“I couldn’t breathe” – Former WWE champion opens up about shaking and crying after a tough cut
Former WWE champion Zoey Stark opened up about how tough it was for her to be released from the company. She said it left her shaking, crying, and having trouble breathing.
Stark, who once held the NXT Women’s Tag Team title, shared her feelings in a heartfelt chat on her YouTube channel. She described the news as hitting her “like a ton of bricks” and causing what felt like a panic attack.
Stark’s WWE release happened in late April 2026, ending her five years with the company. Back in May 2025, she suffered serious knee injuries during a match at Monday Night Raw, leading to several surgeries.
Talking about the moment she found out, Stark said, “When I got released, it really hit me hard. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was actually at the gym, hearing about other releases that day and just had this uneasy feeling.”
She didn’t know then that her May 2025 Raw match would be her last. “I had just gotten cleared from my knee injuries, so I was really surprised,” she added.
When the phone call came, Stark’s mind raced. “My first thought was, ‘This really sucks.’ I was heartbroken.”
She went on to say, “My body started shaking, I began crying, and I thought I might be having a panic attack. I couldn’t catch my breath, and all the worst thoughts were flooding in.”
Stark also felt sympathy for the person who had to tell her the news. “I felt bad for the guy who called me. It’s a tough job and I could hear how much it hurt him too,” she said.
Despite the pain, Stark is now focusing on finding herself again. “I lost a bit of who I was during my WWE run, but now I’m getting my confidence back and having fun. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and this is a blessing in disguise.”
She finished by saying, “There’s always a lesson in everything, you just have to find the silver lining.”