**Merged** Carlito fired...Why? Does anyone really care?

[Ducey13]

Carlito, Carlito, Carlito. Where do we start? Its been well documented over the years that he was considered lazy. Not willing to work hard at getting better or being a great character. Guys get into this buisness because they want to be the champ, and if you don't want to be THE GUY, then get out. At some point he obviously stopped caring about his status, and was just there collecting paychecks.

When he first debuted, he had some talent. Was it Elite Talent? We'll never know, but it might have been if he had worked at it. He comes from a wrestling family so you know he had a certain understanding of the buisness.

Like everyone here. I had become tired of watching this guy just waste and squander his career. After his stuff with Ric Flair, I think he hit a point of no return with me. Even if he did finally get serious, it's hard to erase all those years of jobberness.

Its ashame because when he first debuted he was pushed hard. He was right there with Cena and Orton while they were developing. Who knows what Carlito could have been if he had worked as hard as them. I was a fan of his character and hoping he'd break out but he let me down.

Now he just recently reunited with Primo. It was interesting WWE let him cut a short promo on Superstars. Normally Superstars doesn't feature Promos or segments, but for some reason they did this time. Now the Promo wasn't anything earth shattering, but it was logical. If he had taken this team serious and worked at getting better and recieved a push, then maybe he could have started to erase his bad reputation.

But he's gone. I have a feeling he could still end up back in WWE if he want to in the future. Like I said, I liked Carlito when he first came out, but haven cared nothing for him over recent years. IF he did return to WWE in a year or two with renewed focus then I could see myself likeing him again. So maybe this is all for the best with Carlito. If we never see him again though I won't be disappointed.

As far as Primo. I've always felt he was talented too, but creative wasn't really sure how to use him. Thats going to be Primos biggest problem, is that creative doesn't know what to do with him and never has. Teaming with Carlito was just a way of giving him something. Now thats gone. Teaming with Carlito wasn't a longer term solution but it was something. There is another brother named Tito Colon in FCW right now. I think they;ll bring him up to the main roster to team with Primo and see how that works out, before they just outright release Primo.

 

[The Deadly Viper]

So all in all it makes one wonder, just what was Carlito on!

Calpol

Right on topic and being serious about this, no I don't think he was doing this on purpose. I think he just didn't care about his job to be honest, and none of us seemed to care about him. So no I don't think he did it on purpose tbh.

 

[robbo316]

I never understood all the hype for Carlito, the guy was a straight shooter with lower mid-carder written all over him. And really, I'm sick of this wellness policy BS. If you can still do your job, what you do on your own time is your own business. Even if it results in a shorter life, it's your own personal choice. That being said, I've always disliked Carlito and I'm glad he's gone.


I bet you in a few weeks he'll be in TNA sniffing coke with Jeff Hardy and Razor Ramon.

What you do in your own time is your own business, yes, unless it is something that is against the law; Then it becomes something that is not your own business. Hell, a few years ago I was fired from a job for turning up smelling of alcohol from the previous night. If that can happen to me, then what the hell is wrong with someone being fired for taking drugs?

 

[The Scarred One]

What you do in your own time is your own business, yes, unless it is something that is against the law; Then it becomes something that is not your own business. Hell, a few years ago I was fired from a job for turning up smelling of alcohol from the previous night. If that can happen to me, then what the hell is wrong with someone being fired for taking drugs?

Not to mention, if whatever substance the person is on affects their performance or behavior, than it does become a problem. It makes for a very uncomfortable situtation for the person involved and the people in their everyday life.

 

[jmyers19]

In all honesty I think he did this, taking something, being suspended and refusing rehab just so he could be released because what would be the point in WWE keeping someone who refuses rehab who would clearly violate the terms two more times. I just hope this isn't serious and we see another name added to the deceased wrestlers list in a matter of months or years. He was essentially pushed to the moon, US Title win on his debut against a rising face of the company at the time, then he gets drafted to the A Show and wins the IC Title upon his Raw debut. I even fondly remember watching, it was either Bottom Line or Experience at the time on Sky1 that he had a WWE Title shot when Cena was feuding with Jericho as well. And add onto the fact that he and Primo won the Unified Tag Team Title's at WrestleMania 25...yes this was a dark match only people who were either there had gotten to see or it was put up on video sites before being included on the DVD as an extra and yes the Tag Division back then wasn't spectacular and only now are they slowly picking up speed but hey a victory at WrestleMania unifying two belts is great. He had potential as well, face or heel he got a good reaction, good mic worker and a good worker but he clearly didn't care. Maybes TNA will pick him up, maybes he'll go back to working for his dad. Shame though about Primo, what are they going to do now, turn him face? Keep him heel see him get not much of a reaction then release him? Shame since the guys got talent.

 

[Remix]

There is absolutely no way that Carlito got fired on purpose. WWE policy isn't to send people to rehab until their second failure (if reccomended by Dr Black). THe fact that Carlito got suggested it on his first suggests he wasn't on one of the normal pain killers. The fact that he got fired for refusal of in-patient rehab is ******ation of the highest order. If WWE thinks you need to go in, then chances are you've got a serious problem, and it's one that needs fixing. The WWE drug policy works. Just ask Joey Mercury.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I doubt going out looking like a drug-addled cry baby who refused to clean up his act is part of some master work of a plan.

That he would do it on purpose is something that never even occurred to me until I read it in this forum. It seems crazy, but two possibilities present themselves:

(1) He is crazy......or
(2) There is now a place an ex-WWE performer can ply his trade.....and have his rec drugs, too.

 

[Vintage]

Doesn't Carlito's father run one of the bigger non WWE promotions? He'll be more than fine but there is no way in hell TNA is going to pass him up if he wants to work in Orlando. He'd probably be quite an addition to them as a heel. I'd really like to see what he could do in the X Division. I have a feeling there is a high flyer somewhere deep down inside him that we haven't had the chance to see yet.

 

[d_henderson1810]

1) I think the whole WWE Wellness Policy is a joke anyway. WWE didn't even have a drugs policy until Eddie Guerrero died. When Chris Benoit went on his rampage, it again showed up the drugs policy for what it was. Also, there are plenty of top-liners who I doubt are ever tested (because if they suffer strikes, they can't main-event, and Vince will be out financially by their non-appearance).

I have read in a few places that Randy Orton has failed Wellness THREE TIMES, yet he has not been fired. Why not? Would it have to do with his position in the company?

If WWE were really serious about their drug-policy, they would bring in independent testers, instead of doing it in-house. This way, no one can accuse the 'E of deciding who gets tested and who doesn't.

Let's face it. Most of the people fired for Wellness Violation would have been future-endevoured anyway. Carlito fits this catergory. I suspect that he has not been cut before this, because maybe WWE fear TNA will show an interest.

2) Someone said that WWE have run out of ideas for Carlito. Here's an idea. Why not have him team with his brother, Primo, again? The WWE is starved of proper tag-teams (especially since they have broken up Cryme Tyme). Why not have the Colon Brothers compete against the Hart Dynasty, or Jericho/Miz or someone? This would be a productive use of him, rather than have both brothers fail as solo stars. Their break-up was pointless anyway, so why not put them back together, and strengthen the tag-team division? Is it Carlito's fault that WWE doesn't give a stuff about tag-teams?

Let's face it. The WWE's attitude towards tag-teams is the same as towards theitr own drugs-policy- a joke!

 

[d_henderson1810]

That's the key. It's one thing to not have natural talent; it's another thing to have it and willfully not use it. I'll never understand what was the matter with this guy......any more than I'll ever understand why WWE insisted on keeping him a couple of years ago when his contract was up. It was speculated they didn't want him joining TNA, but if guys like Sting & Angle weren't increasing their ratings, why would WWE worry about Carlito?

Still, whenever a WWE regular gets released, the speculation begins as to whether he'll go to Orlando. Well, if they take him, there are two possibilities.... both negative : (1) He remains lackadaisical and TNA inherits the same problem WWE had, or (2) He gets himself in mental and physical shape and really makes something of himself. In that case, it will prove that he was ripping off his former employer by turning in a half-assed effort.

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Or (3) Maybe WWE didn't let him use his full talents. Every WWE employee has to wrestle a certain way (I think so that a certain son-in-law with a certain big nose doesn't get exposed as a has-been).

Maybe WWE doesn't want Carlito to go to TNA, because TNA may fully utilise him in the X-Diviosn, and embarrass WWE by showing that it wasn't Carlito that wasn't talented, but that WWE doesn't use their wrestlers properly.

Carlito may not bring ratings, but it may make other wrestlers feel that they can better use their talents in TNA. Look at the wonders that TNA has done for Elijah Burke. He went from being a jobber on WWE to competing for the TNA World Title, and is almost the top face in the company. He has been able to fully utilise his charisma, his brillant stickwork, and his array of moves. Imagine how embarrassed WWE feels about that.

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

Am i surprised that this has happened? Hell no. I'm surprised it didn't happen a LOT sooner.

Carlito probably started violating the wellness policy because he's so depressed with the way his WWE career went.

This guy seemed to expect everything to be handed to him. In the very beginning, that was exactly what he got. He beat Cena, the hottest mid-card guy on SD at the time, for the US title in his debut match. He went on to win more titles. He won the IC title on his Raw debut. He unified the Tag titles etc etc.

But Carlito always seemed to have this attitude that held him back. The 'I'm a Colon, so therefore i should get a big push all the time' attitude.

Ok so you're 2nd generation and a big deal down in Mexico. That wouldn't matter to Vince. Eddie and Chavo are from wrestling families and Chavo hasn't had as good a WWE run as Carlito got but he isn't getting fired. Eddie worked his ass of for 4 whole years before they considered putting the belt on him, and it was another 2 years before they thought of doing it again.

Both The Rock's grandfather and father worked for WWE but he had to sweat and pay his dues and work through some crappy angles, and then had to stay one of the most popular guys on the roster for a good year before they put the belt on him.

So why the fuck did Carlito think he'd get a ME push without actually doing anything to earn it?

Like Armbar said, i can't actually remember anything that Carlito did that i didn't already mention other than being in 1 EC match, his fued with Flair, and his tag team with Chris Masters. In a 6 year career in WWE if that's all you accomplish, with the start that Carlito was given, you really did waste the opportunity that Vince McMahon gave you.

In regards this drug thing, refusing to go to rehab probably made Vince and co ask themselves why they were keeping him on. He's made them no money, he constantly complains about the company, he doesn't seem to be putting any real effort in. Now he's refusing to get himself checked out and could possibly become a danger to others in the ring, so from a business point of view, releasing him makes sense.

Now whether you think he was justified in his attitude and want to blame Creative or Vince or someone politicking against the guy, the key point is that he refused to seek help for whatever it was he was doing, and instantly became a hazard to not only his own health, but everyone he steps in the ring with as well. Becoming that kind of liability on top of everything else they felt towards the guy, was the nail in Carlito's coffin.

Sad part is, he'll probably go to TNA, still do fuck all, but actually become the champion.

 

[d_henderson1810]

Regardless whether or not he wanted to be fired, getting terminated does NOT do him any favors. To any potential employers, a terminated employee can be seen as more of a liability than an asset. As far as him going to TNA, it's highly probably since their roster has TONS of guys who were fired (or previously disciplined) for failing WWE's Wellness Program. Does TNA even have a program like this? Rob Terry and RVD would suggest they don't... Anyways, I could care less where he winds up.

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Being a terminated employee does NOT do him any favours. Yeah, I mean it really set back Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy in TNA , didn't it?

 

[theBIGdealAndyP]

SPECULATION> he was probably just smoking pot... who would want to go to rehab for some marijuana? brian kendrick sure didnt want to, hes in TNA now... personally, i think TNA would be fools NOT to bring him in, start an alliance with the BK and RVD, bring back shelly martinez as the valet, call them the heads or PSI (pot-smoking individuals), they can come out to a giant cloud of smoke, then walk in in slow motion... that would make for some SERIOUS counter-programming to WWE, and some television, I would want to watch

 

[The Codebreaker]

I completely agree, something about this release just seems off. I mean why would they blast it all over the website when most releases are like you said, a sidebar note that barely go noticed at all.

Also the WWE specifically mentioned this was his first violation. I thought the wellness policy worked on a 3 strikes and you're out deal. I mean hasn't Regal had 2 violations even Orton and remember when Jeff Hardy got suspended. These all were FIRST violations so why fire carlito instead of a suspension?

Maybe i'm looking in to this too much but compared to other releases and wellness violations, this one just doesn't seem right.

It also might be worth mentioning that his profile is still up on the main site. Normally when someone's release is announced, their profile is deleted instantly. Despite that, I still think the release is legit; they probably blasted it on the main news section because he was acting like an asshole and they wanted to embarrass him.

 

[Davi323]

According to the Wellness policy itself, marijuana is subject to a 2,500 fine, but does NOT count as a strike...neither does alcohol. (as in, performing while drunk, pretty much like every job ever)

B. FOR POSITIVE MARIJUANA DRUG TESTS

In the event of any positive test for marijuana, the WWE Talent shall be fined Two Thousand Five Hundred US Dollars ($2,500.00) per positive test, which shall be deducted from the WWE Talent’s downside guarantee.

C. FOR POSITIVE ALCOHOL SUBSTANCE TESTS

In the event of a positive test for alcohol, the WWE Talent shall be fined Two Thousand Five Hundred US Dollars ($2,500.00) per positive test, which shall be deducted from the WWE Talent’s downside guarantee.

It was more than pot or booze.

 

[Vintage]

SPECULATION> he was probably just smoking pot... who would want to go to rehab for some marijuana? brian kendrick sure didnt want to, hes in TNA now... personally, i think TNA would be fools NOT to bring him in, start an alliance with the BK and RVD, bring back shelly martinez as the valet, call them the heads or PSI (pot-smoking individuals), they can come out to a giant cloud of smoke, then walk in in slow motion... that would make for some SERIOUS counter-programming to WWE, and some television, I would want to watch

High Flyers or Team 420

I really like your idea. They can steal the slow motion thing from John Morrison and they can all come to the ring eating cheese doodles, chips or brownies. I wonder if they could get Hollywood Hogans theme music for that

 

[Next Jericho]

Come on Carlito was an all right wrestler but yeah should buck is act.

Now the real victim in this is Primo how was just starting his career up agian with Carlito (lets face it Primo is nothing without Carlito) so bye bye Primo for a bit.

 

[klunderbunker]

So? The guy has been one of the biggest jokes in the company for about two years now and few are going to miss him. He never came off as being a guy you would consider great. He falls into the category of people that "always had talent" and "never was used properly", which of course translates to he had one good match a long time ago and that means he's a great worker. Carlito is a joke that just got incredibly lazy and stopped trying. Hardly anyone is going to miss him. This is fine.

 

[kenvin100]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hunVTAbsUg

This sums up Carlito's career

If Carlito decides to cross the line, I hope Ric can knock some more sense into him. Just cause your're from some wrestling family doesn't give you automatic world titles

Carlito dropped the ball, no question about it, and WWE just wanted him out. No point paying someone who doesn't care about anything but those pay checks.

 

[Chicago1989]

I just wanted to drop my little opinion here. I think Carlito got what was coming to him after all these years that he's worked for the WWE. Supposedly, he wasn't well-liked by the veterans backstage, he was carrying himself as an arrogant second-generation star, who felt he deserved everything in a silver platter....a punk kid pretty much.

To me, he seems to have lost passion for wrestling, especially after all the politics he went through. But I would say it's his fault. He was never motivated, driven, and passionate about succeeding. All he cared about was the money, the partying, the women, and the fame. I'm Puerto-Rican and believe me, I could tell Carlito is one of those guys who would pack up his bags if he never got what he wanted, talk shit about the WWE with his friends, and waltz around Puerto Rico as if he's all the sudden God's gift to wrestling. Carlito won't and shouldn't be taken seriously by any promoter but I'm assuming that Dixie's not the most bright.

Hit the clubs, wake up in a hotel hungover, ask for another release from WWE....that's all Carlito's good for.

 

[Mr-excitement]

I suspect Carlito wanted out as well. Hope he does not go to TNA. I think TNA should focus on building its own workers - but who knows maybe he will shine there.

I almost want to congratulate him, the WWE had nothing for him to do. Same with Shelton. That is the problem with monstronsity wrestling companies, guys who could have held belts and main evented in territories don't even get TV time.

 

[waylonmercy]

Carlito had a good look for a smaller wrestler and his afro caught on well. Primo should consider shaving the moustache and growing out his hair so he could be a company man version of Carlito. Otherwise he'll get lost in the shuffle and get released too if he doesn't do soemthing to set himself apart.

 

[hatehabsforever]

Sure, I guess some people care. I would imagine Primo cares, as he's about to spend the next few months in jobber pergatory, before getting future endeavoured.

I would also suspect the entire X-Division in TNA cares, as they are about to get leap-frogged again by the soon to be new X-Division champion. He fits the bill perfectly. He's out of shape, he has a drug history, and he's a WWE reject (sorry IDR!). The perfect candidate to build the X-Division around.

I'm sure Jeff Hardy and RVD are happy, though, they have a soon to be new roster member with whom they have a lot in common.

 

[flocker]

Let's assume he likes his pot.
Beautiful idea to team him up with rvd, or hardy, as a face tag team. To take it really, really over the top, get tommy chong to come in as a guest gm. Mock wwe twice with the same bit.

But, really, I think wwe creative HAS found some use for him. In a tag team with Joey Mercury - with a shaved head. Or, as a leader of the stable (he sure as hell could handle being pompous on the stick) if they decide they want to take main event level cm punk out of mid card/jobber stable.

 

[Miss Wrestling Dynamite]

i agree that it's shame, but to be honest Carlito was only entertaining and likeable when he first started out. i think he was given a really big push and got lazy, perhaps now he will see the light and step up his game perhaps on the indie circuit or TNA, hopefully Primo gets a chance to show his talent and gets bigger opportunities.