If you are in a Z8 other than my own and haven't had Fall rains begin yet, keep them watered and be patient. There really isn't anything else you can do this time of year.

Normally, healthy well established azaleas (and they are shrubs :)) will recover/resprout from severe hard pruning. That kind of restorative pruning is better done in Spring so new growth has time to mature before short days and cold weather, but hopefully you'll find all 5 will be fine. Do expect them to take a break from blooming next year - next Springs flower buds have been removed.

That is comforting to know, that they will come back. Sorry to call them trees, they were just so, big :P.

The basic problem is terminology: One person's idea of "under control" is rarely the same as someone else's.

So, a lesson learned: When you want a shrub or tree "trimmed up" or "under control," either specify precisely what you want done to it or do it yourself.

Actually the ambiguity probably led to a good result. I doubt if the plants would look as good as quickly as they will now with this severe pruning if a caring person was doing the pruning. Sometimes serendipity is thought to be a mistake at first. In this case, the lesson is to trust fate when you don't have control.