I was wondering the same thing, though sometimes they do these releases in waves. I hope they bring him back, or if not just let him go as the guy is in his prime and should be on TV.
My gut feeling tells me nothing will change though.
Aleister Black is reportedly filming vignettes for his return to TV, so it does sound like he might be back soon. This whole day sucks though, hopefully everyone ends up back on their feet.
Eh, does this day suck? I mean the Joe release is shocking, but to play devils advocate, these are talent who have not been used, were getting paid, and now can go do their own thing. Like if we are sad about them getting released, WWE isnāt charity or a welfare program to employ people that are literally not being used or not going to be used. A team doesnāt pay players they wonāt keep. Companies donāt hire people and pay them to sit in the communal kitchen all day.
I guess I struggle to see how to view this any differently. Realistically WWE cannot keep 1000 rostered wrestlers, at some point they have to make cuts and I hope this is the avenue to better opportunities and fulfillment for these people. Not to mention, they sign up to work for this place knowing how it operates, canāt be upset when that turns on you if you are coming in or stuck in that level.
IF the IIconics are truly deserving of more than what was portrayed, they will undoubtedly land on their feet and break out. Thatās how free markets work. If they arenāt, do we want WWE to be a home for wrestlers who arenāt really going to break out and just there to sit in catering and get a check?
To make a stock market analogy. Iām not sad the IIconics got released, Iām excited to buy low because I believe they will be worth more later. So not upset for their opportunity ahead at all, excited for them if anything. Somebodyās releases are anotherās undervalued talent, IF they are in fact undervalued. Otherwise, whats the point in hoarding fat?
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I do feel bad for a guy like Bo Dallas, who has been shelved for like two years and hasnāt even had the chance to be featured. Then just gets dumped. Curtis Axel got released one year ago and Dallas did nothing but gather dust for a year. Why not release him then if you have no plans for him?
Chelsea Green is another one who really got screwed over. The others at least had some TV time in the past few years.
Iāll always be sympathetic to a bunch of hardworking, talented human beings on the day they lose their jobs.
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But, he got paid. So I either donāt feel bad because he wanted to get released and couldnāt (should be happy for him), or he got paid for a year and while it sucks, he did get paid when somebody like Axel got released, so he got a better end of the short straw I suppose. Itās not a negative-negative I guess. Maybe a negative-positive or positive-negative.
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I donāt disagree with the sentiment. I do feel for people losing their jobs. At the same time, they nor us should be surprised so itās less of a visceral emotion for me personally.
Plus some of these people want their release; wasnāt that the case last time?
Exactly. If you canāt stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen. They chose to deal with the devil so have no right to complain (if any do) when the devil decides heās done with them.
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I think a lot of performers would rather take less money and actually perform. Wasting a year doing nothing when you could be earning so much more and doing much more fulfilling work creatively must be devastating
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Wasnāt there a story or rumor a few weeks back that Bo Dallas was winding down his career at the end of his contract? So that one might have been mutual, or at least, just getting it over with.
I think that there is probably a mix of both. That there are performers frustrated that they couldnāt perform. And that there are plenty of others happy to show up (and not even need to do that during a pandemic) eat catering and get a paycheck.
WWEās philosophy recently seems to be to let anyone go whose not happy. So if there is anyone on the roster really frustrated by how they are being used it seems like they could be released if asked.
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This is the thing, you are always going to have people rag on WWE when they release people, but as of now none of us know the why. Iām sure some of these performers were caught off guard, some probably asked, some are probably apathetic. At the same time, Iām sure some are pissed, and Iām sure some are happy.
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I very much doubt any of them, with the exception of Joe, will end up making more money than they were in WWE as they arenāt very good. Peyton might be okay as Sean works in AEW and we know how easy a mark Booker of the Year is when it comes to be being talked into signing friends and family.
They certainly wouldnāt have been earning more money in the past 12 months unless they had changed careers.
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I agree. So Iām happy for whoever this applies to there.
Thereās also the people who previously, through good or bad faith, declare that WWE is just sitting on people so they canāt be claimed elsewhere. And ultimately, if WWE is responsive to that critique, I wonder what way any fans think this will end? Because it ends with less people having jobs. And I think thatās all where I āfeel badā today because you hope the people who lost jobs wanted this or will find a better or more profitable opportunity later, but thereās always those who get caught up in the numbers game that donāt.
And I guess the only upside is most of these people have ānamesā so someone relatively close to the top should have interest in them. And hopefully with things opening up, there will be more indy shows for the rest to work on. I just know itās a lot easier for us fans to be like āyouāll be better off!ā when a lot of people would take a little less in order to not have to go through change and have that dependable thing to go to.
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If you wanna cut talent because you believe you want to move on from them and your roster is bloated, thatās fine. Budget cuts? When youāre the most profitable youāve ever been. Just release people and say itās the business.
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This is one of the reason I fondly remember the territory days. Wrestlers came and went and it wasnāt a big deal. You could work a deal with another promoter and start another run to a whole new audience that was aware of you, but might not have ever seen you. You still stayed relevant and hot, making about or probably more money than the last place. It probably helped the Apter mags because that was about the only way you could keep track of who was where.
Now, youāre cast off back to the minors, sitting at a card table before the show, hoping people remember your big run in 2012 as the fans file past you like youāre a zoo animal, whispering to their friend, āWoah, is that (insert has-been here)? Wow, did he get fat. Dude, donāt make eye contact, heāll want $20 to take a picture with you. Just keep moving.ā
Good luck bros and broettes. Make sure your phone isnāt on silent during Royal Rumble season.
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There are more opportunities to make a living as a professional wrestling today, than there have been in over twenty years.
Pre-pandemic, living off the indies, was a real thing for many talents. I imagine post-pandemic, it will be too.
Things are nowhere as bad as youāre trying to make it sound.
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Not really surprised with a lot on here. Can see a few of the names actually asking for their release.
WWE do have an insane amount of wrestlers under contract and in order to make room for people, others will always need to be moved on.
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No, youāre right. Iāve never been to a Big Time Wrestling show at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium in the last 5 years and did exactly what I described as we walked by the Nasty Boys table. I certainly didnāt sit next to Robert Gibson in the bleachers of a high school gym after he got done selling poster cards of him and Ricky Morton and watch the Dudley Boys wrestle The Broken Hardyās in front of 175-200 fans.
Everything will come up Millhouse for all those let go.
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