WWE has seen three more personnel departures, with Marcus Brown, Ellen Akesson and referee Gary Wilson no longer with the company.

The three exits affect different areas of WWE’s developmental and television operation. Brown and Akesson were members of recent Performance Center recruiting classes and had not made official in-ring appearances at a live event or on WWE television. Wilson, meanwhile, had been with WWE since 2022 and worked as an official on NXT before later moving to SmackDown.

No further details regarding the circumstances behind any of the departures have been confirmed. It is also not known whether the decisions were connected, and there is no indication at this stage of what Brown, Akesson or Wilson may pursue next in wrestling or outside of the industry.

Marcus Brown Leaves Before an Official WWE Debut

Brown joined WWE in May 2026 after establishing himself as a bodybuilder and fitness influencer. His signing placed him in the Performance Center system, where WWE evaluates and develops athletes from a wide range of sporting, entertainment and fitness backgrounds.

While Brown’s athletic presentation and fitness background made him a natural fit for WWE’s recruitment model, he did not make an official in-ring debut at a WWE live event or on television during his time with the company. His departure comes only months after he entered the developmental setup.

The Performance Center is designed to give new recruits an opportunity to transition into professional wrestling under WWE’s training structure. For athletes arriving without a lengthy independent-wrestling background, that process can include learning ring fundamentals, character development, production work, promos and the demands of performing in front of a live audience. Recruits may spend considerable time training before ever appearing in a televised match or an event open to the public.

Brown’s exit therefore closes a brief WWE chapter before fans had the opportunity to see what direction his presentation might have taken. No information has been confirmed about whether he trained for a particular on-screen role, worked non-televised developmental matches, or had been assigned a prospective character.

Ellen Akesson’s Performance Center Run Also Ends

Akesson signed with WWE in March 2026. A Swedish powerlifting champion, she arrived with a high-level strength-sports background and became part of WWE’s ongoing effort to identify athletes with elite physical credentials from outside traditional wrestling pipelines.

Like Brown, Akesson did not make an official in-ring debut at a live event or on television. Her time with WWE was limited to the early stages of her Performance Center tenure, and there has been no confirmed announcement concerning a planned NXT debut, a ring name, or a television storyline.

Strength athletes have long been among the groups WWE has considered when scouting prospective performers. The company’s developmental process can create a path for athletes who possess remarkable physical tools but need time to adapt to professional wrestling’s unique combination of athletic execution, performance, safety, timing and character work. That path is not identical for every recruit, and reaching television is never guaranteed.

Akesson’s departure means that another recent international prospect will not continue through the system at this time. Her signing had added a Swedish powerlifting champion to the Performance Center’s mix of recruits, but her WWE tenure ends before an official match or televised introduction.

Neither Brown nor Akesson had an established WWE on-screen record from which to evaluate their potential direction. As a result, their departures are primarily significant as changes to WWE’s developmental recruiting group rather than changes to the active NXT roster or a main-roster program.

Gary Wilson Had Reached SmackDown as a Referee

Wilson’s departure is distinct from those of Brown and Akesson because he worked in an active behind-the-scenes and on-screen production role as a referee. He signed with WWE in 2022 and initially officiated on NXT before moving to SmackDown.

WWE referees are a vital part of every televised match, even though they are not typically positioned as featured personalities. Officials help maintain the structure of a bout, communicate with performers and production, monitor timing and react to the flow of live television. A referee’s role requires a level of coordination that may not always be visible to viewers, particularly when a match has to be adjusted in real time.

Wilson’s move from NXT to SmackDown demonstrated that he had progressed beyond the developmental brand into one of WWE’s principal weekly television environments. SmackDown regularly requires its officiating crew to work across singles matches, tag team bouts, championship contests and segments involving large numbers of performers. His departure removes an official with experience across both NXT and the blue brand.

There has been no confirmation of Wilson’s next destination or whether he plans to continue officiating elsewhere. The professional wrestling industry includes opportunities for referees across many levels, but no future plans for Wilson have been announced.

What the Departures Mean for WWE’s Roster Structure

The announcement of three departures does not point to a single shared story. Brown and Akesson were new recruits still in the developmental phase, while Wilson had spent several years working in WWE and had moved from NXT to SmackDown. Their respective tenures, responsibilities and levels of television exposure were markedly different.

For WWE’s Performance Center, turnover among recruits is part of the reality of a system built around scouting a broad collection of athletes. Some performers enter with years of wrestling experience and arrive with a clear identity already established. Others come from sports, fitness, entertainment or other fields and begin with the fundamentals. Developmental contracts offer an opportunity, but they also involve a period of assessment for both the talent and the company.

That context should not obscure the individual nature of Brown and Akesson’s situations. Both entered WWE with accomplishments in demanding strength and fitness disciplines. Brown’s bodybuilding and fitness-influencer profile and Akesson’s status as a Swedish powerlifting champion gave each recruit a distinctive athletic foundation. Still, neither had reached the point of making an official WWE in-ring debut before leaving.

Wilson’s situation carries a different type of operational impact. While WWE’s referee crews are built to cover the demands of live events and television, every experienced official has familiarity with the company’s pace and production requirements. Wilson had accumulated that familiarity over four years, beginning with NXT and later working on SmackDown.

WWE has not announced any immediate replacements, new referee assignments or changes to its developmental recruitment plans in connection with the three exits. It is therefore too early to draw wider conclusions about future roster strategy, Performance Center intake or SmackDown’s officiating team.

Uncertainty Remains Around the Next Steps

At present, the central confirmed facts are that Brown, Akesson and Wilson have departed WWE; Brown signed in May 2026, Akesson signed in March 2026, and Wilson had been signed since 2022. Brown and Akesson did not make official in-ring debuts at live events or on television, while Wilson worked NXT before his move to SmackDown.

Anything beyond those points remains unclear. There is no confirmed explanation for the departures, no announced timeline for when the respective relationships ended, and no public indication of future wrestling plans. Until further information emerges, the departures should be viewed as three separate changes involving two developmental prospects and an established WWE official.

For Brown and Akesson, the exits bring a quick end to prospective WWE journeys that had yet to reach the public stage. For Wilson, they conclude a WWE run that included work on both NXT and SmackDown. WWE’s developmental system and officiating crews will continue to evolve, but these three names are no longer part of that structure.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.