Trades and releases

[jpmessiah]

So, what did everyone think of the trades? What do you think the WWE can do with each wrestler from the trades? What did you think of the releases? I hated a lot of them and understood others, but play fantasy booker. What would you have done with each star that was released to keep them with a job? Which stars will be released next? Which would you release?

[DrayvensCrow]

Just for my lack of a memory(LOL), the releases are as follows:

Spike Dudley, OVW's Seven aka Mordecai, Gangrel, Billy Kidman, Mark Jindrak, Akio, Shannon Moore, Maven, Charlie Haas and his new wife Jackie Gayda, pregnant Dawn Marie, Marty Jannetty, Matt Morgan, and Kenzo Suzuki. Hiroko's name was not mentioned but is assumed to be included as she and Kenzo are married.

1) The decline of the Cruiserweight Division continues with the loss of Dudley, Moore, Kidman and Akio. I will be interested to see what Matt Hardy's thoughts are on Moore's release. With Spike's release, that makes all three Dudley's gone.

2) Dawn Marie's release, IMO, was due to her pregnancy and nothing else.

3) With Maven and Morgan gone, only two Tough Enough contestants remain with WWE.

4) Mordecai was another victim of WWECreative's lack of vision and understanding. The writing was on the wall when he was sent back to OVW to "reinvent his character".

5) Marty Janetty did as much as ask for his release when he got in trouble with the law recently. He was not going to be given the benefit of the doubt that Brock Lesner and others have gotten.

And in a signing not mentioned, WWE has signed former WCW and ECW wrestler Big Vito. Look for him to be placed in a team up with Nunzio.

Unfortunately, it appears that WWE's deal with USA network is the main reason that so many cuts both backstage and in-ring have happened and now the fans and wrestlers will suffer the most before Vince ever feels it.

[DocMidnite]

OK heres something that is just total rumor at this time. But a buddy of mine said he read that 4 additional wrestlers were due to be released. He told me two of the names were RVD and Benoit. Now I remind you these are unsubstantiated at this time. I am waiting for him to send me the link where he read it.

But if it's true...How Sad. Two guys that busted their asses for the company since coming over.

[DrayvensCrow]

I've seen that rumor as well....could be Vinnie Mac finally will go through with the WCW/ECW/separate entity plan....

[jpmessiah]

Explain this WWE/WCW/ECW seperate thingy you are discussing. I don't think they would get rid of Chris Benoit. They still continue to push him to some degree. RVD might have been different. I could see them releasing him because of his mouth, but if TNA picked him up, the WWE would be very very upset

[DocMidnite]

Vinnie Mac has been toying with the idea of having ECW return as a different entity. Owned by WWE, but it's own seperate show having nothing to do with Raw or Smackdown. And given the popularity of the ECW PPV I would say it may be a good bet!

How about it Drayvenscrow? Am I close to the mark here!

WCW would be a long shot though! They could have done the invasion thing long ago and had a good cluster of the old WCW roster take over Smackdown and roll out the old WCW stage. Unfortunately that window of opportunity has left

[DocMidnite]

Just a quickie.
Seems the Hebner brothers, long time referees were released from WWE for selling WWE merschandise in their shop. BWAHAHAHA!

Somewhere Bret Hart is smiling!

[DrayvensCrow]

Correction, oh trusted tag team partner! Earl owned the shop and it seems Dave was providing the shirts!

Back at the end of the Monday Night War, WWE's plan was to have WCW continuing to operate, doing only house shows until their problems backstage were taken care of. If you look, there are pics on the net of tickets that were sold but the shows never happend. They were printed saying "Shane McMahon presents" and had the WCW logo just below. The planned invasion would have still taken place but with more TV time to build it up and promos at the house shows to get everyone to watch. Re-opening WCW now without the benefit of some angle would just be a waste of time as WWE has their new developmental territory in Georgia now. With ECW on everyone's lips and minds still, that would seem to be the way to go.

[DrayvensCrow]

And the releases continue....Tina Moretti, better known to the wrestling world as Ivory, is being let go! WWE won't be renewing her contract. I think I'm just going to go break something....Anybody seen Vince? I think I'll break him!