WWE recently confirmed the release of Karyn Best, known in the ring as Summer Sorrell, from its developmental system. Best, a former collegiate track star turned budding wrestling talent, announced her departure on social media, revealing that a recurring injury largely hindered her growth and performance within WWE’s Performance Center. Her exit marks another notable release in WWE’s ongoing roster reshaping efforts centered around the NXT developmental program.
Summer Sorrell’s WWE Journey and Release
Signed in early 2025, Summer Sorrell was one of WWE’s fresh prospects who initially appeared through the WWE LFG reality series and competed on WWE EVOLVE. Despite showing promise, Best never made her official NXT television debut, primarily wrestling at live events and developmental shows. Her recorded in-ring appearances under WWE included her debut loss to Wendy Choo on May 7 and a late-stage WWE LFG elimination against Bayley Humphrey[1][3].
On October 10, 2025, Sorrell confirmed her release publicly and shared a heartfelt message reflecting on her time with WWE. She expressed deep gratitude for the experience, from grueling filming sessions to rehabilitation periods. However, she disclosed that an ongoing injury persisted during most of her tenure at the Performance Center, preventing her from fully showcasing her potential[2][5].
“The reality is that I struggled with the same ongoing injury during a majority of my time at the performance center. This held me back from ever being able to show my true potential in the ring,” Best wrote in her Instagram statement. “Knowing that I only got the opportunity to show you a small fraction of what I am capable of is what is hurting me the most.”[2]
Despite this setback, Summer Sorrell ended her statement on an optimistic note, confirming that this was not the end of her wrestling journey but rather a new beginning.
“But if that was only a fraction, imagine what happens when I’m finally at a hundred percent… the story doesn’t end here — it finally gets interesting,” she concluded[2][5].
Context of WWE’s Recent Developmental Releases
Summer Sorrell’s release is one of several recent cuts WWE has made from its NXT developmental roster. Over the past week alone, more than a dozen talents have been let go, including prominent names such as former NXT North American Champion Wes Lee and Lance Anoa’i from the famous Anoa’i wrestling family[2]. This wave of releases appears to be part of WWE’s broader strategy to reshape its developmental assets amid evolving organizational priorities.
A WWE insider familiar with the situation shared with us, “WWE is tightening its developmental roster to focus on a smaller, highly promising group of talents who are match-ready and can contribute immediately. Unfortunately, injuries and setbacks often lead to difficult decisions, especially for those who couldn’t showcase their full skill sets in time.” This insider also noted that WWE’s Performance Center remains committed to fostering talent but with stricter expectations for progression and availability.
Summer Sorrell’s Background and Future Prospects
Before wrestling, Karyn Best was a collegiate track and field athlete, a background that initially intrigued WWE scouts due to her athleticism and conditioned physique. She was signed following a WWE tryout in the summer of 2024 and swiftly began appearing on WWE’s evolving developmental platforms[2][3].
While her WWE chapter has concluded, sources close to the wrestling community believe this may not be the final act for Best. Wrestling historians and insiders highlight that many talents who face early setbacks tend to re-emerge stronger after recovery. As one veteran scout commented, “Many stars have left WWE only to reinvent themselves and return to bigger stages, either with WWE or other promotions. Karyn’s athleticism is undeniable; with time and health on her side, she could come back a very different competitor.”
Summer Sorrell’s positive statement and professional attitude suggest she is preparing for the next phase of her career outside WWE for now, perhaps taking time to fully rehabilitate before exploring options such as AEW, Impact Wrestling, or the rapidly growing independent scene[5].
Impact on WWE Developmental and Fan Reception
The frequent releases at the developmental level this year have drawn concern from some fans who worry about lost potential amid WWE’s roster churn. Fans of Summer Sorrell, and many developmental hopefuls, expressed disappointment on social media, but also strong support for her resilience and determination to continue.
From a programming perspective, WWE is currently focused on the new direction of NXT 2.0 and NXT brand restructuring, which emphasizes younger, homegrown talents ready for immediate storylines. This strategic refocus partly explains why some talents battling injuries or slower development are released to streamline the talent pool for the long-term vision[2].
Final Thoughts
Summer Sorrell’s release underscores the harsh realities of professional wrestling, where injuries can derail promising careers before they truly begin. Yet, her message reflects the determination shared by many athletes who view setbacks as setups for comebacks.
As Karyn Best embarks on her post-WWE journey, wrestling fans and industry watchers will be keen to see if she can return to full health and realize her wrestling aspirations, potentially returning stronger and more prepared to shine on the bigger stages.