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

[EssJay76]

I have mixed feelings about the news of Carlito’s release. When he first showed up he was great. Unfortunately, after he got moved to RAW (even though he won the US title on his first night there) he got lost in the shuffle. His passion seemed to fade and he was boring to watch. When he got put with his brother it seemed to spark something in him. Maybe it was more about a friendly competition between the two brothers to be better than the other, which made the tag team a success. For some reason they split up and both fell into obscurity on RAW. Thankfully they were put back together and were going to be set up as competition for the Hart Dynasty. Last weekend on the house shows they had the best match on the card with the Dynasty. Things were beginning to look up again for the career of Carlito... and he throws it all away.

Did he do this on purpose to get fired and leave WWE? Who knows. If he did, it was rather selfish of him to at this time. It not only screws up his life, but it hurts his brother too. Hopefully they will bring Orlando up from FCW to team with Primo and continue the tag team push.

As far as the way it was announced...

I’ve read a lot of the comments here and some think that it was harsh; some think it is part of a SES type story or that WWE was/is trying to bury him. Take a look back in time; this isn’t the first person to be released in such a manor. Eddie Fatu (Umaga, RIP) was released in the exact same way...

As reported on WWE.com on Monday, June 8, 2009, WWE Superstar Umaga (Edward Fatu) has been released from his World Wrestling Entertainment contract. However, consistent with the practice of announcing wellness policy violations, it should be noted that Umaga's termination was due to his second violation of the WWE Wellness Program and his subsequent refusal to attend a rehabilitation facility.

It is all a part of the Wellness Policy that helps make WWE more accountable to their shareholders, talent and the media. Yes, there is still a 3 strike policy in effect but part of those conditions to be kept after each violation is to accept being sent to rehab (paid by Vince).

Is his release a big loss? In the overall big picture for the WWE, not really. For the career of Primo and the future of the tag team scene on RAW, yes it is.

 

[CuddleBuns84]

Definitely a sad case. He had the potential to be something in the future, he just didn't care and wanted to be handed everything. He's been losing respect in my eyes for years, and now he's officially lost it due to the drugs and unwillingness to go to rehab. WWE tried pretty hard to keep him a few years ago. I remember he was only in MITB at WM24 because he wanted at least some kind of push or he was going to leave. That's not cool.

You hit it right on the money. He had all the talent, but was too stubborn to do anything. I enjoyed his catch phrases and the Carlito Cabana was entertaining to watch. He had good mic skills, but he was just a knuckle-head when it came to being a professional.

 

[CuddleBuns84]

So who does care about Carlito. The answer is Carlito. Why didn't it happen, well it's because he messed up time after time. You can't do very little for a long time and make money off it. It's not fair to other talent that are working dark-matches, and working on the ring attire to get a spot on the full time roster.

So I see Carlito in TNA, because, well, nothing screams competition but using another's man trash.

 

[The Brain]

I for one am sorry to see Carlito go. It doesn’t really matter since I’ve been expecting this since early 2007. I’m not going to jump on board about the conspiracy theories as to whether or not Carlito got fired on purpose or if this is all a part of some angle. I’m also not going to discuss whether he didn’t achieve success because of his attitude or because he was held back by creative. Instead I’ll discuss what I saw on tv.

I saw a talented new superstar join WWE in 2004 who made an immediate impact. I saw someone who was talented in the ring and had a natural charisma that’s hard to come by these days. He knew what to do with a microphone and looked very comfortable at all times. A lot of new guys come of so rehearsed. That was never the case with Carlito. I felt Carlito was very entertaining in 2004 and 2005. He had a unique look, a good gimmick, and a popular catchphrase. He sold a lot of merchandise while still being able to draw heel heat. The first time I saw him a thought he was a Razor Ramon ripoff, but he quickly erased that thought from my mind by establishing his own identity. I’m not saying I saw him as world champion or someone who would main event WrestleMania, but I felt he could have been a successful upper mid carder for many years.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter why Carlito got fired. He may have been lazy. He may have been held back. In the end we all missed out on being entertained by someone who had the capability and all the tools to entertain us.

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

Probably not a good idea to have your champion and most popular guy endorse drugs on tv.

 

[Loveless]

Just been reading the front page on Wrestlezone and something very interesting was reported. Supposedly Carlito was fired for showing up to work and, in the opinion of those in charge, not being in a fit state to perform. It gets better though because the report then goes on to say that Carlito never took a wellness test, which if true, is massively important because of the action WWE took over announcing it so publicly. Suffice to say, if you accuse someone of failing a drugs test when they haven't, expect a hefty lawsuit coming your way pretty soon.

 

[President Evil]

Honestly, I feel like Carlito put this on himself. You make your own bed and then you have to lay in it.

He started out really cool (no pun intended) in 2005 and 2006, but then from 2007 and on he started to water down. He had the look, mic skills, and wrestling ability, shit he had it all. He was a natural. But I think the problem was in his desire and in his heart. I dont think during the last few years in the wwe he wanted it "that" bad. Once he noticed he was getting the shaft he just completely gave up. If you look at his MITB Mania 24 match, he looked pale as a ghost. From that point on I can pin point he started to go nowhere but downhill. He wasnt working on his body anymore, even his hair didnt have that puffed up look anymore. He started to look like an abandoned dog.

He had this coming to him, instead of taking some time away and recharge his batteries, he let himself get fired, maybe he wanted that. He's too smart to know that by messing around with prescription drugs or whatever he was going to get himself booted out. Its frustrating because he really had it back then, and its just another talent going to waste. But I dont feel that bad for him because he brought this on himself. No surprise here.

 

[maar130]

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.

Well that is the thing, he was in no shape to do his job or so they said, dude the damn thing with that is to help the guys, not to actually screw over them, just look at Umaga for an instance, where is he now? Do youy want Carlito go on the same road?

He had a lot of talent but no will to put it in the ring, and since I think he got fed up for the lack of usage he didn't give a crap anymore.

If he ends up in TNA well, that is his damn choice and hope he does well, I won't miss him on the WWE because he was barely on TV to begin with.

Maybe he though this was the only way out because the didn't want to release him and got the in the worst condition he could, who knows.

 

[GameOver]

Not withstanding the fact that he failed a wellness policy and assumedly refused to get help, if that is the case there hands are tied and he has noone to blame but himself.

Recreational drugs/steroids may be completely different but the outcomes can be the same, and when you are taking drugs while competing in an environment where the chance of injury/stuffing up is high and the chance of injuring someone else at your own actions is even higher noone should be taking "recreational" drugs in that position, same goes for any workplace. I can uderstand the need to take pain killers but once again this comes back to obtaining/using them in a way that is within the rules of your employer

Not to mention the bad press it gives to WWE for everyone who falls off the wagon. and now being a publicy traded company they don't just answer to the fans they have to answer to everyone that is a shareholder.

What you do in your own home is your business but when it crosses over to affecting others it's not on. They sign contracts knowing about the WWE policy, if they can't stick with it they get 2 opportunites then bye bye.

He was going to be and also wanted to be fired years ago, do people remember that? and for whatever reason both parties changed there mind.

and to say he hasn't been given opportunities, he was a "mentor" for a NXT rookie and not long ago a Tag Team Champ, anyway why would you as an employer give opportunites to some who obviously doesn't have the passion of other people on the roster. He had the ability but didn't have the IT factor past his initial run where he was beating Cena, Primo has the desire but he doesn't have that IT factor either. He won't do anything without being associated with Carlito as a team so they should just get rid of both of them for the time being.

 

[MissCG]

Well first off I hope he gets the help he needs if he indeed has a problem. As far as the wrestling goes, I liked Carlito. I mean he wasn`t at the top of my list of favorites or anything, but I liked him. Good in the ring and pretty good on the mic too. I will agree that he didn`t reach his full potential. Now is that his fault, WWE`s, a little of both? I`m not really sure, but it`s a shame because he has natural talent.

 

[Pone]

not to be a conspirator but i was watching Superstars tonight and during primo's match against yoshi tatsu, cole and king made mention to carlito's firing. I just can't help but think this is unusual. I've never and i mean NEVER heard commentators acknowledge or the whole wwe for that matter acknowledge a release SO much...it just seems fishy to me

 

[The Champ]

Pone, there was really no other way to explain how the tag team of the Colons just got back together and now will never wrestle another match together. It was kind of a necessary thing to explain because of the sudden nature of the release. As for the release himself, WWE made the right decision here and I sincerely hope that Carlito gets help with his painkiller addiction. I agree with what Cena said on Twitter, in that I always thought Carlito had far more potential that what he actually ended up accomplishing. He seemed like a wasted talent towards the end of his run, heading towards Chavo Guerrero territory pretty quickly, which is sad considering how well he was pushed a few years ago.

 

[Honkey_Kong]

Well that is the thing, he was in no shape to do his job or so they said, dude the damn thing with that is to help the guys, not to actually screw over them, just look at Umaga for an instance, where is he now? Do youy want Carlito go on the same road?

He had a lot of talent but no will to put it in the ring, and since I think he got fed up for the lack of usage he didn't give a crap anymore.

If he ends up in TNA well, that is his damn choice and hope he does well, I won't miss him on the WWE because he was barely on TV to begin with.

Maybe he though this was the only way out because the didn't want to release him and got the in the worst condition he could, who knows.

If he can't cut it in the ring, he should be let go citing ring performance. Not some trumped up wellness BS. And for the record, I don't know Carlito (other than seeing from seeing him on TV), so I really don't care if he ends up like Umaga. I know that sounds harsh, but if he chooses to go down the Umaga road, it's his choice.

I never really saw much to Carlito anyways. His promos were just childish and lame. I don't see how TNA could use him other than just as some WWE reject they picked up off the free agency. And I was no fan of his in-ring ability.

 

[Sh4Dyx]

I stopped watching wrestling in about 03 and began watching again in 07/08 so I didnt get to see Carlito's debut and what not. From what I seen from him, I wasnt impressed. The few matches I saw him in were not interesting or good and I agree with what Honkey_Kong said, his promos were so poop...As for the substance abuse thing, hope he gets some help and turns out ok.

 

[Andy 2 Randy]

Carlito should of been fired...before the storyline with Primo began to take place. I mean he just reunites with his brother for another run at the Tag Titles, jumps R-Truth for Dibiase, cementing his heel turn, then out of the blue gets fired because he's 'addicted' to painkillers. He was finally getting the restart that he needed, then WWE think its time to fire him. Utter BS. He had it all, but no one cared...I'm Just Sayin...

 

[Tougie]

He really did have potential but like the TC said basically once you get handed the US title your first night you expect to rise through the ranks and dominate without having to earn it. Its a shame he didnt realize that hey maybe if I actually try a bit harder I'll get rewarded. His triple threat against Benjamin and Nitro at Vengeance 2006 was probably he last good/great match. So that tells you how long he was coasting.

If he goes to TNA its just for the money, in no way does he deserve the treatment Hardy and Anderson have gotten for signing.