Nikki Cross Opens Up About Unexpected Wyatt Sicks WWE Release
On August 11, 2026, former World Wrestling Entertainment star Nikki Cross discussed her unexpected April 24 release after a decade with the company, reflecting on the unique bond shared with the Wyatt Sicks faction and her recent acquisition of Progress Wrestling alongside her husband. According to an interview with Chris VanVliet, Cross admitted that leaving behind deeply established television characters and tight-knit colleagues remains the hardest part of sudden roster cuts in the professional sports entertainment industry.
The Unexpected Departure of the Wyatt Sicks
Cross spent roughly ten years with WWE, transforming through multiple distinct personas including Sanity, Nikki A.S.H., and Abby the Witch. Per ProWrestling.net editor Jason Powell, Cross revealed that her release on April 24 alongside the rest of the Wyatt Sicks came as a complete surprise. The faction, featuring Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, Bo Dallas, and Erick Rowan, formed under the creative direction of Paul “Triple H” Levesque following a shift from her superhero persona back to her darker, high-intensity roots.
Reflecting on that tenure, Cross emphasized the intense psychological and physical toll of shedding characters that performers inhabit for years. “Myself and Dexter, Joe Gacy, Bo Dallas, and Erick Rowan, we’ve shared something that I don’t know if anyone will ever be able to relate to: the five of us sharing this experience,” Cross stated during the podcast interview.
Acquiring Progress Wrestling and Global Expansion Strategy
Moving past her decade-long tenure in North America’s largest promotion, Cross and her husband completed the acquisition of British independent promotion Progress Wrestling. According to the interview, the purchase materialized through sheer timing following her departure from WWE. The new ownership group has set aggressive operational goals for the promotion.
“Our goal is to make Progress Wrestling the number one independent promotion in the world, and we’ve long a way to go,” Cross noted. The business model relies on tapping into the current European talent hotbed, emphasizing an aggressive, intense ring style balanced with intricate storytelling reminiscent of a three-ring circus. Cross outlined plans to establish strategic cross-promotional relationships spanning Japan, America, Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
Tactical Shifts and Roster Rebuilding
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