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

[HBKevin]

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

I was surprised by Mickie James and Benjamin being released also. I hadn't seen Funaki on TV in forever. I remember watching Yang as Akio in the cruiserweight division. He was one of the best cruiserweights back when they actually had a division, along with Rey and Chavo, who is now one of the biggest jobbers in the company. Jesse is good in-ring but the Cryme Tyme wannabe gimmick was stupid. Maybe he could have gone to the SES with Festus. And Katie Lea had nothing to do after Burchill left and doesn't have the typical diva look.

As for the main two. Mickie was one of their best female workers, don't know why they'd release her, except for her not being a typical skinny female wrestler. And Shelton has been underpushed for years, except for his annual Money in the Bank theatrics. The typical reason is that he lacks charisma, but I've seen promos of his on ECW that were pretty funny and better than some of the other mid-carders. Shelton will have better luck in TNA, most likely.

 

[Chadmw]

Well has many people have mentioned TNA knockout division is going to get a lot better, but not just with the possible addition of Mickie James, but also Katie Lea, as she is a very talented wrestler and just didn't get used right in the WWE

Everyone says Shelton was boring on the mike and had no Charisma, I disagree, I think he was just severly missused by the WWE, look how over he was when he first jumped to Raw and was challenging HHH. Then all of a sudden the WWE just quit pushing him after that, and now it looks like they are doing the same thing with Kofi Kingston, give him a big push then quit using him.

I am also surprised about Kong fu Nake, just due to his Loyalty to the company, I would have kept him as a backstage talent or maybe even a booker or scout, but yeah I would have kept him in the company somehow

 

[Sean Valjean]

Mickie James: by far the most shocking release. I literally did a double-take when I read her name on that list. Though she's been having issues with backstage management, I didn't think it'd be enough to get her released. Even so, you'd think they'd at least wait until Melina got back before firing her. Though her best days were back in '06, she was still a great diva and I'm not sure how the diva's division is going to survive with Melina still injured, and it's top face fired.

Shelton Benjamin: another surprise, mostly because even at his lowest point, Shelton had always managed to avoid termination and it happens after he came off a pretty good run on ECW. Granted, outside of WM, he hadn't been used much, but he was a very solid mid-carder and worth keeping around IMO. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in TNA in 90 days; maybe we can finally get that Shelton/AJ Styles dream match that people have been wanting.

Kung Fu Naki: surprising only because he'd been with the company for so long and I thought he had a secure backstage position. Other than winning the Cruiserweight title years back, he's never done anything noteworthy and the Kung Fu Naki gimmick was just ridiculous. Oh well, Funaki, I'll always cherish the memory of you getting eliminated repeatedly at the 2000 Royal Rumble. INDEED!

Jimmy Wang Yang: I'm surprised it took this long to happen, really. He was on quite a roll when he first started this stupid gimmick, then he got suspended for violating the wellness policy and upon his return, received an all-expense paid trip to Jobber Island to which he never returned from. Good talent, but I won't miss him.

Slam Master J: I knew he was done as soon as Festus got sent to Raw, and that gimmick was just the nail in the coffin. All I can say is that I won't miss him.

Katie Lea Burchill: While I'm not surprised by this, I'm still upset because she was a very solid diva and I liked her. I thought her and Paul were a great pair and really could've gone somewhere if booked right. In fact, they were going somewhere until Glamerella nipped that in the bud, thus dooming them. I really hope Katie Lea goes to TNA; she'd be a great addition to the Knockout division.

Mike Knox: well, not much of a shock here either. Had a run as Kelly Kelly's boyfriend/CM Punk's bitch on ECW. Then he disappeared for a while, re-emerged as the bearded, evil...anatomy teacher, or something. I will say he was looking good in his feud with Finlay, and impressed me in the short time he was in the Elimination Chamber two years ago. I thought they were going to start an angle with him and Kane, possibly a tag team, but that obviously didn't happen. One of the better big men they had, but I'm not losing sleep over this.

 

[Rayne]

Mickie James: Perhaps the only real surprise on this list, because she was still a draw- maybe, besides Maryse, the only draw the women's division has. (Sorry, Michelle McCool. You drew as a face. Sorry, Beth Phoenix; you drew as a heel.) I won't get into all the dirt sheet speculation on if it's because of a poor attitude in Europe, because you're a fool if you trust what you read about pro wrestling on the internet, but I wouldn't be surprised if her country album has something to do with it. The WWE, much like a pimp, tends to get upset when one of their performers is making money in entertainment without them getting a cut.

Shelton Benjamin: He's one of my favorite wrestlers. One of the best wrestlers in the WWE. But we've all seen this coming for a long time. He was never a draw, as athletic as he is in the ring, simply because he is god-awful on the mic. And I'm a Benjamin mark. But long term success in the WWE requires microphone skills. Here's to hoping he goes to TNA, which is more wrestling-oriented than WWE. If he does, he'll get a chance to shine in the X-Division, and he'll be able to use the name he's been using for the past decade as a bonus.

Mike Knox: He still worked for WWE?

Jimmy Wang Yang: See Mike Knox. Glorified enhancement talent.

Funaki: You can't really measure if this was a surprise or not, because his role was more backstage and less in-ring.

Katie Lea Burchill: Remember a few years ago, when the WWE was raiding the top wrestlers (that they could get) from SHIMMER, because they wanted women who already knew how to wrestle? They've figured out that the audience they have could care less about if the women can wrestle. The fans they have want to see either a girl with at least a C-cup bouncing around with a smile on her face, or otherwise a girl being nasty to other girls.

Slam Master J: The Jesse gimmick was bad enough. The "Slam Master J" gimmick was just awful. Ray could have gotten into the ring, turned water into beer and fed the whole arena with just two pretzels, and he still wouldn't be able to overcome how awful that gimmick was.

 

[INDYjon22]

The release of Mickie Jamies is a little strange to me. Reports say she was acting like a diva? Well if I remember correctly Vickie Guerrero acted like a diva as well and she wasn't cut. Oh well, at the very worst Mickie does her country music thing for awhile and then signs with TNA where I think she will be much more appreciated.

Shelton Benjamen has been overdue for awhile but I will still admit that it kind of shocked me. WWE loves him for the high spots he does in ladder matches and looked like they were about to push him. Give Benjamen 90 days and he will land on his feet in a little place called TNA with his good buddy Charlie Haas.

Kung Fu Naki, Jimmy Wang Yang and Mike Knox have been overdue for awhile. I honestly don't remember the last time I saw Funaki or Wang Yang in the ring. They were giving nothing to the WWE and were just taking up room. Good move cause it gives both men a chance to go back to where they were best. Funaki will head back to Japan where he is really over and Wang Yang will go wherever high flying spots are wanted and be over.

I will miss the beard. Good bye sweet prince maybe you will find what your looking for someday. Mike Knox was another guy not doing anything for the WWE. I don't know where he will go but I have a feeling he will pop up in TNA for a month and then be gone again.

Overall, as much as a shame as it is to see people lose their jobs the WWE did cut the right people. James is busy doing other things and needed to be cut to allow herself the time to try things like music. Benjamen was going nowhere fast. Wang Yang and Funaki weren't even on TV and Knox wasn't doing anything either.

 

[The Doctor]

They release Knox, but keep Kozlov? Really? Knox was like a good Kozlov. He could talk, work, and fill out the midcard monster role nicely with Zeke injured. He could easily have been either a legit competitor or a large guy who gets beaten up on to make the smaller guys look good. So much potential gone. It's a shame.

I will miss his glorious beard.

 

[maar130]

Well for me this sucks, 3 out the 6 bothered me a lot.

Mickie from whatever mishaps she had, was like someone else said, her go-to diva, when the pushes of the Diva search contestants sinked she was always there to bring pride to the Women's title or when they needed someone to represent the women's division.

Katie's release was unfair because when ever she and Paul got some heat they always sabotaged them, for real, when they were becoming a serious treat for Mickie and Kingston for the IC and Women's title, they cut them off and put the crappy comedy fo Santino and Beth as the odd couple, then finally got a decent rivalry with Helms and what they did? they screwed them again. Then they fired Paul and Katie Satyed, being one of the few that can actually wrestle a proper match in Raw, but what did they did? they practically never used her at all, and know who si the heel that can actually get a good match on Raw? Jillian? only one person because Maryse needs more experience.

And now Shelton, you can say what you want about his charisma, but hey the guy can wreslte decently and could use a freaking manager but no, lets release him and keep Koslov who has no charisma at all and Santino who is crap in the ring but will make you laugh like none other (sarcasm).

 

[ice4life31]

think about this haas was release and now shelton the world greastest tag team are free to go to tna you know who else is in tna Kurt angle do you see what mite be a repeat in history that they will reunite in Tna

 

[DigitalNight]

I say let TNA buy them all in 90 days and make the beginning of August one of the best months in TNA history.

There are all sorts of ways they can establish every character. Mickie could be the "anti-diva" being "kicked out of that other place" for being lewd, crude with an attitude.

Shelton, Wang & Knox could go in and start heat with some of the middle card. Naki, I have no idea what he's going to do.

Katie can step up the singles department and when the time comes, have her cat fight with whoever needs to be put in their place.

 

[rhynoc2287]

Hey Vince! You forgot to release the Bella Twins!

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Knox's release doesn't surprise me at all. I liked his character. He did a good job at playing the psychotic big man, and some of his video promos were just creepy as hell. Knox was never going to go anywhere on Smackdown. He would've been just another guy on the mid card for as long as he was in WWE.

 

[rhynoc2287]

I think Shelton asked for his release, taking Hass' advice to go to TNA. Shelton was in MITB, however he was not used as he was in previous ones. I just don't see why put him a match at wrestlemania and then release him less than a month later, unless he acted up backstage or something, which I doubt. Shelton knows he will be used properly in TNA.

But I have to say, it's not like WWE never gave him a chance. He had a pinfall victory over Triple H, 6 or so years ago, he had a couple runs with the IC title and that rediculous stopryline with his "Mama".

 

[Dagger Dias]

It seems that Mike Knox has now been released as well. I'm not going to miss him at all because he was just another boring big guy. When somebody's beard is the only impressive thing about them, then you know they suck. He got a little more interesting as the evil anatomy doctor or whatever that was supposed to be.... but even then his promos were still pretty bad and he was never all that great in the ring. So long, Knox!

 

[mr.ready]

Chris Masters. The WWE isn't doing anything with him. He's a specimen with a rockhard body. Let him go, WWE and let TNA make a star out of him, the same way they did Elijah Burke

 

[jarredclements]

Mike Knox didn't have the best of run's in the WWE. As soon as he made his debut, he was paired with Kelly Kelly, shortly after their breakup he was absent for months. Returned a couple more times, did nothing. Absent again for awhile, then repeated the whole process over.

Also in the final stages of his WWE run, he looked bloated. His stomach was getting big. So maybe that had something to do with it as well.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Mike Knox getting released can be seen as a good move and a bad move simultaneously. As a big dude, he has a nice overall package that can be adapted to anything. He has some great athleticism for a big man with that fast-paced flying crossbody that would literally knock the wind out of you. I've seen him do the Jumping Calf Kick and a Moonsault once or two. He did do a couple of moves sloppy every now and again, but someone like him around would have been good.

Then again, he wasn't doing much relevant for a while except grow a beard that emulates Theo Mays on these very boards. So, it was a good talent released, but nothing of great importance would come out of keeping him on the rosters.

 

[Ferreira]

Shelton Benjamin's release shocked be if I have to be honest.

The guy is bad. Pretty bad, he can't get over with a crowd but WWE just gave him a chance after a chance, and I tought he wouldn't leave WWE, or at least right about now.


I hope he goes to TNA, not because I think he will succeed but just because I want to see him fail once again and prove that it was indeed his fault he didn't get over all this time.

 

[AttitudeAJM]

The only release that seemed shocking to me was Mike Knox. He was a big guy with an intimidating aura. He was starting to look oddly similar to Brusier Brody. I think there was a lot they could have done with a guy like that. Either way I'm sure a company like All Japan or NOAH could use him.

 

[Chrisakacloud]

Not surprised my Mike Know's getting the axe, I think he is decent enough but WWE always seem to do that kinda thing with decent talent, like Mickie James(probably one of the better divas IMO) and Shelton Benjamin(better than a LOT of what WWE currently have wrestling every week)

Hopefully Benjamin will go to TNA and put on some great matches.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Today WWE released Tony Atlas. This one also doesn't surprise me at all. Atlas did a good job managing Mark Henry when he was ECW champion. Henry and Atlas made a good heel duo, and they were one of the main reasons I liked watching ECW. Although, I couldn't stand Atlas as Abraham Washington's sidekick/announcer, and that's mainly because I hate Washington so much.

 

[The Doctor]

Aw man. I liked Tony. He was very funny as Abraham Washington's sidekick, and I feel that if they plan on bringing the Washington gimmick back they should have kept Tony. However, since they just released a big chunk of the Abraham Washington Show, it looks like they may be repackaging Washington. I hope they don't fire him; he's good on the mic and he can really wrestle.

 

[The_Extreme_Sub_Machine]

When are they are going to release Santino, Khali, and Hornswaggle. Three guys who no one cares about at all. They are also three horrible wrestlers.

 

[Evildeath]

When are they are going to release Santino, Khali, and Hornswaggle. Three guys who no one cares about at all. They are also three horrible wrestlers.

Those 3 yes. Release every wh*re diva in the business. They are lame and take up TV time for no reason. Mysterio should go. That guy is so small why do they even sell the little guy. WWE should realease all the crap: Zack Ryder, Hart Dynasty (Absolute crap to watch), JTG, Shad, Chris Masters, Carlito (he can listen to his ipod all day for all i care), Tyler Reks, Vance Archer, Trent Barretta, Caylen Croft and Chavo Guerrero.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

When are they are going to release Santino, Khali, and Hornswaggle. Three guys who no one cares about at all. They are also three horrible wrestlers.

I actually consider Santino to be entertaining sometimes. He's nothing more than a comedy jobber, and he does his job well, and he also gets some nice pops from the crowd every now and then.

I can't stand Hornswoggle. As a long time fan of Triple H and Shawn Michaels, it drove me nuts to see him become a member of DX. I didnt't even wear my DX t-shirt for months, and that was because of his involvement in the group. The thing about Hornswoggle is, he's there to make the kiddies laugh.

Khali is also there to get laughs out of the crowd. Plus, he's a giant, so he'll stick around in WWE for a little while longer. All three of these men are primarily used to add some comic relief to WWE television, and they will be around for a long time.

 

[Scotty]

Release every wh*re diva in the business.

You can say ****e around here.

They are lame and take up TV time for no reason.

Some Diva's do, some do not.

Mysterio should go.

Why?

That guy is so small why do they even sell the little guy.

Becasue he is a very popular wrestler who is uber over with the fans.

WWE should realease all the crap:

Oh God, here we go.

Zack Ryder,

Zack Ryder is one of my personal favorites on Raw. He has some in ring talent, and managed to make a bad gimmick work on ECW. Towards the end, he was generating a nice amount of heat.

Hart Dynasty (Absolute crap to watch),

I just seen them live and loved it. I have seen them on TV and and in person and think they are one of the best tag teams in recent memory in my opinion.

JTG, Shad,

They were a good tag team who was split up for no reason. They was incredibly over and should have had at least one run with the tag team championships.

Chris Masters,

The man has a good luck, a believable finisher, and some nice in ring work. He has a chance to be over with the crowd, but was not given that opportunity on Raw. I feel that his move to Smackdown, which is not with that many main event stars, will get a chance to shine.

Carlito (he can listen to his ipod all day for all i care),

Carlito is a good talent who could be a solid mid card wrestler but lacks the work ethic. The rumored reunion with his brother in the Tag Division could really help him.

Tyler Reks, Vance Archer,

Agreed, just give them more developmental and better characters.

Trent Barretta, Caylen Croft and

Another solid tag team that can fill out the card.

Chavo Guerrero.

Chavo Guerrero is a very good in ring talent who (with the right push) could be a solid mid card wrestler.