NXT competitor Kavita Devi has responded to claims that she was among several talents released from the NXT brand on the 19th of May.
Thirty-eight-year-old Devi has not competed since July 2019 after suffering an ACL injury that ruled her out of in-ring competition. She returned to her native India several months later and has now confirmed that she went back to her home country to help take care of her husband who contracted COVID-19.
Devi was reported among several names released from the NXT brand that included the highly controversial pair of referee Drake Wuertz and former NXT North American Champion Velveteen Dream.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Kavita Devi has sought to clarify her standing with WWE, saying:
“I’ve read some of those reports, and they aren’t accurate. I have been back at home in India since January. My husband contracted Covid earlier this year and I needed to be here with my family, I chose not to go back to America. Everyone at WWE has been incredibly supportive, I am filled with gratitude for everything they have done for me. I have also had an ACL injury for over a year and have been unable to perform in the ring but WWE still supported me through all of that. They understand that India is where I need to be. We are working together on a new arrangement that allows me to be home, but still part of the WWE Universe.”
“India continues to be a very important market for WWE with some of the most passionate fans in the world. I will still be involved as an ambassador for WWE in India. In the future that may mean I am involved in scouting new talent or with WWE Live events, anything is possible. There are incredible Indian talent at WWE and I will continue to champion them here at home – including Sanjana George, from Kottayam, who recently signed a developmental contract at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.”
WWE held a Superstar Spectacle event in January 2021 that featured many Indian wrestlers on the show that Devi was reportedly originally going to be a part of. In the main event, Drew McIntyre teamed with The Indus Sher to defeat Jinder Mahal and The Bollywood Boyz.