How a villainous alliance rose from an 'exiled' wrestler's grudge
In short: In the world of professional wrestling, some stories begin with a public firing. When Brooks Jensen was supposedly released by WWE in 2024, it sparked a calculated narrative of rebellion that eventually birthed The Culling—a dominant mixed-tag stable built on betrayal and strategic recruitment.
The foundation of the group lies in the 'kayfabe' release of Brooks Jensen on June 21, 2024. This storyline saw Jensen transition from a standard performer to an outsider who intruded on the WWE Performance Center and targeted high-level executives like Shawn Michaels. His path back into the fold involved a complex series of interactions with General Manager Ava and his former partner Josh Briggs, eventually leading him to find a mentor in Shawn Spears.
The stable's expansion was marked by strategic debuts and opportunistic maneuvers. Niko Vance debuted on November 12, 2024, aligning with Spears and Jensen to feud with The D'Angelo Family. The group’s growth relied heavily on the 'predatory' recruitment of Izzi Dame. After being stalked by Spears for recruitment, Dame initially joined The D'Angelo Family before turning on them in February 2025 following a steel cage match involving Tony D'Angelo.
The Culling officially formed during a vignette at NXT: Roadblock in early March 2025. Their trajectory has been defined by internal volatility; for instance, Dame kicked Jensen out of the group in June 2025 after a loss at Battleground, replacing him with Tatum Paxley. The stable's power dynamics shifted again in November 2025 when they turned on their own member, Paxley, to end her championship reign. This cycle of internal betrayal and shifting alliances characterizes their identity as a villainous force within the NXT brand.
The group has secured significant hardware across various divisions, including the NXT North American Championship held by Spears, the NXT Women's Championship held by Paxley, and the NXT Women's North American Championship won by Dame in early 2026.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Culling (professional wrestling)
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