it clear she intends to prove WWE wrong about the decision.
“I don’t hold any bad feelings — I understand business is business. However, business is business on my side as well. I don’t even think they expect what’s next. Wrestling isn’t the only screen you’ll see me on.”
She also reflected on how she found out, noting the caller ID gave it away immediately.
“When people call me, usually from there it would say Stamford calling me, and that’s when your heart is like, ‘Oh f***.’ But this time it said TKO. So it’s like, very telling. 5:09 p.m. is when I found out.”
Vega offered context on why the release may have happened, while making clear she felt there was more left to do with her character.
“I guess I understand because it’s like, if you don’t book people, they don’t make you money. So there’s that. It was like, if you would’ve let Zelina be Zelina the way we had envisioned for this new character, y’all would have loved it because we had so many things we wanted to do.”
On May 11 she announced she is now accepting independent bookings. Vega was released alongside her husband Aleister Black as part of WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts. She held the Women’s United States Championship during her second WWE run and was the inaugural Queen’s Crown tournament winner.
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