Who is getting cut post-Wrestlemania?

[Wald]

Rumours lately that some of the NXT crew might be getting a call up after Wrestlemania so it goes without saying that WWE will look to keep their wage bill inline by cutting a few superstars.

Who do you think is in danger? I'll give 5 possibles and 6 probables and the reasons why and why not

Possibles

Zack Ryder - Reason for would be that the company has never seemed too keen on him. He had to get himself over in the first place and as soon as Wrestlemania ended last year he was heading straight back to the jobber line.

Reason against is that he is still relatively over, especially with kids, and is a decent house show attraction because of it.

Tensai - Reason for would be that he might be on a pretty decent contract, as he was signed to work main event programs with John Cena, among others. Some contracts include one year get out clauses for the company too and this could be the best time to do so.

Reason against, there might be legs in the Tensai & Clay tag team.

Rey Mysterio - Probably has a decent downsize guarantee in his contract and he hasn't been an active wrestler in a long time now. Too injury prone and should retire anyway.

Reason against would be that he is still over if he can overcome his injuries and would be a solid mid-card attraction.

Jack Swagger - The Tea Party gimmick could have been his last shot in the WWE at the main event table. It hasn't really taken of as well as it could have, though the WWE should take some fault with that with their Glenn Beck baiting. You have to believe that management are still pissed with him over the arrest too.

Reason against would be that he is talented and tweeking to his gimmick with Coulter could yet yield the right kind of heat.

R Truth - He has done all he can in the WWE and his star is falling rather than rising.

The reasons to keep him around are similar to Zack Ryder. The guy still gets a pop when he comes out and Little Jimmy is still over with kids. Plus he could segue into a tag team if they decide to ever focus on that again.

Probables

The reason to ditch these six are all the same for me, they have nothing left to offer the company, and the reasons to keep them are small so I'll just list the 6 names I think will be most likely let go in the coming months.

Camacho
Alex Riley
Curt Hawkins
Ezekial Jackson
Evan Bourne
Mason Ryan

 

[TempestH]

Just because they're jobbers doesn't mean they're expendable. You cut them and then someone a little higher up is going to be stuck doing all the losing.

Not everyone gets to be a main eventer.

 

[MCMG]

Ryder, Tensai, Rey, Truth will all stay. I really can't see Swagger going but maybe a belated suspension.

Ezekial Jackson and Mason Ryan are just prime guys to get released. Guys who could have been something but have just not made the step up or deemed good enough. Curt Hawkins is another to get the chop. If they were going to get rid of Bourne than they would have done that by now. His past problems give them an easy reason but his talent is appreciated. He just has to start from the bottom.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I might be remembering incorrectly, but in the past two years, we expected the annual cut-down.....and it never came. Sure, the company shed a few performers during the year, but not right after Wrestlemania, when many folks figure the ax to fall.

As it is, I don't think the roster is particularly bloated now; it could be the company is being run in an efficient manner (financially) and there might be no need to cut anyone. It seems we lost a few of the Trent Barretta types through attrition; guys who got out just ahead of the posse.

Hopefully, it will be the same this year, and post-WM will have no roster trimming at all.

 

[Sid Schmid]

I'm sure I read somewhere that there weren't going to be any roster cuts in the forseeable future. There are one or two expendiable talents such as Mason Ryan and big Zeke. I watched an episode of NXT a few weeks ago and Mason Ryan was on it and he was booked as a dominant monster so I think he'll get another opportunity. Big Zeke may also get another shot when his injuries have healed. Camacho is also injured but not sure what WWE can do with him.

I would like to see Ryder get the axe myself, I can't stand his character and I think he is below average in the ring. Either get rid or turn him heel to make him slightly more interesting. Hornswoggle can do one as well, brings nothing to the company other than a few kids cheering for him.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I might be remembering incorrectly, but in the past two years, we expected the annual cut-down.....and it never came. Sure, the company shed a few performers during the year, but not right after Wrestlemania, when many folks figure the ax to fall.

As it is, I don't think the roster is particularly bloated now; it could be the company is being run in an efficient manner (financially) and there might be no need to cut anyone. It seems we lost a few of the Trent Barretta types through attrition; guys who got out just ahead of the posse.

Hopefully, it will be the same this year, and post-WM will have no roster trimming at all.

You're right. WWE really hasn't done anything the past few years when it comes to trimming the roster. If I'm not mistaken, the only wrestlers that were let go in WWE have been down in NXT rather than on the main roster. I remember reading a little article on wrestlinginc.com last week that stated, allegedly, there's not much of a chance of big roster cuts this year either.

That doesn't mean that it can't happen, of course. It's just that WWE really hasn't done any significant "spring cleaning" in the past few years. One does have to think that it's just a matter of time though. With new talent being cultivated in NXT and being brought up to the main roster, space is inevitably going to have to be made. Allegedly, WWE is going to be bringing at least two talents up from NXT to be part of the main roster sometime after WrestleMania. That would be in addition to The Shield, Big E. Langston and Fandango, who've all been brought in during the last 6 or 7 months. Bo Dallas made a around very briefly but I have a feeling he's been sent back down to NXT as he definitely needs more work.

I do think the roster is a little bloated right now. Including the part-timers, those currently out injured and those who are just MIA; there are around 65 wrestlers signed to the main roster in WWE.

As to who could be sent packing, there are several names who pop to mind.

Ezekiel Jackson - It's been well over a year, I think, since we laid eyes on Big Zeke. I think he's long since it his peak in WWE and doesn't have much going for him. I think that Big Zeke could have been a much bigger star had Vince not lost interest in The Corre and kept Zeke as the muscle of the group for a long while. Big Zeke just wasn't ready to go out on his own. Great look and a legit powerhouse but there's no real reason to keep him around when Ryback & Mark Henry are simply much better in similar roles.

Mason Ryan - It goes without saying that, like Ezekiel Jackson, Mason Ryan is sort of a leftover from the Big Johnny era in terms of recruiting talent. Ryan has an impressive look about him and that's about it. Unless he has made some major strides in NXT, the guy can't wrestle. Also like Big Zeke, Ryback is pretty much everything that WWE could want for in this kind of wrestler. He's very over with fans, he's far more athletic than Ryan, far better in the ring, has great intensity, a great physical presence & look and doesn't lumber about awkwardly like Ryan does. Ryback is someone that will probably be WWE Champion at some point in time. Ryan is about 320 pounds of dead weight at this point.

Hunico & Camacho - These are two more guys who haven't seen the light of day in a very long time. I think the last time I saw either of these guys was on Raw 1,000 in which Kane & Taker obliterated them. Or maybe it was Curt Hawkins with Hunico? Anyway, they've been MIA for the better part of a year. I think Camacho has made a few sporadic appearances down in NXT, but that's been quite a while back. If they were to be brought back up, WWE could use them in the tag team division. I can see reasons for keeping or letting them go.

JTG - I know that JTG is someone who is brought up each & every year, but his time has to run out at some point. JTG is a young guy, he's only 28, but he's been in WWE for such a long time and nothing has come of it. His first run began in 2006, he was let go in 2007 and then brought back in 2008. The guy's the definition of dead weight right now. There's just nothing going on with him, they obviously have no interest in using him, so why keep paying him?

Yoshi Tatsu - Yoshi has been a jobber almost his entire career in WWE. He's 35 years old, he's been wrestling for more than 10 years and hasn't been a star in any company he's worked for. He spent 5 years in New Japan Pro Wrestling, accomplishing literally nothing, before being signed to WWE, where he's continued to do nothing. Not saying he doesn't have some ability, but the guy's never going to be anything remotely significant in WWE so just let him go.

Alex Riley - Alex Riley was someone who seemed to be on the fast track to stardom 2.5 years ago when he was paired with Miz while he was part of NXT Season II. It seemed all the more likely he was going to be a big player when WWE paired him up with Miz as his flunky during Miz's WWE Championship run. Following a feud with Miz after they broke up, Riley has been a nonentity. Like Yoshi, the guy's been used mostly as a jobber. I don't know exactly what happened to derail Riley's career, but he's going nowhere fast in WWE.

 

[The Butcher]

Everyone is listing Zeke and Mason Ryan. I'm still holding out hope that somebody in Titan Tower is smart enough to give them matching trunks, face paint, and a manager and let them run roughshod over the tag division.

I agree that JTG, "Toshi Yatsu," Hunico, Camacho, and Curt Hawkins may be on the chopping block. Camacho can and should be repackaged, though. Why they paired him with Hunico in the first place baffles me; it wasn't as if Hunico was going to get him over. I also think the Diva's division could use some revamping, but I wouldn't know where to start there. I certainly wouldn't fire AJ, Naomi, or the Bellas, that much I can say.

 

[Merkin353]

Alex Riley needs to go. So many people thought this guy could make it & I thought he had a look of the dick in the office that was a kiss ass or a steve stiffler type with a 50 dollar cross tattoo on his back. His spray tan always ran during his matches as well. The man I hope all the best for but his gimmick & look I never want to see again...

Another one is Zeke, terrible, terrible look. He looks like hes a nice guy with a scary big frame. Problem is that frame was off centered & looked very weird to me.

Those are the only two that every time I seen & every time I heard someone say they have potential I knew those would be the same guys saying "What Happened? I thought these guys had looks & could make it". & thats when I say "Right...." I don't know what their looking at but it's not from the perspective of public opinion...

 

[ECW Sandman]

Brodus Clay needs to go He was a monster heel when he was with ADR on Smack Down but when he debuted on RAW as what he is now I was in complete shock .

The Prime Time Players both of them suck and can't draw a dime .


Fandango enough said .

Alex Riley Haven't seen him in a long time .


Ted Dibiase Jr same like AR haven't used him or seen him in a long time .


Aksana No one has seen her in over a year .

 

[nWo2]

Mike McGuilicutty
Son of a legend and he's showing how far apples .... (see Ted Jr) I could see these two in a tag team if WWE repackaged them together, but isn't that what Legacy was about?

Ted DiBiase
Son of a legend and he's showing how far the apples could fall from a tree. His dad was the most memorable heel from the Golden Era and Ted Jr's highlight is being Cody's Marty Jannety. Even if you repackage him; it'd have to be to revisit him with his dad's gimmick one that he denounced on TV in the past.

Yoshi Tatsu
Talented in-ring, but his gimmick is so stale that he never gets TV time. He could be used in a rumored cruiserweight division, but does it seem like thats the direction WWE is going?

Camacho
Brought in to give Sin Cara a worthwhile matchup... I don't even think I've seen him on WWE TV

JTG
He's good friends with Ziggler. (I met them at a club in NYC) which is the ONLY reason I can see why he's still here

Epico
Brought in to give Sin Cara a worthwhile matchup

Sin Cara
The heir to Rey Mysterio who hasn't lived up to the hype, they could keep him in hopes of reviving the cruiserweight division on Smackdown, but that doesn't seem likely.

 

[akathelaw]

Everyone is listing Zeke and Mason Ryan. I'm still holding out hope that somebody in Titan Tower is smart enough to give them matching trunks, face paint, and a manager and let them run roughshod over the tag division.

I love this idea. a new Diva, Vickie or Brad Maddox could manage the two. They could have a mini-feud with The Primetime Players for the #1 Contender spot. I'd enjoy seeing it. Zeke looked strong in the "Ruthless Roundtable" stable so I think this is a guy you want in a tag team or stable.

Alex Riley's gotta go. At this point I've lost interest in the guy, and no offense to guys who weren't in the indies long, but they're lazy. Riley's not going to do the work to get over. He was given too much too fast and he blew it. TNA won't be able to use him right either, he'll keep their TV rating level like always.

Christian should probably hang it up. Maybe instead of releasing him, have him join the announce table. He's a great talker, he could announce or manage a guy who doesn't talk. He's a good wrestler but the crowd has cooled on him.

Curt Hawkins has done all he can in WWE. I never liked this guy, I don't think he deserves a spot on the roster. TNA won't know what to do with him either.

Zack Ryder deserves a shot in TNA. He'd work fine in the X-Division, maybe even feuding with Robbie E. Let's face it, WWE doesn't like the gimmick. Unitl he reinvents (don't count on it) WWE will job him out. The problem is that Ryder is in LOOOVE with himself, and the only fans he has are also in love with his doofus vibe. It's perfect for 2nd rate TNA. Maybe Hogan can shit talk Ryder's abilities while pushing Bischoff's son.

 

[CanadianDeviant]

Its hard to slot mid card guys coming off injuries into prominent roles on the road to Wrestlemania. Expect to see a lot of these guys redebut over the next couple of weeks as it is the start of the new season.
With NXT, WWE also has the option of sending guys like Alex Riley or Curt Hawkins down to be repackaged

 

[Christian Faith]

Yoshi Tatsu- I have no idea why he is still employed. He has potential but he is never going to amount to anything in WWE.

Brad Maddox- May be liked by Triple H but I fail to see where his wwe career is heading and he is just awful on the mic.

The Uso's- They have been wasted

3MB- I fast forward my TV when these wankers are on. They are a waste of time.

David Otunga- Unless WWE want Hudson to make appearances I would suggest his time is nearly up movies or no movies

Ted Diabiase- Is he still employed?

Mason Ryan & Big Zeke- See Ted Diabiase.

Randy Orton- Ok wishful thinking but one can hope

 

[Aquaman6686]

I definitely see Alex Riley being released, possibly Zack Ryder and the long-overdue for a pink slip Santino Marella as well. My personal choice would be Zeb Colter, Jack Swagger DESPERATELY needs to get rid of him if he's to have any success at being a permanent top star. Colter is draining all the heat out of their segments and putting the crowds into boredom-induced comas.

I'd also love to see Ambrose and Rollins released. Roman Reigns is the only one out of the Shield I see even the smallest amount of potential in, he should be pushed as a singles star.

 

[#heel420]

JTG
Alex Riley
Camacho
Derrick Bateman
Ezekiel Jackson
Maybe Yoshi Tatsu, but I doubt it because he has the benefit of from Japan.
And Zack Ryder- If his character doesn't get a reboot after mania, he's gone. I feel like he's been asking for his release for a while.

 

[wurktfan2k]

I think these guys should be released
Alex Riley: I don't think he will ever do anything major in WWE. I don't think he would show up in TNA or ROH either. I think if he kept wrestling he would be wrestling in high school gyms for small no name promotions like North American Wrestling or something.

Camacho and Hunico
I was never a fan of either guy in WWE...they have had some ok matches in FCW though. I could see them showing up in TNA with Hunico competing in the X Division and Camacho could be another former WWE Jobber to join Aces & Eights.

David Otunga
I never liked David Otunga. He is an ok talker but he just cant wrestle. Maybe he will hang up his boots and become an interviewer for WWE, TNA, or ROH.

Ezekiel Jackson
Hes just another 300lbs Jobber like Mike Knox. He should join Aces & Eights...just like the rest of the WWE rejects did.

JTG
He just hasnt did anything since Shad got fired and Crime Time split. I think there is a lot of talent with him but I see him getting the Funaki treatment if he stay with WWE. He could join TNA with Shad and reform Crime Time...TNA needs an all black tag team.

Michael McGillicutty
Again I like Michael and think that he could be a main eventer but at the most I see Vince using him in some minor stupid feud that plays out on Superstars and at Live Events...but no more then that. TNA I think could use him better

Rey Mysterio
Im sorry but he just needs to retire. His health is doing so good.

The Undertaker
Same as Mysterio

Christian
Same as Mysterio

Tyson Kidd
He is a great talent but I would rather see him in TNA's X Division or challenging for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship

Yoshi Tatsu
Hey its Sho Funaki...oh wait its Yoshi Tatsu lol. Anyways im not sure what Vince has against Japans wrestlers but they always end up getting the same treatment that Funaki did his whole WWE career. Its funny Vince hired Tatsu to help bring in fans from Japan but how can he do that when he only wrestles one or two matches a month and gets his butt kick by guys 25 to 100 pounds bigger than him. TNA or ROH could use his true talent.

 

[Johnny Q Public]

Fandango isn't going anywhere they are high on him what with him working with Jericho, Jericho could really make him look good. I don't see Tensai going anywhere VKM has always been high on big men, Clay is a puzzlement he still gets pop because people look watching the dance ala Rikishi. But he moves slow in the ring and looks kinda silly in wrestling Garb. Dibiase is another puzzlement, he started off so strong with the Legacy gimmick, his Rhodes Scholar bit seems like a bad mesh of the old Genius gimmick ala Lanny Poffo, and his dad's gimmick, repackaged I could see him doing well.

 

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

I'd also love to see Ambrose and Rollins released. Roman Reigns is the only one out of the Shield I see even the smallest amount of potential in, he should be pushed as a singles star.

Have you ever seen Ambrose pre-Shield? If he actually gets to speak about things more than "Believing in the Shield", you'll see that he can be a legit player.

If I could personally "release" anyone, it would be Santino. Forget about DiBiase, Riley, Tatsu, etc. They're never on television anyway. If I never see Santino on television again it will be too soon.

 

[lil bitch Kid]

The last couple of years we have waited for the cut down, but it never came. The reason is that Linda was running for office talking about economic stability and employment. They couldn't boot guys even though it would have been easily spun. If they've learned anything in these two years, one would hope that they don't NEED the black Monday mass cuts. They have NXT to develop guys, they have Main Event, SMS and Superstars to put guys on, and they have RAW and SD as big shows. With talk if the Network heating up again, they'll keep good hands on deck to keep programming full and not exhaust the rosters. Yes, it would be nice to have main guys on all shows, but on top of what they already do on TV, they work house shows.
Let's be clear, there are guys being paid to sit at home, but really, their downsides are easily covered by the revenues of one or two PPVS. As much as Vince wants to say "TNwho", he knows they exist, and any time a guy leaves the E and stars for TNA he must resent it. Yes, they are few and far between, and usually TNA blows it somehow eventually, but Vince has an ego.

 

[FarFromFine]

I disagree about Mason Ryan. I am more of a casual fan than a lot of you guys, but thinking back I don't remember him having a ton of losses. He did come off as Bautista Jr. but I'm not even sure that's all that bad of a thing. I could see him getting repackaged like Brodus, Barrett, Ryback, etc and coming back strong.

DiBiase is doomed to fail unless they use him to recreate his dad. If you want him to be a different character than they needed to change his name. Cody Rhodes can get away with it because his look is so different than Dusty but DiBiase Jr. doesn't look that much different. People liked the original so I think they should just give him his dad's gimmick and keep him in the mid card. I know they half ass tried this before but I think if they committed to it he could add to the show.

I'd love for Mysterio, Sin Cara, JTG, Alex Riley, Jinder Mahal, Kaitlyn (I know it won't happen but I think she's awful), and Christian be released.

McGillicuty needs to be repackaged and Zack Ryder needs to only be featured on Saturday Morning Slam unless it's for some joke gimmick segment. Same for Hornswoggle.

 

[shitsngiggles]

Dibiase is another puzzlement, he started off so strong with the Legacy gimmick, his Rhodes Scholar bit seems like a bad mesh of the old Genius gimmick ala Lanny Poffo, and his dad's gimmick, repackaged I could see him doing well.

What? Rhodes (cody) Scholars (Sandow) does not even feature the son of the million dollar man, what are you talking about?

Anyway, I would cut the following:

1: Santino = dumb
2: Mysterio = Made of glass
3. Orton = Stagnant, boring useless
4. Vickie PI Guerrero = Annoying and useless
5. Zack Ryder = Societal messiah for the dumb
6. Jack Swagger = Can't talk properly, looks weird
7. Cody Rhodes = Sandow is great, Rhodes is a skinny Swagger.
8. Mark Henry = I'm old enough to remember his earlier career.

 

[SaveUsCMPunk]

Brodus Clay needs to go He was a monster heel when he was with ADR on Smack Down but when he debuted on RAW as what he is now I was in complete shock .

The Prime Time Players both of them suck and can't draw a dime .


Fandango enough said .

Alex Riley Haven't seen him in a long time .


Ted Dibiase Jr same like AR haven't used him or seen him in a long time .


Aksana No one has seen her in over a year .

I'm pretty sure this topic is about who would REALISTICALLY get released and not who you want to get released. Brodus Clay and Fandango aren't going anywhere anytime soon. (Especially not Fandango, so get used to seeing him.) The PTP will likely make it past cuts as well. I think there's money in Titus and WWE kind of seems to think so as well. Sadly, D Young seems to be the Janetty of this team, but I don't think either one of them are going anywhere. Ted Jr., Alex Riley and Aksana would be considered realistic releases, (I'll admit it.) but WWE needs jobbers on the roster. Also, Aksana has been on Smackdown somewhat recently. I'm pretty sure she had a match with Kaitlyn since the beginning of the year.

Realistically, and unfortunately (Since I still like him.) Ezekiel Jackson will probably get released. He hasn't been seen since before last year's Mania. WWE made him into a jobber....and a guy his size doesn't make the most realistic looking jobber.

Other possible names include Curt Hawkins, JTG, Yoshi Tatsu, One or both of the Usos. Basically, a lot of the lower card guys could be in danger, but they'll keep some of them around because someone has to make the pushed guys look good.

 

[DarkLordFett]

Yoshi Tatsu - Yoshi has been a jobber almost his entire career in WWE. He's 35 years old, he's been wrestling for more than 10 years and hasn't been a star in any company he's worked for. He spent 5 years in New Japan Pro Wrestling, accomplishing literally nothing, before being signed to WWE, where he's continued to do nothing. Not saying he doesn't have some ability, but the guy's never going to be anything remotely significant in WWE so just let him go.

Alex Riley - Alex Riley was someone who seemed to be on the fast track to stardom 2.5 years ago when he was paired with Miz while he was part of NXT Season II. It seemed all the more likely he was going to be a big player when WWE paired him up with Miz as his flunky during Miz's WWE Championship run. Following a feud with Miz after they broke up, Riley has been a nonentity. Like Yoshi, the guy's been used mostly as a jobber. I don't know exactly what happened to derail Riley's career, but he's going nowhere fast in WWE.

Yoshi Tatsu is one of those guys that, when he shows up on TV, I get a little shocked. You never see him, but once or twice a year on Raw. The most over he got was the bad overdub gimmick. It was pretty damn funny. I think they keep him around because of the odd runs in Japan as well as he's pretty helpful in the locker room from what I've heard.

A-Ry had all the markings of a top mid-carder and maybe some limited time in the Main Event. Got massive pop's after turning on Miz. Looked primed for a go at the title, then stalled out. Apparently, he got on Cena's bad side and got buried. Big time.

 

[Jonyboyuk2]

I'd like to see Zack Ryder and The Miz and Dolph Ziggler get cut so they can go on and achieve feats that means at least something to wrestling fans in TNA! They are disgustingly mis-used by the WWE!

 

[The Butcher]

No way is Vince cutting this guy before he tries to repackage him five or six times:

Spoiler

Also, only one other person mentioned Sin Cara, but I would hope that WWE cuts their losses on this guy eventually. He can't cut a promo, he's injury prone, he's a wellness policy violator, and he really hasn't connected with anybody, much less the Hispanic audience. I'm sure he'll stick around, and I don't mind him being there. That said though, he adds about as much as Hunico, and Hunico is a better promo and crisper in the ring.