View Full Version : Breaking news: Finally...
Jee-Hess
11-01-2004, 05:18 PM
A-Train and Billy Gunn have been released by the WWE...
Tragic Vision
11-01-2004, 05:26 PM
they were still with the company?
Jee-Hess
11-01-2004, 05:31 PM
Yep... The shadows of their return was still over our heads... But not anymore...
The "shave your back" chants used to cracked me up.
Jee-Hess
11-01-2004, 07:22 PM
We are blessed... Test was released too...
Wolf-Wood
11-01-2004, 08:04 PM
I hope Test can't find work anywhere. He's berated indies so much and now he'll hopefully get what he deserved...although I wouldn't be surprised if TNA scooped him up right away.
(it's Maniac)
TRZZXQ
11-01-2004, 11:43 PM
I wouldn't be surprised to see any of them turn up in AJPW or HUSTLE. Maybe Albert will sign with Pride or K-1. Maybe end up shoot-fight fodder for a NJPW young generation member, like Masayuki Naruse.
DevilFisch
11-02-2004, 05:44 PM
Albert is destined to be a gaijin monster over in Japan. Maybe he'll end up in the same fed as Bull Buchanan and they tag as the Big & Bald Connection. They can call Albert "the hairy one."
Test and Billy Gunn, who knows what's what for them. Gunn's messed up and Test...isn't that good.
Still, it's the end of the A-Train Sucks Era. Who takes over the reigns now?
Carlos Chaos
11-02-2004, 06:22 PM
they were still with the company?
I was wondering the same thing. I told Spits the other day I missed A-Train. We then broke into laughter.
Maniac
11-02-2004, 06:42 PM
Still, it's the end of the A-Train Sucks Era. Who takes over the reigns now?
The rest of the WWE roster?
Minus the obvious few.
Double O
11-03-2004, 05:55 AM
Good point. they all suck. Every one of them, even Ric Flair.
Surely the 'Annual Billy Gunn Push' was only just round the corner.. so this hits me hard.
Oh and Hess.......Nice tache!! :p
Anthony Ammo
11-03-2004, 07:58 PM
2 stories... credit: pwinsider
"WWE just announced on their website that they have released Chuck Palumbo, Nidia and Gail Kim, continuing the purge on talent that started earlier this week. As you can probably guess, these moves have led to what may be an all-time low in morale in the WWE locker room, which we will have more on tomorrow here on the site."
What will Nidia do with her ridiculous tits now?
I know they only guaranteed a year long contract, but I'm surprised they let the first tough enough winner go.
We have more information on the firing of Andrew “Test” Martin by WWE earlier this week. Test was released while he was still out rehabbing his neck after having extensive surgery in June. He is still looking at least six more months of rehab on the neck but was still let go by WWE. Releasing someone while they were rehabbing a work related injury is something that they rarely did in the past. Martin received the news via a phone call from John Laurinaitis, who told him that it was not his decision but that of Vince McMahon. When asked why he was being let go, Laurinaitis told him that for what he was being paid, WWE could sign six developmental talents and it was purely a financial decision. When Test asked Laurinaitis what he was supposed to do for the next six months when he was not able to work, a source close to the situation told me that he was told by Laurinaitis, “I had hoped that you saved some money” or words to that effect. Laurinaitis then told Test to give WWE a call when he’s healthy again about maybe coming back to work, which he reportedly said “no thanks” to.
Matt “A Train” Bloom and Billy Gunn were both released for financial reasons. Both men made in the area of $200,000 a year and that ended up costing them their jobs. In Gunn’s case, there were also outside elements from his personal life that factored into him being let go, but the decision was largely financial. In the case of A Train, sources have told me that there were no other factors at all other than money. This has many of the workers in the locker room on edge, for obvious reasons.
Whether you liked Test or not they really fucked him over... I bet he punches a wall over this.
SouthernGlitter
11-03-2004, 08:15 PM
Man that is so messed up.. to let Test go like that..
DevilFisch
11-04-2004, 12:53 AM
"WWE just announced on their website that they have released Chuck Palumbo, Nidia and Gail Kim, continuing the purge on talent that started earlier this week. As you can probably guess, these moves have led to what may be an all-time low in morale in the WWE locker room, which we will have more on tomorrow here on the site."
They're letting Gail Kim go? So soon? No wonder the morale's so down. And she isn't that bad in the ring either. Though the breast implant thing was a bad idea...
A-Train was making $200K? No wonder people are on edge. I'd be kind of worried if non-draw like Albert was making choice income and then fired because of financial reasons. Worried to be cut for the same reasons or take a pay cut or something.
In the words of Chief Wiggum, "Things are going to get a lot worse before they get a lot better."
Anthony Ammo
11-04-2004, 10:51 AM
more releases
WWE has released three more talents. WWE.com has added Johnny Stamboli, Rodney Mack and Jazz
Tragic Vision
11-04-2004, 11:09 AM
holy crap, they're really cleaning up.
test is real fucked now. he has talked so much shit on the indy circuit that there is no way in hell he'll ever have a job again. well, actually i just remembered someone said something about TNA picking him up, and i wouldn't doubt that.
gail kim was kinda overrated, but not terrible enough to be let go i think. they could have done more with her. rodney mack and jazz should have been released a long time ago.
billy gunn was awesome i think. he wasn't a good singles wrestler, but if you stuck him in a tag team, that tag team would be real good and entertaining. they were trying to push the team of billy gunn and hardcore holly for a while, but they just stopped. i think that they would have made for a great tag team, especially in SD! that REALLY lacks in the tag team department.
a-train isn't even a real person.
This is becoming a pretty major clear out. Do they have a lot of good talent coming up from OVW or are they bringing guys in? The rosters aren't exactly heaving as it is, so surely they've got to bring in a couple of guys as replacements.
So is there anyone else that could be released? I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris Nowinski or Bill DeMott given their marching orders. Maybe even Heidenreich after UT squashes him.
Anthony Ammo
11-04-2004, 11:45 AM
isn't Bill DeMott currently involved in Tough Enough as well as announcing on a show?
Most of the people they are clearing out have done a bunch of nothing.
I guess there's no more FBI? Just Guido...
Pariah
11-04-2004, 01:36 PM
Nowinski won't get released, one he's a Harvard graduate and two he is the best public speaker the WWE have, he does all of their tours of the States, etc and gives them great publicity
Gail Kim released, I liked her cute butt
Nowinski won't get released, one he's a Harvard graduate and two he is the best public speaker the WWE have, he does all of their tours of the States, etc and gives them great publicity
Are you sure he's genuinely a harvard graduate? I seem to remember that just being a gimmick stemming from his real name being Chris Harvard. Maybe I'm just imagining things.
Phreek
11-04-2004, 03:51 PM
Chris Harard was the nickname given to him byt the Tough enough crew.
There were two Chris' on that episode. And yes. He is a Harvard grad.
Jee-Hess
11-04-2004, 05:36 PM
Woooo... This starts to smell bad... Is there some panic? Are they preparing to merge the two brands... Or bring other talented and talentless guys from Ohio Valley?
Oh and Hess.......Nice tache!!
Thanks... I guess... I think it really looks... funny... It was only a one night deal for Halloween thought ;)
They just released Rico. The guy has been more over in the last couple of months than any other midcarder on Smackdown. Most of the other releases have been fairly understandable (perhaps barring A Train), but this one has come right out of the blue for me. Val Venis and Stevie Richards to go next.
Yeah.. Venis and Hardcore would be my picks.
lets get a sweep stake on this?!!
Maybe theyll sign up all the diva search contestants.. and those tough enough twats.. and usher in the new wwe era..
Anthony Ammo
11-04-2004, 07:38 PM
what the fuck... Rico?
I think his gimmick has gotten retarded... but he was still over... this is getting ridiculous now.
Maybe they'll fire fucking Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels next.
Pariah
11-04-2004, 08:13 PM
Nowinski is an actual Harvard graduate, and they are releasing all these guys because they aren't earning their keep, they're being paid a lot more than they are worth to the company
Maniac
11-04-2004, 09:17 PM
Maybe they'll fire fucking Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels next.
KURT ANGLE vs. BRYAN DANIELSON
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR 3!
Anthony Ammo
11-05-2004, 01:53 PM
As for Test being let go, a number of WWE sources told me that they weren't surprised because, as one person close to the situation told me, "HHH has been out to get Test for years".
hmmmm..........
Maniac
11-05-2004, 01:58 PM
Some dude just posted on 411 and the ROH boards that London and Hurricane were released, but I think it's BS.
Anthony Ammo
11-05-2004, 02:04 PM
yea... I don't believe it until it's confirmed by a legitimate source
edit- If London was released though, and is recovered from surgery, how awesome of a surprise would that be tomorrow?
Maniac
11-05-2004, 02:06 PM
I was thinking the same thing. Do they still have a no-compete clause even if they're released? Or is that just if they leave on their own?
Anthony Ammo
11-05-2004, 02:11 PM
if they are released it's basically the same as being fired... so they can go wherever they want.
If their contract had expired or they had asked to be let out of their contract then the no compete would apply...
but either way ROH doesn't have TV so I don't think it matters.
Tragic Vision
11-05-2004, 03:19 PM
at first, i wasn't a very big rico fan, but over the past few months, he's just grown on me so much. it really sucks that he was let go. he was a great midcarder.
as for london showing up... man that would be incredible.
TRZZXQ
11-05-2004, 07:34 PM
Oh my god! Rico's a freelancer! Rico vs Danshoku Dino! SOMEONE MAKE IT HAPPEN!
London wouldn't be a bad candidate to be let go. They're never going to make money off him because he's wrestling WWE style, which takes away (I'm lead to believe) all that is great about London in the first place. They may as well release him and let RoH fans get some enjoyment out of him.
As for Hurricane, that'd be a strange one. Rosey I can understand, but Hurricane is pretty over and good as "enhancement talent" until they inevitably turn him heel as the evil alter ego of himself.
Anthony Ammo
11-05-2004, 08:29 PM
It's ridiculous how bad they've fucked up with Hurricane...
I don't think he is the best wrestler in the world or anything... but they had him beat the ROCK and then didn't follow up on it.
What a waste.
And it seemed like they were turning him into a super villian a few weeks ago... but that push stopped out of nowhere... maybe that's a sign of his release?
Jee-Hess
11-05-2004, 10:58 PM
Maybe they'll cut one of those: Shannon Moore, Hardcore Holly, Scotty 2 Hotty, Funaki, Garrison Cade, Rhyno or Tomko...
Anthony Ammo
11-05-2004, 11:50 PM
Rhyno is in the midst of a push, isn't he?
Carlos Chaos
11-06-2004, 12:21 AM
RICO WAS RELEASED?!!?! HOLY FUCKING SHIT! THAT SUCKS ASS! He fucking grew on me, man! I think he's the only dude I will actually miss. :(
What the fuck happened to Garrison Cade? - yeah id get rid of him.. and tomko - they suck, and I can't see them ever improving.
Carlos Chaos
11-06-2004, 10:52 AM
I was starting to dig Garrison. He was showing some alright charisma and wasn't THAT BAD in the ring. He just needs to look less generic and get a better finisher.
Tomko can suck a fuck.
Shamdaman
11-06-2004, 11:26 AM
Who is actually left on the WWE cards?
It sounds like they only have around twenty or so performers......thats a hard act to maintain if you are wanting two seperate cards?
Jee-Hess
11-06-2004, 12:36 PM
A Smackdown writer was release... It's the write behind the Mordecai gimmick and the Hirohito one...
DevilFisch
11-06-2004, 04:51 PM
I'm confused.
Rico was over at one point after the Ambiguously Gay But Not Really You Know Duo of Billy & Chuck?
EDIT: You know, I'm kind of surprised this didn't happen sooner. I always felt the WWE had TOO many wrestlers since the Invasion angle. Too many wrestlers and not enough matches, not enough promos to get guys over, and not enough time to include faces and heels to keep them fresh in the minds of fans among other factors makes it REALLY difficult to get over unless you've got something working right from the start of the gimmick.
Of course, I say that now, but I have no reason how John Heidenreich is somehow excepted.
Reverend Rockwell
11-07-2004, 12:00 AM
Rico, Jazz, and Gail Kim getting released sucks.
Everybody else.. don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!
Gail Kim looked mighty fine on last weeks Raw too.. I think they were a bit to quick to get rid of her, they never used her properly..
I'd use her.. use her like a dirty little fucking whore..
Double O
11-07-2004, 01:53 PM
I think the wwe is in DIRE financial straits. Maybe it'll go belly up. And then have to completely reinvent itself, might not be a bad idea either.
Anthony Ammo
11-07-2004, 03:49 PM
I think the wwe is in DIRE financial straits. Maybe it'll go belly up. And then have to completely reinvent itself, might not be a bad idea either.
they aren't in"dire financial straights" at all.
You have to remember they are a public company now, and it is known that despite business being down they are doing very well.
!@#$%
11-08-2004, 09:55 AM
What will Nidia do with her ridiculous tits now?
!@#$%, show em, what else
Double O
11-08-2004, 12:07 PM
Ok, there just completely shit now then. Simple.
Jee-Hess
11-09-2004, 09:57 PM
WWE just released Lamont... or whatever is name was... He was the guy coming to the ring with Ernest Miller... I didn't even remembered that Miller once was in WWE...
DevilFisch
11-13-2004, 12:38 AM
Ernest Miller's time in the WWE. Unremarkable...for a reason. Like I care that he dances, has a butler, and likes to get down with the ladies.
Anyway, this just in.
Guy A: How come Shaniqua don't call you no more?
Guy B, on the phone: Is Shaniqua there?
Vince: HELL NO.
Linda Miles was recently given the axe as well.
TRZZXQ
11-13-2004, 07:40 PM
You know, with all the dead weight they've been cutting (and kudos to them), I wouldn't be surprised to see an end to the roster split soon. Could this be the beginning of a leaner, more focused WWE? Well, probably not, but it'd be a start.
Shamdaman
11-22-2004, 07:31 PM
Another facet to the WWE releasing all of this talent is probably their own confidence that they will never be challenged by another promotion for quite some time.
Their main contenders at the moment are NWA and RoH, both are really no threat to the WWE on a global scale. They will tick over and keep making their money.
They also know what the guys they have released can bring to a company and probably feel that the sacked wrestlers will never give another company enough attention to really worry them.
This also gives them a little space to blood their new younger talents and give them time to gain a fanbase without having to take the main events right from the off.
There are a few of those sackings that raise an eyebrow but they could have been a nightmare in the back in some way or another......and lets face it, the last thing the WWE need is another huge ego trying to call the shots.
........ it also lets them sign up all the Diva Search losers they want, and all the Tough Enough contestants who will never make it.
Double O
11-23-2004, 02:46 PM
Good thing about it is, they really HAVE to give proper pushes to their up and comers, Maven is feeling the benefit of this already. Who knows, maybe Mark Jindrak might actually make it to the top level, though somehow i think they'll balls it up somehow.
Jee-Hess
11-23-2004, 05:31 PM
With the Dupree / Holly fight, Bob Holly will probably be the next one fired...
Anthony Ammo
11-23-2004, 09:40 PM
With the Dupree / Holly fight, Bob Holly will probably be the next one fired...
I don't know... from what I've read people didn't really care because Dupree has been a prick.
But seriously... Holly is out of control.
Venom
11-23-2004, 09:47 PM
After all the shit Holly's pulled, I'm convinced that they'd sooner fire The Undertaker than Hardcore Holly.
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