WWE Roster Cuts, Should Be Released, and "Future Endeavored" Discussion

[itbewilly]

I can't believe that so many of u are suprised about Shelton. Besides the iwc, no one gives a flying crap about shelton. The guy had NO mic skills or charisma..

Yes...because i would rather watch a slow ass non-athletic guy who can work a mic over someone who can wrestle.......Am i right?

Seriously people need to get out of this state of mind.Its sports enterainment but if there is no wrestling or people who can wrestle and only a bunch of tools who can act cool on a microphone then id rather watch General Hospital or some other show that has better story telling without the actual wrestling matches.

Back to the releases.It could be attributed to one of many things.Perhaps Vince is freeing up payroll to offer someone a big cash deal.Maybe he decided these people were worth keeping.Some had issues outside of wrestling(showing up on time etc)while others maybe just didnt fit with the image the company likes.Hard to say why he released the ones he did.All we know for sure is in 6 months any number of the 6 could be TNA bound.Specifically i think 2 go to TNA with Jimmy Wang being a maybe.All depends where Tna is in terms of the whole ratings war and what not in 6 months.

 

[trinerigelado]

Shelton Benjamin can wrestle freestyle wrestling not work a great pro wrestling match. If it was about legit wrestling and athletic ability Swagger wouldn't ever job to Orton or the Undertaker. Pro wrestling is performance art and Benjamin never understood how to execute the art part, he could nail the atheletic part but failed on the part of working the crowd which is more important.

 

[VintageWWE]

Not surprised Shelton Benjamin was released. He was really go nowhere in the WWE anyway. As much as people think he is athletic, that doesn't matter unless you have charisma. Charisma draws the fans and in ring talent keeps them. Benjamin has to succeeded in connecting with the fans and withou that it doesn't matter how athletic you are. This is sports entertainment not amateur wrestling.

As for Mickie I am very surprised. She is the best diva WWE has and people actually like her. This only makes me hope that the two female titles will be unified as there were barely any talent to require two titles before and now there certainly is not enough talent to have two belts.

This series of releases does prove one thing though. Anyone that says WWE is scared of releasing talent because they fear they will go over to TNA is wrong. WWE fired their most talented diva and one of the most athletic wrestlers they have. This shows WWE isn't threatened by TNA and they don't need to lock up talent from TNA.

 

[Kenny Powers]

-Mickie James
-Shelton Benjamin
-Kung Fu Naki
-Jimmy Wang Yang
-Slam Master J
-Katie Lea Burchill


Please forgive me if this is supposed to be posted in a different location. If so please move to correct area. This is my first time attempting to post a new thread so I ask that you cut a little slack and please bare with me.

Although 4 of the 6 do not come as a surprise to me. Two of the latest 'superstars' that the WWE released came as quite of a surprise to me. Of course those two being Mickie James, and Shelton Benjamin.

What I would like to discuss is personal ideas behind why YOU think the WWE released these individuals and the what do you think is next for them? I listed all 6 of the people who were confirmed released. If you have comments as to why you think they should NOT have been released I would like to head them also but nothing more because they are of little importance.

I have always liked Shelton Benjamin and Mickie James, and have been scratching my head as to their release, unless they asked for it or their contracts were just up. I think SB is decent on the mic (certainly better than some), has good in-ring ability but at the very least is probably one of the most athletic people the WWE has on their roster. But IMO he comes off as a guy that is fine where he is as long as he gets a paycheck and has no desire to become better or push him to reach the next level. He has put on some fantastic ladder matches in the past, but I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of it is just because he half-asses a lot of it.
Mickie James on the other hand, I am kind of at a loss why she would go. I don't know if it's something like Maria and her wanted to do music and "The Apprentice" deal where she couldn't be on any other show as part of the contract. Because I know Mickie wants to work on music also. But is it just as simple as that? Could it be because that whole ridiculous 'weight' angle thing just got to her? Or what are you opinions. Please discuss.

I'm not surprised by Jimmy Wang Yang or Kung Fu Naki. I have no idea who Slam Master J is. Shelton Benjamin was going to be released sooner then later. They weren't treating Mickie James with much respect either.

I think that Benjamin, James, and Katie Burchill would be a great addition to TNA. James and Burchill can really added what is missing to the Knockouts Division. The Beautiful People are really the only thing going in the division, and they aren't known for their wrestling prowess.

It would be awesome to see Benjamin, Haas, Helms, and Paul Burchill in the X Division. Benjamin would have some great matches with Angle and AJ Styles too. TNA can take a piece of coal and turn into a diamond no matter who goes there.

 

[Hawkeye]

I don't think mickie's gonna 'cross the line'. i think she's gonna keep working on her music,cuz i'm almost sure that's why she wanted out.She'll be back

Shelton...is going to TNA.Quite Possibly with Haas, and they'll be WGTT again.that was a great team.

 

[Loveless]

Where did this assumption that Benjamin and James were fired come from? Both of them had reason to want out.
Benjamin was soon to be out of contract and it's well known that Charlie Haas begged him not to resign. For him this looks like a good career move, the guy can go to an ever-improving TNA roster and be allowed to put on great matches.
Now as for James, I'm glad for her. The WWE has treated her like shit and she was clearly planning on leaving anyway. I wouldn't expect to see her in the ring again for a while, if ever.

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

For me, the only surprise was Mickie James. She seemed to be their most over, babyface female. But who knows (and who cares).

Fu Naki, Wang Yang, Slam Master and The Pirates sister seemed a long time coming. Why would the WWE continue to pay their salaries? I honestly cannot believe any of them still had a job.

Benjamins a different story though. Personally, I don't care about Shelton. He is so bad on the mic and has such a non-existent character, that it was impossible for me to care about him. He is great in the ring, but that's all he has. And no matter how angry things like storyline, character development and so on might bug some of you smarks out there, it matters. It helps a great in ring wrestler become a big time superstar, and Shelton never got there. Good luck in TNA, I hope he does well over there.

 

[Wolfdemon]

WWE has come to terms on the release of Mike Knox as of today, April 22, 2010

Well this sucks. I really liked this guy and i thought he had a great psychotic heel kinda gimmick going on. I really liked his early WWE feud with CM Punk this guy really could have gone somewhere with the right push.

 

[People's Champ]

Honestly I could care less about these releases. The only big names released were Mickie James and Shelton Benjamin. But Shelton hasn't done anything productive and everyones love for this guy is beyond me. He's terrible on the mic and has no personality. That won't work for you if you are trying to make a name for yourself. As far as Mickie, she has a music career she's focused on so I'm sure she's not to upset. Especially after those "piggy james" segments.

 

[The Ram]

WWE has come to terms on the release of Mike Knox as of today, April 22, 2010

Well this sucks. I really liked this guy and i thought he had a great psychotic heel kinda gimmick going on. I really liked his early WWE feud with CM Punk this guy really could have gone somewhere with the right push.

Wow I just noticed this. Well I guess WWE got rid of all the guys they never used on smackdown basically. Thank God for Punk because for being a saviour because if it wasn't for him Luke Gallows AKA Festus would've been on this list more than likely.

 

[RVDisTNA]

Shelton will end up in TNA. Hes a good fit. TNA fans appreciate actual WRESTLING more than the children of WWE.

Mickie James will be in TNA too. She got her start in TNA as a part of Ravens crew in2002 and I can see her coming back.

 

[richunclescrooge]

Knox- he was fine in the ring but didnt connect with the crowd, I understand

Jimmy Wang Yang- fine in the ring, got stuck with a shitty gimmick, in a company without a cruiserweight division, I understand

Slam Master J- fine in ring, got a shitty gimmick, in a company without cruiserweight division, tho he seems big enough to be alright out of it, I understand

Katie lea- ok in ring, had the least wwe experience and didnt have the look that vince likes, I understand

Funaki- good in ring, proven to be very entertaining, kinda got a shitty gimmick, did a TON of stuff behind the scenes (one particular thing I know of is with the local guys who would come to work or be extras on the show. He would meet them at the building, show them around and tell them whats up. He was a great guy for stuff like that) I dont think theyll just keep him around to do stuff like that because they would have just retired him on tv. I SORT OF understand.

Shelton Benjamin- great in ring, can be entertaining, not great on the mic but can be worked around (like they did for ziggler last week by having him read off a sheet sarcastically), the build up for the ladder match with christian for the ecw title was AWESOME and was one of the main reasons I watched that PPV, so much talent, just needed to find a creative way to make it all work, I DONT understand

Mickie James- great in ring (for a woman (not that women cant wrestle, just a lot of the women there now totally suck (vince has the mindset "you can be taught to wrestle but you cant be taught to have your look" but its obvious SOME PEOPLE CANT LEARN))) over with the crowd, I DO NOT understand.

If the rumors of her lateness and holding everything up are true it is easier to understand but it all depends on how late she was, how many times and I dont have all the details. Even so, if I were making the decisions I would just at the most suspend her, unless shes really been thinking of leaving soon anyway, then whatever

 

[Attitude]

I hope Shelton Benjamin goes to TNA I don't know if it was this thread or another one but someone mentioned Shelton teaming up with Charlie Haas again and reforming the Angle Alliance in TNA. I think that would be awesome. I think it would be great if they returned and dominated TNA for a while but Shelton Benjamin splits from the Angle Alliance to Main Event. We could see a Shelton Benjamin vs. Kurt Angle match which would be great.

The fueds Shelton could have in the Main Event would be classic and off the charts. Think about the matches he could have with Jeff Hardy and RVD. Then there's AJ Styles and Ken Anderson which would be interesting. We could a fresh main event scene plus fueds we never really saw. I know Shelton probably faced RVD, Hardy, Anderson, and I know he faced Angle in the WWE but they never actually had long term fueds that lasted. So this could work out for the long run for TNA.

 

[Smookiepooch]

6 Smackdown superstars released and only 1 Raw superstar? Shows once again that Smackdown is the crap show in WWE's eyes..........

 

[baldjedi]

Mickie James being gone is a shock to me. Very popular with fans, attractive and maybe even the best femaie wrestler they had. Both Maryse and Michelle or overrated. Shelton has been underused most of his time at WWE and I know he was ready to go, but I know I will miss Mickie James and I am one who always thought she was a hot little pistol. Hope things work out for her otherwise she can come by my place anytime!

 

[Driver]

what? james and benjamin?
yet they keep, Carlito, Zack Ryder, Alicia Fox, Layla, Mike Knox, and most of the NXT Roster... give me a break WWE. I know they need to 'cut some fat' from the roster but those 2 were people that will put 'butts in the seats.' The people I mentioned above WON'T.

WWE FOR THE FAIL

Shelton Benjamin lacks the ability to draw anything, let alone put people in seats. Mickie james is much the same, she might get a nice reaction but that doesnt mean she is going to sell tickets.

None of the people so far Released by WWE, have really been all that useful in the last few+ months. I expect more to be done and am happy that Shelton was released, purely cause he lacked the entertainment side to his wrestling skills.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Shelton Benjamin
I can't really say that I will miss Shelton all that much. He looked so stupid with that gold hair, and I was neutral but leaning towards dislike even before he got the gold hair. The last time I recall rooting for him in a match (without him being the "lesser of two evils" in the match) was back in summer of 2005.... wow, that was long ago. So long, Shelton!

Mickie James
Mickie was the most surprising of the releases in my opinion, although it doesn't quite come as that much of a shocker to me because of her wanting to become a musician. Someone is REALLY going to have to step up now in the divas divisions for both shows as the next face of the division. Hopefully Eve on Raw and Beth on Smackdown. There is already talk of whether Mickie will go to TNA or not.... let's not get so ahead of ourselves, wait for the 90 days to begin to run out and then we can begin thinking about that. I'll miss Mickie because she was one of the best divas, but she was WAY past her best days back in 2006.

Kung Fu Naki
Why would they release Funaki? Sure, his Kung Fu character was awfully cheesy, but doesn't he have some sort of respected role backstage? I thought that was why he had been kept around for as long as he was. They could have kept him as a jobber, although he was so rarely on tv. I'll miss Fuanki since he was cool.... but they can always find other jobbers.

Jimmy Wang Yang
I'd say it's about time. I never liked him much and was never a fan of his character. Even as a jobber I didn't care for him that much.... I had forgotten he was even still with WWE since he had not been on tv in ages. See ya, Jimmy Wang Yang!

Slam Master J
I knew his days were numbered when he was given the terrible Slam Master J character. As Jesse at least he had a bit of a chance of surviving. Jesse would have never made it far without Festus anyway, and Festus has moved on to better things as Gallows.... so.... See ya, Slam Master J!

Katie Lea Burchill
This release sucks. Katie was never really given much of a chance other than the angle against Mickie 2 years ago. She could have made a good heel diva and Raw needs a heel diva (other than Maryse) who isn't a jobber like Jillian. Katie could have filled that role. Oh well. Hopefully we will see her in TNA in about 90 days, they would use her in a much better role that she deserved all along. I'll miss Katie Lea Burchill because she was great when pushed correctly.

 

[Honkey_Kong]

Shelton Benjamin lacks the ability to draw anything, let alone put people in seats. Mickie james is much the same, she might get a nice reaction but that doesnt mean she is going to sell tickets.

None of the people so far Released by WWE, have really been all that useful in the last few+ months. I expect more to be done and am happy that Shelton was released, purely cause he lacked the entertainment side to his wrestling skills.

Shelton draws wrestling fans who care about wrestling. Problem was he can't cut a promo and the WWE didn't use him right. What he and Haas need is a manager and they could be a top tag team draw.

 

[Frozen Fire]

I am not quite surprised about 4 names b'coz i forgot they even existed in WWE. but Mickie and Shelton came in as a surprise. but i feel it is a blessing in disguise for Shelton atleast. imagine he being in TNA now. He and Hass can form their tag team and also join Angle when he comes back. it'll be great. as for Mickie even she can join the knockouts in TNA. so things do not look all that bad for these 2 atleast.

 

[bongorider]

There was a story on WZ a week or two ago about the pressgiving Linda McMahon a hard time for hiring a pornstar and pointed the finger at Candice Michelle, the reply was that the company didn't know she had done porn (softcore) and that she had been released.

WIth Mickie James suddenly gone, is anyone thinking it might be because of her porn history?

 

[KoC417]

Woohoo! TNA TNA TNA TNA!!!! HAHA JK!!!!
All this means is Charlie Haas's request will now come true. Last month I believe it was Charlie begged Shelton to come to TNA when his current WWE contract expired. Looks like Charlie won't have to wait that long! Tag Team Wrestling in TNA!

But then again with Joey Mercury coming back to WWE officially now I think WWE is cutting it's losses. At least with Mercury you can reunite MNM and create a bigtime heel venture for the 2 of them.

Mickie..flat out she turned into a former Melina. Getting a lot of backstage heat for essentially being a brat. Showing up late to the buses and causing them delays and so forth. Great talent but good riddance to bad rubbish! I see TNA picking her up just for the eye candy. MAYBE they'll actually do what WWE has failed to do. Create an interesting Women's division? Perhaps! We shall wait and see. I don't see anyone else going to TNA. TNA is already stacked full of people they can't even fit them all into 1 show. Adding more right now would just be senseless. UNLESS they are planning on making another big time show. Similar to the way WCW was run. Nitro/Thunder/Saturday Night. That would be good. But otherwise I just see Shelton and Mickie going to TNA. Maybe Jimmy Wang & Funaki for the X division. But again..highly unlikely.

 

[FunKay the Inevitable]

Knox: He was always asking for this. Ever since his push was derailed and those drugs were found in his former home, he's been edging ever closer. He was losing to Goldust on Superstars in February, one year after he was main eventing the No Way Out PPV. I never liked him and he's now unemployed. Not suprised

Jimmy Wang Yang: I liked him. he was never going to do anything though. There's no cruiserweight division and his tag team with Slam Master J wasn't exactly great. Not really suprised.

Slam Master J: As soon as Jesse & Festus split up, his career was in jeopardy. They gave him this lame duck rapper gimmick and stuck him in a tag team with Jimmy wang Yang. He's not going to be missed (at least not that much) and personally I'm not suprised.

Katie Lea: I'm a little suprised here. I know paul Birchill is gone but they seemed to be pushing her a little and she had some in ring ability. the again if your losing to the Bella's on Superstars...

Funaki: I liked Funaki throughout his tenure. He was employed for over ten years and served a number of purposes, tag team wrestler, cruiserweight wrestler, interviewer, comedy act etc...Overall I'm not suprised but I am sad.

Shelton Benjamin: This suprised me. Shelton was a 3 time Intercontenental Champion and former Tag & US Champion. He was the annual highlight reel at WM. He has back to back victories over triple H for god's sake. But I thought something might have been up when he wasn't diving all over the place at WM. Shame but if he goes to TNA, he might have a solid push there.

Mickie James: This is supposudley for disciplinery reasons. She kicked up a fuss about going to SD! and then she apparently held the SD guys up on tour. If it was the straw that broke the camels back then she should have learned her lesson. Sad to see her go though.

 

[The Scarred One]

Out of the recent releases to take place, Mickie James and Shelton Benjamin shocked the hell out of me!

Mickie James: She was pretty much the closest female wrestler WWE had to being the next Trish Stratus. I don't understand how the WWE could get rid of her yet keep people like Layla (who doesn't even have a fraction of the wrestling talent Mickie has) and Jillian (whose pretty much damaged beyond repair now). But Mickie says she's been wanting to go into a career in country music for some time, so this might be her chance to do so. I don't see her going to TNA, at least not right away. Then again, Mickie James might resign with WWE somewhere down the road.

Shelton Benjamin: This man had the wrestling talent to put on great matches with almost anyone. Being a former Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion, he had a lot of stock to help put people over much like Matt Hardy and Finlay do. It was either that or he would eventually become an agent and help train younger guys. Benjamin didn't have the charisma or mic skills needed to be a top draw so he wasn't going to rise up on the ladder, but I figured he'd have a job for life in the WWE. So it looks like Charlie Haas got what he wanted, so he and Benjamin can now reunite in TNA or anywhere else if they want. If he does go to TNA, I see him becoming a fixture in the X-Division as he not only has the mat wrestling ability like Kurt Angle but also the high-flying skills like AJ Styles.

Katie Lea: I don't think the WWE ever really gave her a chance after they dropped the whole incest storyline with her and Paul Burchill. After that, they just became generic heels and floundered. But after Burchill got released and she went solo, I figured they would've done something with her. Oh well.

Slam Master J, Jimmy Wang Yang, Kung Fu Naki and Mike Knox: I never really cared about any of them so I have no opinion on them.

As far as seeing any of these seven going to TNA any time soon, I doubt it. TNA has too much talent as it is and not enough TV time to feature everyone. If TNA does some serious Spring cleaning of its own like the WWE occasionally does, then who knows.

 

[un1earn]

I wonder if Linda's campaign had anything to do with Mickie James' release...Hear me out, not sure how many of you out there know but Mickie once upon a time made a porno, and with Linda running for senator, one could imagine dropping her contract befoer it can be used against her for the hiring of such individuals. (think back to candice being released after the photos and videos leaked)

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

Gotta say i was damned shocked when i read that Mickie was fired. There's a couple of others that shocked and saddened me, some that were no surprise at all, and one that i don't think actually means anything.

-Mickie. Wow She literally filled the void left by Trish's retirement and more or less carried the Women's division for nearly a whole year before other talent that were equally good as her began cropping up i.e. Beth. I can't honestly say i cared about Mickie at any time, but i still recognised what a great talent she was, and that she was at the top of the Women's mountain for nearly 3 years straight and i honestly don't see them doing anything worthwhile with the Divas now, because there's literally 6 Divas who can wrestle, but only 2 of them that Creative ever want to use.

Based on all the shit that Mickie's had to put up with on TV lately (and furthermore, the shit we've had to put up with on TV), i find this to be totally unfair, and if that alleged explanation on the main site is accurate, then i really have to question if Vince gives a shit about any of the guys who've busted their asses for him. Mickie James WAS women's wrestling in WWE, and he sacked her for being late on to a bus (allegedly). Pure bullshit.

-Shelton. As much as being a career mid-carder sucks, it's still better than not being employed at all. Much like Scarred One said, i saw Shelton as being a guy who could help develop other people and become an agent and would always have a place with the 'E' having been there for roughly 7 years now. He could be the next Finaly or Dean Malenko......... oh right, no he couldn't because those guys know about ring psychology and storytelling instead of relying on pretty flips and ridiculous bumps.

Charlie Haas' constant banging on through the internet, is probably what set this up. Vince and co probably thought, 'Well, his friends is seriously trying to convince him to leave us. We don't see any reason to keep him, and no one's going to benefit from having him on their roster by anything significant, so fuck it, cut him as well. I'm sure someone else would be willing to crash through a ladder every WM and do nothing else all year.'

Best of luck Shelton, but i'm not going to miss you.

-Katie Lea. I'm shocked she wasn't fired when Paul was. As soon as Vince gave up on the incest storyline, he gave up on these two entirely. The Burchill's began squashing nobodies like every other guy who gets a half worthwhile push, but simply never got any further than that, and are now future endeavoured. I don't think we ever got to see either of these two get the opportunity to show what they could really do, and unless TNA picks up the phone, i guess we never will.

-Kung Fu Naki. This is the one that saddens me. Kaientai have always had some form of presence in WWE from the very first day i started watching and now the final remnants are gone forever. SD's #1 announcer is finally gone from the company that was his home for well over 12 years. He's been there almost as long as Kane, except Fu Naki wasn't considered worthy of being used as fodder for actual mid-carders, and why was that?........ because he doesn't weigh over 200lbs and isn't 6"5'. I know he hasn't been on TV in months, but am i sad Funaki is gone? INDEEEEEEEEEEED!

-Jimmy Wang Yang. Since there's no cruiserweight division, and they fired his tag partner, i'm shocked they kept Jimmy on the payroll as long as they did to be perfectly honest.

-Mike Knox. Yeah, you say he's gone, but i've heard that before. You already released this idiot ages ago and then brought him back with an even worse look than he had previously. Plus Joey Mercury just came back didn't he? And Masters? Burchill was released twice in total, and if i'm not mistaken, this is actually Drew McIntyre's 3rd run on the SD! roster and not the first that everyone seems to think it is, so yeah, forgive me if i don't weap for Mike Knox's career, because i'm sure he'll be back again in about 6 months.

Slam Master J. I'm sorry, but i don't even know who that is, never mind care that he's gone.

Expect to see Primo, Zack Ryder, Abe Washington, Jillian, and probably just because he's injured during 'future endeavour' season, Zeke Jackson to all be gone in the next 2 weeks as well.