Hornswoggle, Riley and Colter released

[Good Golly It's Ollie]

WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstars Hornswoggle, Alex Riley and Zeb Colter as of today, Friday, May 6, 2016. WWE wishes them the best in all of their future endeavors.

https://www.wwe.com/article/hornswoggle-alex-riley-released4

So, these three are all gone. Hornswoggle went the JTG route of taking a century to be released despite doing nothing on screen. I've personally found the concept of the "midget wrestler" to never have been executed well or in a way that isn't completely offensive, so whatever.

Riley was confirmed having a match on NXT next week as well as being somewhat rebuilt, so this is kind of a bummer. Can't say I really believed he would get back to his 2010 level though.

Colter could have been used elsewhere, liked him as a manager.

 

[That N Word]

Add El Torito and Cameron to that list. Good for WWE, get rid of the fat on the roster who was basically just there. What could have been with A-Ry though. He had all the potential in the world and was in the middle of a huge push before an alleged incident with Cena happened and it all went south. Colter/Mantel is a legend in the business and a future Hall Of Famer, So I doubt he cares. He'll likely get re-signed to a Legends deal as "Dutch Mantel." One has to wonder if Ryback is next.

 

[Harthan]

The total count is Santino, Cameron, El Torito, Hornswoggle, Colter, and Cameron at this moment. Almost everyone there was basically dead weight on a roster that has perhaps never been as stacked top to bottom, including developmental, so there's no reason to keep people around whose best virtue is that they could fill time. Cameron was never worth much of anything - even with the full weight of the Performance Center behind her, she never really reached beyond "passable" in-ring or as a character. The little people are actually a pretty stark contrast - Hornswoggle was basically always an annoyance and appealed mostly to kids at his best. Torito never did much in the WWE but he is actually a shockingly good wrestler, but he needs a full mini/lucha style division around him to showcase it, and clearly that will never work in the WWE. Colter lost his magic that he had when managing Jack Swagger as a true, edgy heel, and Mexamerica was a total disaster. The only name that strikes me is Santino - he seems like the kind of guy who could really have worked as someone's manager or even a commentator.

But really, this is classic spring cleaning and the WWE is pretty much doing well to unload all of these people.

 

[Good Golly It's Ollie]

Yeah they've since updated the page and Barrett is confirmed gone, which is fine with me since we already knew he'd made a conscious decision to leave.

Nothing I'm particularly salty over, although I consider Santino to be a great comedy midcard act during his main run a few years back.

 

[strangephish]

Damien Sandow has now been added as well. So far 8 are gone (Damien Sandow, King Barrett, Santino Marella, Cameron, Hornswoggle, Alex Riley, El Torito and Zeb Colter), how many more before the day is over.

 

[Shannibal]

Does anyone know how many cuts are expected? I assumed something like this was coming, but hate that they couldn't seem to find the right fit for Sandow and Barrett.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Does anyone know how many cuts are expected? I assumed something like this was coming, but hate that they couldn't seem to find the right fit for Sandow and Barrett.

I'd read an article early this morning saying that only about 4 were expected, so I'm a little surprised that it's reached 8. More could be on the way and I won't be surprised if Ryback is announced at being let go before the day's out.

I agree with your point about Sandow, the guy had a lot of personality and could've been put to better use. As for Barrett, as much as I'm a fan of the guy, it's probably best he left because he just couldn't stay healthy long enough for WWE to do anything meaningful with him. Whenever he started getting steam going, he seemed to suffer some significant injury that put him on the shelf for a good 6 months; even during the League of Nations gimmick, he suffered some sort of injury that kept him out of physical action for most of the gimmick's run so he just wasn't reliable.

 

[MWRedskins]

ok let me first get to Hornswoggle and El Torito.....to those two guys, i am glad they are released. Hornswoggle was good as a little manager type for Finlay, but WWE pushed him too much and that's where they went wrong. as for Torito, he has great moves, but his gimmick was stupid from the time he debuted. WWE actually trying to make someone believe that a fake horn would hurt a wrestler was laughable (in all the bad ways). Cameron wasnt that great, so i won't hate seeing her released.

As for Colter, i hate that WWE didnt do more with him after his role with Del Rio ended. he's a great mouthpiece for a wrestler. he did amazing work with Cesaro and Swagger....Admittedly, i dont know much about Riley. he started out fine, but then WWE put the screws to him (it seemed) and he just went to NXT and never returned. maybe another company like TNA will get him and use him right.

as for the others, i felt they weren't treated properly or pushed right. i dont know if Santino is healthy enough to do ring work anymore, but i always felt that WWE pushed him very badly. sure he's funny, but let the man wrestle serious. he didnt have bad moves (it seemed), but he was pushed like a comedy act....Sandow was pushed well at first, but then WWE just gave up on him after his failed cash in. Whenever Sandow goes to another company (GFW or TNA or ROH), he'll be amazing if used right and honestly that same thing goes with Barrett. he's very talented in the ring and on the mic. WWE hurt Barrett with Cena's beating the Nexus and Barrett's injuries didnt help either. i dont know what their futures hold, but if Barrett and Sandow both end up in TNA, i think they'll be stars there due to their mic work and in ring work.

(Damien Sandow, King Barrett, Santino Marella, Cameron, Hornswoggle, Alex Riley, El Torito and Zeb Colter),

 

[Good Golly It's Ollie]

They updated to include Sandow, so now I'm mad.

They stuck him back in his awesome original gimmick, then gave him no meaningful screen time. If he asked for his release, fine, but I'm saline as all hell

 

[bubalus]

I'd read an article early this morning saying that only about 4 were expected, so I'm a little surprised that it's reached 8. More could be on the way and I won't be surprised if Ryback is announced at being let go before the day's out.

Nah , if they want to get rid of Ryback they would just let his contract run out which is up soon as we all know. if they release him now they would have to pay him so see no reason why they would release him now.

 

[Sean Valjean]

So far, Riley is the only real surprise. He seemed to be on the verge of some sort of reset in NXT, including a scheduled match with Nakamura next week. Too bad, as he has a good look and was a solid jobber to the stars. Then again, he lost to Tye Dillinger. I should have seen this coming after that.

Sandow is sad, but not surprising. I think he had value as a charismatic jobber (ala the aformentioned Perfect 10), but I guess WWE disagrees. Santino was still on the payroll? I thought he retired/was cut long ago and was just making special appearances. Huh.

Colter hasn't appeared since the Mex-America debacle so I see why he's gone, but I don't understand why they couldn't pair him with another verbally challenged talent. He could have even been a coach at the Performance Center given his vast amount of knowledge and experience.

Cameron, Hornswoggle, and Torito...yeah, I've got nothing. They haven't done anything of note in ages, so this is the only reaction I can muster:

Spoiler

 

[TheYoungEra]

Days like this are always nail-biters. They happen every year, though. It really sucks seeing Sandow and Colter/Dirty Dutch on that list. Dutch Mantel has an indescribably great mind for the business, but he's a "wrestling guy" and surely Vince wouldn't have any of that. Thankfully, the Jarretts were there in a scalding-HOT minute to pick him up. Even at his age, Dutch still has a great deal of insight and knowledge of the business to offer to a smart promoter, so hopefully he can be to the benefit of the Jarretts at GFW or maybe even in TNA.

As for Sandow...just more proof the out-of-touch old man at Titan Tower doesn't listen, care, or give a rosy red rat's ass what fans think. Sandow was most assuredly WAAYYY over, and like many, his career was buried hard by Cena. Like Dutch, hopefully he will get picked up by one of the other promotions out there and set his feet on to his long-overdue path to greatness.

 

[Psykohurricane55]

It's been a while since they fired alot of main roster stars, but after reading the list, I'm not really surprise by any of the release.

It's seem like creative never where able to find something to do with sandow since the whole hogan fiasco pretty much put a stop to the mega powers tribute tag team. So I wasn't surprise by his release.

barett, we pretty much knew already that he wasn't resigning so that wasn't surprising

He rest were guys and girl that wwe hasn't been using on a regular based for a lomg time. Riley was pretty much a jobber to the stars on nxt and I'm wouldn't be surprise if the fact that cameron supported ryback on twitter probably cost her her job since she really wasn't use on the main roster or nxt anyway.

 

[Navi]

It's been a while since they fired alot of main roster stars, but after reading the list, I'm not really surprise by any of the release.

That's pretty much what I was thinking as well.

Haven't really seen Cameron in ages, and thought with her till timed comments on Ryback blog, might have been the straw that broke the camels back for her. El Torito and Hornswoggle, again, no brainers. Sandow is the one that surprised me the most, I really thought they would try and do something with him, he is hugely over with the crowd. Oh the fans will make the WWE pay for that cut make no mistake about that. Barrett wanted out so not surprised, and Santino too tell you the true I thought had already been cut a while back.

Alex Riley, it's a shame about him, thought he was gearing up in NXT, too bad liked the guy. And Coulter well I can think of someone who needs a manager badly. He's holding the WHC title right now. I'll give you three guesses the first two don't count. Coulter could have taught Reigns more than just speaking for him, too bad.

Have a feeling though we haven't seen the end of these cuts. Wrestlers like Swagger haven't done much and Ryback is acting like huge toddler right now. So we might see more names added to the list in the coming weeks. Really thought they would have gotten rid of more, just can't think of who right now.

 

[dsotm5150]

They usually clean house after Wrestlemania anyway, I'm surprised it took this long for them to start. I'm sure we'll see a few more get future endeavored over the next few weeks. Some of them were/most likely contracts they couldn't come to terms with or requests to leave like Barrett's case and I'm sure a few were "hey it's just not going to happen right now try back later"

 

[akathelaw]

Zeb Colter isn't a surprising release. He had a good run with Jack Swagger, but Swagger wasn't able to break back into the upper half of the card. I thought Zeb's pairing with Del Rio was a poor move for all involved.

El Torito and Hornswoggle's releases seem to be signaling an end to the mini-wrestler experiment. Hornswoggle has been a part of a LOT of WWE storylines and has had a better career than most talents. Still, he was mostly annoying and involved in terrible segments. The man seems nice but I'm glad he's gone. El Torito is a great wrestler, he'll pop up somewhere else right away.

Santino had a great run in WWE for what he was, and was always able to make whatever garbage creative wrote for him much more entertaining. I think Santino could've been even bigger than he was, but yeah his time was up as he accrued a lot of injuries. I'll miss him, easily the funniest wrestler since "Lionheart" Chris Jericho.

Cameron wasn't worth a damn, glad she's gone.

Alex Riley should have gone further. He was in a Wrestlemania main event for Pete's sake. Sorry to hear about the Cena situation.

Releasing Damien Sandow was a mistake. He had a lot of ability to entertain and get himself over. Not sure why he was a Money in the Bank winner at one point and in the bottom of the card later. I hope he shows up somewhere else.

Wade Barrett should've been a WWE Champion. I don't know why anyone thinks Reigns is more of a champion than Barrett. The injuries were a big setback though. Yet another talent who was passed up for some loser Vince liked more.

 

[stingray11214]

Not surprised by any of the releases, TBH. Cameron was near useless, and was only using WWE to try for a recording career. Dutch Mantel will be a major player for Jeff Jarrett behind the curtain at GFW. He would also be a great consultant to the Indies. As Zeb Coulter? He was a great mouthpiece that was just not appreciated by Titan Towers, El Torito will go back to Mexico where "Minis" wrestling is appreciated. If Hornswoggle is smart, he would also go to Mexico. Both were near useless over the last year. Santino was trying for a comeback. Did not happen.

Now, Alex Riley left what would have been a long time gig as a Color Commentator for a final attempt in the ring. I can see him getting a Color or Play-by-play gig with one of the new TV shows from the Indies. At 35, he may not be able to do that well in the Indies as an in-ring performer. Barrett was too injury prone at the wrong times to be of much use in the end. When he is healed, I can see him in the British Indies or in Japan. Finally, Sandow was just NEVER fully appreciated. He was comedy gold. He will make a KILLING in the Indies. I can also see TNA, RoH or Paragon trying to sign him. His merch table will be mobbed at every Indy event. He will do the best of all the releases.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

So wait despite Santino retiring years ago he was still employed andbgetiing paid? To do what? I ask the same of Hornswoggle!

Why would you release Sandow over Heath Slater or Bo Dallas?

 

[ShinChan]

Why would you release Sandow over Heath Slater or Bo Dallas?

Exactly. What about Fandango & Curtis Axel?

Out of these 8 released wrestlers, There are only 2 whom I care about. Aka Wade Barrett & Damien Sandow. I now have mixed feelings for them. I mean that I am sad because I won't be able to watch them as I can only watch WWE. Also that they both deserved more accolades and respect too. I am happy also considering that they won't remain unutilised talents now.

I mean that these two can go anywhere in the world and make a name as they are immensely talented. TNA, ROH, NJPW or even Lucha Underground can sign them and utilise them right. The fact that I won't see them jobbing is a happy news.

Here is something from Barrett:

 

[Sean Valjean]

So wait despite Santino retiring years ago he was still employed andbgetiing paid? To do what? I ask the same of Hornswoggle!

Why would you release Sandow over Heath Slater or Bo Dallas?

Slater and Dallas (along with Axel) are part of a fairly over stable that's used regularly. As such, they're higher up the food chain than Sandow, who rarely appeared anymore. Besideds, Slater and especially Dallas are comedic gems in their own right and shouldn't be released.

 

[WorstWrestlingExcrement]

Nah , if they want to get rid of Ryback they would just let his contract run out which is up soon as we all know. if they release him now they would have to pay him so see no reason why they would release him now.

Cryback can pull CM punk move and leave maybe head to TNA for more money since now they are signing guys with new management

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Zeb Colter was a great manager. Probably the best behind Paul Heyman and Lana. Perhaps his health/age is a concern, but he shouldn't have been released.

Hornswoggle was never going anywhere. He was just a comedy character, and I didn't enjoy his routine.

Alex Riley is wasted potential. I enjoyed his feud with Miz and he looked to be the next star. Then he just disappeared. Supposedly because of that backstage incident with Cena. I thought he would be a perfect fit in NXT as sort of a "stepping stone", but it's probably best he leaves.

In the end Riley and Colter were pretty talented, but WWE has bigger and better stars elsewhere, so they didn't get much attention. I wish them the best of luck.

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I missed a few releases since I only read the opening post.

Damien Sandow is quite possibly the most misused wrestler in WWE in recent memory. The term buried gets thrown around and misused a lot, but Sandow was definitely buried. He was one of the most over wrestlers on the entire roster. After that feud with Miz, he was white hot. Then EVERYTHING came to a screeching halt. They completely forgot about him and completely screwed him over. He had so much potential. He probably could've been a Top 5 heel or face. He turned absolute trash booking into gold (see the impersonations). Whoever is responsible for Sandow's burial should be fired.

Wade Barrett is another example of wasted potential. He was a great heel but bad booking and injuries hurt him. It's too bad.

Why was Santino Marella still employed? He was nothing more than a comedy jobber and hasn't been on TV in a long time.

Cameron and El Torito were a waste of space. They deserve to be gone.

None of the releases are that surprising. Some were wasted potential while others were just not that good. It's probably best so they can make time for new stars and NXT call-ups.

 

[Azane]

Cryback can pull CM punk move and leave maybe head to TNA for more money since now they are signing guys with new management

People are leaving TNA because they're literally not paying them owed money, I doubt the grass is any greener.

400k a year + Merch + PPV buys probably gave Ryback plenty of money for his actual drawing power.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

Barrett was no shock at all, he'd said that he'd be "packing it in" about now in an interview a few years ago... it's the main reason he never progressed further. It sounds like he's gonna take a sabbatical and why not? He's young enough that WWE could still be back in for him down the line and he wouldn't be the first to benefit from working Japan then returning.

Colter and Hornswoggle are no shocks at all - Dutch has not been in the best of health since needing the walker and they were never really using his true expertise backstage as a writer/booker. He's had a great run all told and can enjoy a retirement, sure he'll be back periodically. Hornswoggle is a little more surprising, but only because (cue controversy) he filled a nice spot as a "disability employee", he was also employed backstage for much of his tenure. Onscreen there was little else for him to do and it seems a bit like they just didn't have enough backstage to keep him around any longer.

Riley is not a shock, but disappointing - he'd clearly worked hard and was on the cusp of something. Perhaps Cena's imminent return has something to do with this?

Sandow will be back - think back to Christian in 05... They know what they're doing letting him go. Cameron opened her mouth and killed her career... Would not be shocked to see her go the Sable route and try to sue.

I think there will still be more releases... with Barrett gone early then I can see Ryback getting the same deal, after all why keep him on the books - it would just look spiteful.

Titus, Adam Rose & Zack Ryder could all go - Titus' deal expires soon too I believe and Ryder is at that point where this "comeback" didn't really take off, it seems like one last go for him before they let him go elsewhere... Perhaps WWE are not being dicks for a change and wanted to give him a fair crack at getting back into people's minds before leaving.

The Orton rumors won't go away... There have long been suggestions that this long injury is more than it seems, he's long been on that bubble of the 3rd suspension/firing and thus having to have a year before they could rehire him. While there is no proof anything like this has happened, they DID amend the rules a while ago, when RVD returned and they could apply now to Orton... If he does return, realistically what is he gonna do? He won't be happy down the pecking order ala Kane/Big Show/Henry but it's where he'd end up being used.