Candice Michelle Fired... Because of her Weight?

[Tenta]

The PWTorch.com Newsletter is reporting that former WWE diva Candice Michelle fell out of favor with WWE management because of her weight when she worked out in the ring last month in Los Angeles.

I must say, I usually understand that the WWE has a reasoning behind any wrester being fired. But honestly, this is fucking apalling to me.

What are you telling all of the women who watch this show, and all of the women employees that work for you? That if you start to gain a little weight, you'll wind up just like Ms. Michelle here. I'll be the first to admit, I wasn't the hugest fan of Candice when she wrestled. But there's no way she should be fired because of her weight. If she was morbidly obese, and they released her under the terms that they would help her lose weight, then I suppose I'd understand. But Jesus, the last time I saw Candice on TV, she didn't look bad enough to be fired.

And this isn't the first time I've been apalled... There was the angle of Vickie being the "pig" that, looking back at, was extremely mean. What exactly is the WWE telling women? And why should the employees of WWE be treated to such horrible lengths? I mean, Jesus Christ, this revolting. You gain fifteen pounds, and we're going to let you go? I understand how important the Diva's looks are, but God, it's not like Candice had a problem.

I feel WWE is completely wrong on this matter. Good luck convincing me otherwise. And God spare your soul if you try.

Mods, be forewarned. I very likely will be banned for letting lose on someone here.

 

[NSL]

Look...I'm not a fan of her either, and I don't agree with the reasoning here, but you need to look at it from WWE's perspective. They're selling the Divas as sex symbols, and no one wants to have sex with this:

I know looks don't affect how she is in the ring, or how good of a person she is, but they need to pay attention to what the fans want. No one (except Ech), liked her in the ring before, and they certainly won't like her in the ring like that. They fired Cherry for the same reason, and she wasn't nearly as unattractive. I doubt she's the last victim either of this. If Kelly, Maryse, Melina, or even Layla started packing on the pounds, I'm sure Vince would cut them loose too.

 

[Tenta]

Look at it through their perspective? Their marketing to fucking kids, anyway, NSL. Jesus, man, don't buy into this bullshit. What do they care about Sex, if they're marketing to fucking kids? Kids don't worry if someone gains an extra fifteen pounds. And what does that tell them? Treat the girl who gained a few pounds differently? That she's not same person she used to be? You can't tell me you see anything right in such a firing. I don't care if she can't work, NSL, because the fact is that she was never able to work.

And they still kept her, NSL. They made her a fucking Woman's Champion. Yeah, I get it, Sex Sells. But don't fall into the chauvanistic pig's train of thought that seems to cloud the boys in Stamfords minds. Candice may have a bit of weight, but do ypu mean to tell me that it wouldn't have a lasting effect on women who watch? And what about the women that work for WWE, and put up with this bullshit? What are they suppose to feel like right now?

I understand what you're saying if they did fire her because of her work NSL. But please, don't become like the swine at WWE headquarters. I like you NSL. But you are so fucking in the wrong here.

 

[The Dewbliners]

I generally didn't dislike her look before, but I never really paid attention to her, either. But to say she was cut soley for her weight gain is, in my opinion, incredibly naive. Look at Mickey, she hasn't exactly been watching the pounds, but she can at least work without getting injured every other match. Which brings me to why I say she was released: Candice Michelle is injury prone. Just like Kennedy. Although, Candice's weight is a little off putting. I'll leave it at that.

 

[NSL]

Look at it through their perspective? Their marketing to fucking kids, anyway, NSL. Jesus, man, don't buy into this bullshit. What do they care about Sex, if they're marketing to fucking kids?

Please don't tell me you're that naiive. If they were marketing to kids, would they have women like Maryse, Kelly, or Michelle near the title scene? Or prancing around in practically nothing?

Kids don't worry if someone gains an extra fifteen pounds. And what does that tell them? Treat the girl who gained a few pounds differently? That she's not same person she used to be?

Again, if Vince was really worried about kids, would he have had Stone Cold crucified? Or, "killed" himself twice on TV? Or, how about Kane nearly raping Kelly Kelly? I'm sure kids are more scarred by that. And, I doubt there's 6 and 7 year olds surfing the net for the latest WWE news, and getting upset she got fat and fired.

You can't tell me you see anything right in such a firing. I don't care if she can't work, NSL, because the fact is that she was never able to work. And they still kept her, NSL. They made her a fucking Woman's Champion.

Exactly my point. All she had going for her, were her looks. Now that they're gone, why should Vince keep her around? It's not like she's jobless now either. She still has the GoDaddy gig, and I'm sure Cinemax would take her back in a heartbeat for some more softcore porn.

Also, when was the last time the Women's Championship meant anything? '95?

Yeah, I get it, Sex Sells.

So, why did you start this thread?

But don't fall into the chauvanistic pig's train of thought that seems to cloud the boys in Stamfords minds. Candice may have a bit of weight, but do ypu mean to tell me that it wouldn't have a lasting effect on women who watch?

I'm sure her fans are more upset that they won't get to see her hurt herself every other match, than upset that she got canned because her ass grew a few inches. The women that watch, also watch for the good looking guys. More women would be upset at Jeff Hardy getting fired, then upset over this.

And what about the women that work for WWE, and put up with this bullshit? What are they suppose to feel like right now?

Money talks. Sex sells. As long as they stay the way they are, they have nothing to worry about. There's no other way to explain some of them still having a job. If this were about wrestling, we'd see some real matches, and a lot less of what we have for the last few months/years.

I understand what you're saying if they did fire her because of her work NSL. But please, don't become like the swine at WWE headquarters. I like you NSL. But you are so fucking in the wrong here.

You have the right to your opinion, and I won't try to change it. I don't think the reason they fired her is right, but they have a business to run. Sex sells. you said it yourself. Not fat chicks in spandex, wrestling semi-hot plastic chicks in similar spandex.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Who gives a shit if she gained weight? So she is fired, but Mickie James is kept? Jus sayin. Not that I care if she stays or goes, I couldnt care less, but at least fire her for being terrible at everything, not for adding on a few pounds. Ridiculous.

 

[NSL]

Who gives a shit if she gained weight? So she is fired, but Mickie James is kept? Jus sayin. Not that I care if she stays or goes, I couldnt care less, but at least fire her for being terrible at everything, not for adding on a few pounds. Ridiculous.

^^^

I agree with this. She should've been fired because she was a hazard to herself, and anyone that stepped in the ring with her. Saying she was fired because she's fat is wrong, but no one made a fuss when they canned Cherry for the same exact reason. Mickie's situation is slightly different, at least concerning weight. She's been about the same size since she started in the company, and has been wearing less revealing clothing for the last few years. Candice started as tall and skinny, and has quickly become cellulite pouring out of the holes in her pants.

Again, I don't agree it was right, but I can see how Vince made the decision.

 

[Tenta]

I generally didn't dislike her look before, but I never really paid attention to her, either.

Neither did I, but you have to admit, this is really disturbing to hear coming from the WWE

But to say she was cut soley for her weight gain is, in my opinion, incredibly naive.

The reasoning given is that she they weren't happy with her weight. If it was because of her work, they would have released her a long time ago. And just coming off that horrific angle with Vickie Guerrero, I'm far more inclined to say that this is the pig portion of the WWE at work here. This isn't exactly uncommon of the WWE; they have a history of being extremely crass to their women. You're talking about the same company in which the owner has been on screen, in a relationship with a good percent of the Divas

Look at Mickey, she hasn't exactly been watching the pounds, but she can at least work without getting injured every other match.

I'll admit, there's a portion of it that follows being able to work. Mickie can work, and Vince needs her. Otherwise, you can bet she'd cut her, too.

Which brings me to why I say she was released: Candice Michelle is injury prone. Just like Kennedy. Although, Candice's weight is a little off putting. I'll leave it at that.

Off putting? Buffy, it's not like she's fat! This is the problem I have with the media. You really think she's fat, Buffy? Jesus, how much of a skewed vision of woman do you have? Are you really that disillusioned?

Did injuries play some role? Perhaps. But if that was the case, she would have been released within her injuries. They have no problem doing such a thing. Ask the aforementioned Kennedy. Vince let's go injured people. So I really don't buy that.

 

[Tenta]

Who gives a shit if she gained weight? So she is fired, but Mickie James is kept? Jus sayin. Not that I care if she stays or goes, I couldnt care less, but at least fire her for being terrible at everything, not for adding on a few pounds. Ridiculous.

NorCal, there have been too many incidents recently for me to think this had anything to do with anything but her weight. Again, I'll sight that Vickie Guerrero angle. The WWE tends to have the pattern of looking down upon women that are different looking, or have a bit of girth. Bertha Faye, anyone?

My question is this; sure, fire her because she's terrible. But why does the WWE insist on having such a piggish nature to it's programming?

 

[NSL]

And just coming off that horrific angle with Vickie Guerrero, I'm far more inclined to say that this is the pig portion of the WWE at work here.

Everything they did with Vickie, was wrong, so don't apply what I say to her situation.

As far as it being the "pig portion", I'm not sure I agree 100%. I agree partly, because it is a dick move to make a move like that, for that reason, but they do have a business to run. With ratings slipping, major stars missing a lot of time, and all the creative problems they're having, they need to watch their backs, and do everything possible to help their ratings.

Are you going to stop watching because of this? Probably not. Would someone stop watching if they saw Candice's new ass flopping around the ring? Probably. One viewer lost is too much for them. They're playing the odds, and doing what they can to keep their fanbase.

 

[Tenta]

Everything they did with Vickie, was wrong, so don't apply what I say to her situation.

As far as it being the "pig portion", I'm not sure I agree 100%. I agree partly, because it is a dick move to make a move like that, for that reason, but they do have a business to run. With ratings slipping, major stars missing a lot of time, and all the creative problems they're having, they need to watch their backs, and do everything possible to help their ratings.

Are you going to stop watching because of this? Probably not. Would someone stop watching if they saw Candice's new ass flopping around the ring? Probably. One viewer lost is too much for them. They're playing the odds, and doing what they can to keep their fanbase.

NSL, tell me.... Did you find the "pig" angle funny? Or were you uncomforted by it, and did you find it hard to sit through? I know for me, it was far more the latter. I saw what you said about Candice's "cellulite".... I understand wrestling fans aren't cultured, but is that how we honestly want to atrract fans? Cut the ugly ones, or the ones with some excess weight? What does that fucking tell kids, NSL?

I have the feeling that anyone that stops watching because of a wrestler with excess weight is someone I don't want watching my show. It's fans like us that give us such a fucking bad name, NSL. This is why people think us fans are sideshow freaks. Because of bull shit like this

 

[NSL]

NSL, tell me.... Did you find the "pig" angle funny? Or were you uncomforted by it, and did you find it hard to sit through?

Honestly, I wasn't watching WWE then, so I can't answer this. Also, because it involved Santina, I probably would have changed the channels anyway.

I know for me, it was far more the latter. I saw what you said about Candice's "cellulite".... I understand wrestling fans aren't cultured, but is that how we honestly want to atrract fans? Cut the ugly ones, or the ones with some excess weight? What does that fucking tell kids, NSL?

Again, I'm sure kids aren't surfing the net, looking up latest news on WWE's releases, and seeing she got fired for her fat ass. WWE is still marketed towards 18-40 year olds, and as soon as Vince remembers that, he'll be better off. This is also the same man that wouldn't show his daughter from the waist down, because she just had a baby. You need to remember who you're talking about here. The only people that know she got fired for being fat, are people old enough to know better.

I have the feeling that anyone that stops watching because of a wrestler with excess weight is someone I don't want watching my show. It's fans like us that give us such a fucking bad name, NSL. This is why people think us fans are sideshow freaks. Because of bull shit like this

These are exactly the people that Vince wants watching. Don't you get that? People that will willingly buy anything he puts out, and will eat up every storyline like he's re-writing the bible. I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying it's Vince, and should be expected.

 

[The Dewbliners]

Let's say for the sake of argument that she was, indeed, fired for her weight gain (which, by the way, I don't buy for a second, mostly cause the Torch reported it, and they're nothing but a glorified dirt sheet). Looking at it from a promoter's point of view, and that's what Vince is above all else, you have somebody who's been off for an extended time, and they show up to a taping looking like they hadn't put forth any effort whatsoever to stay in shape. How would you handle that? Politely point out that they should consider hitting the gym, maybe do a few situps and crunches? Or, as a promoter, would you view them as being lazy, and not giving a flying fuck that they are even lucky to be there, while others are slaving away in Tampa chomping at the bit for her spot? She obviously didn't care enough to stay in shape, hell, she should have come back looking like Natty and Beth Phoenix.

As an aside, I didn't mean to insinuate she's fat, because she's not. I actually like chicks with a little meat, but the key is proportion. Her weight gain was all in the stomach area, an obvious sign of her slacking off in her weight training, which would indicate laziness.

 

[tLight]

I think its because she went from crack head skinny, to jello belly. Either way her being fired for her weight doesnt really matter.

She sucked, end of story.

 

[48.7 is Approximately 49 Times Better Than You]

Look, when Divas sign a contract I'm sure there is at least a verbal agreement that she will maintain a certain weight and appearance. If Candice was gaining weight and really looked at chunky as NightShiftLoser posted, then I can completely see the reason behind her release.

When you say they're marketing to children, I think they're targeting the 10-14 year old range. Obviously, they are not targeting six year olds. Six year old are still watching PBS kids a lot of the time. I'm sure some of you will say, "Well I was watching wrestling at four!", but that is typically because you watched with your dad. Now, they are targeting new fans. Kids that age (10-14) are starting to, or have found, an interest in girls and hormones are raging. They'll be very interested in the most beautiful children on television. I would have had no interest in a flabby, plastic Candice Michelle.

But it sends the kids the wrong message! No! It doesn't. If you want to get down to it, it shows kids that you need to work hard to maintain a suitable appearance for your line of work. If Kobe Bryant gained fifteen pounds in the offseason and could not preform up to par, then would any of you cry about how he's been unfairly terminated? He's still the same, good person after all. Besides, it doesn't even matter what the kids think. What child who isn't old enough to understand this will be on the internet looking at articles on PWI.com? Be serious.

Candice Michelle was never any good. She was pushed for Playboy and for being the Go-Daddy Girl. Her in ring skills were atrocious, she had no charisma, and once she lost her looks, she had nothing. There is no reason to keep her.

 

[scr3wy]

She fact of the matter is this, she wasn't fired for being fat. She was fired for being USELESS. All the opportunities to work better, and STILL fucks up. That's why Kennedy was fired (although that was a misunderstanding) She's a bad worker, and proof positive that a contest winner does not a wrestler make.

 

[48.7 is Approximately 49 Times Better Than You]

Who gives a shit if she gained weight? So she is fired, but Mickie James is kept? Jus sayin. Not that I care if she stays or goes, I couldnt care less, but at least fire her for being terrible at everything, not for adding on a few pounds. Ridiculous.

The difference between her and Mickie James is that James is a crowd favorite, is one of the few divas that can work a solid match, and her stomach isn't really flabby. She has a bit of a tummy, but it's cute. Candice's, from the picture above, isn't.

 

[blair4107]

What did Candice Michelle have left in the WWE anyway? Everyone complained when she had the title that it should be about real wrestlers not models; now the model gets fired and everyone complains?

You complain about chauvinism? This is wrestling: no matter what the target age demographic, the target sex will always be male. Do you think the View is considering their heterosexual male demographic much?

Hmm, looks like a model to me. OH yeah, she IS a model. When a model gets fat what happens? She gets cut.

Also just look at the "Divas" they currently have, with Maryse and Eve Torres you already basically have Candice's gimmick in Maryse and most of her looks in Eve. Let's be honest, Maryse is the French Candice Michelle and even hotter.

To believe for any moment that the WWE Diva Criteria is about talent as opposed to looks is truly naive.

 

[Diablosbomb]

Weren't there talks of releasing her soon anyway? I'm pretty sure i read somewhere, probably here on wrestlezone, that they were gonna use her to put over like a new diva or someone than get rid of her anyway because she was horrible and kept hurting herself. It is wrong if the weight was the only reason they got rid of her, but I have a feeling it was just the reason they got rid of her sooner than they were going to anyway.

 

[CKguy217]

I thought she got cut mainly because of being to injury prone. Seriously, she was like the female version of Kennedy. A broken collar bone, two broken noses, and probably a couple other things all within like a 3 year time period.

 

[Chris in SC]

The weight may have been icing on the cake (pun intended).

But she needed to go anyway...injury prone and was starting to look a bit weird with too much lip-injections (like Jillian). And yes, right or wrong, looks matter.

Honestly, have you really missed her being on TV lately? For me the answer is a resounding 'No'.

 

[dta2324]

her weight huh.......how about the fact that she was always out...sucked in the ring and wasnt a draw.....your weight argument holds no water....take a look at mickie james....20lbs heavier than she was a yr ago and still climbing.....and she is getting pushed right now in a program with Maryse.....also the biggest women of them all in the wwe up until 2 weeks ago was the raw gm....and did her job well....so people not getting positions or pushed or keeping their jobs cause of weight is a joke.......just take a look at mickie and vickie guerrero. get a grip.

 

["Cool Guy" Jensen]

I'm not sure if it's true, but I did hear reports that WWE fired Candice Michelle over her weight gain. If this is indeed true, then I feel that the WWE has hit an all-time low. I know that Candice was probably not the best diva on the roster, but she worked her ass off to improve. If you looked at her in the later part of her career, then you see that she was greatly improving. Candice's weight should not have been a factor for her release. For a person like Candice, who has such a huge desire to entertain us, I'm sure that she would have worked out even harder to get back in shape. And it's not like WWE needed her to return as soon as possible. Smackdown had contenders for the Women's Championship, and if given time, Candice could have gotten back in shape and gotten ready to return by September at the latest.

 

[HBK-aholic]

If she was fat, or overweight in any way, then I'm morbidly obese. Candice Michelle was in NO way fat at all. FFS if Umaga, Big Show and Mark Henry still have jobs in the business, she should. She was no where near the worst female in the business, a compliment seeings as my views on the womens division are incredibly negative. I've never really been annoyed at something about the WWE, but if this is true it's disgusting.

 

[HypnotizedHero2010]

if she had any true wrestling tallent like mickey and natalia then she wouldn't have been cut. the weight gain is not the noly reason. shes also injury prone and cant wrestle plain and simple. i guess the weight was the final straw. but if your a diva then you have to look good. no one wants an awsome kong in the womes division right??