Oliver
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| #1 Posted on 14.8.05 1928.42 Reposted on: 14.8.12 1929.01 | Courtesy of PWinsider (link: http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=12350&p=1)
WWE RELEASING ANOTHER CRUISERWEIGHT? by Buck Woodward @ 6:59:00 PM on 8/14/2005
Word was going around today, and Mike Johnson has confirmed from two separate sources, that Frankie Kazarian is parting ways with World Wrestling Entertainment. We're not sure if it is a situation where Kazarian has asked to be let go, or if WWE has decided to end their relationship.
Kazarian, who made a name for himself with TNA before signing with WWE, reportedly asked for his release a little over a month ago when WWE was not using him, despite having him signed to a deal. He made his WWE television debut on the July 16th edition of Velocity, defeating Nunzio. Since then, he has been a regular on the Saturday night program, defeating Scotty 2 Hotty, Funaki, and, last night, Paul London.
As of right now, his profile is still online at WWE.com, which you can see at http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/.
More details on this story as they become available.
===
What a waste...to put him over London when he was griping about a release. For shame.
Comments? Promote this thread! | | Mayhem
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| #2 Posted on 14.8.05 2003.58 Reposted on: 14.8.12 2004.08 | Hmmm ... interesting. One one hand I can't blame him at all, but he should be patient too.
I thought that there could/should be some really cool "Future" vignettes to hype his debut. | uberlou
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| #3 Posted on 14.8.05 2058.06 Reposted on: 14.8.12 2058.14 | Frankie's a real patient guy. I mean he was on the verge of getting signed to WWE for the past couple of years now, regularly working dark matches when they were in SoCal. He seemed really happy and pleased to be heading there the night of his farewell match in PWG (ironically enough, with Paul London in attendance). There's gotta be more to this, and it's got me curious.
oh well, maybe Frankie will make his PWG comeback at PWG's Battle of Los Angeles (prowrestlingguerrilla.com) | Kevintripod
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| #4 Posted on 14.8.05 2252.48 Reposted on: 14.8.12 2253.03 | This whole situation smells like Spanky all over again. | HMD
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| #5 Posted on 15.8.05 0055.46 Reposted on: 15.8.12 0056.00 | Bah, sounds like a jackass move if he initiated it. I've never quit a job in a month. Six weeks maybe, but not a month. | Karlos the Jackal
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| #6 Posted on 15.8.05 0523.03 Reposted on: 15.8.12 0529.01 | From his website (www.thefuturefrankiekazarian.com):
"Frankie Kazarian has parted ways with World Wrestling Entertainment as of Saturday evening. Kazarian wishes WWE all the best in their future endeavors."
--K
(Also, I don't remember the timeline myself, but according to www.obsessedwithwrestling.com, Kazarian signed with the WWE in late February, which makes it almost six months before quitting.)
| Oliver
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| #7 Posted on 15.8.05 0807.36 Reposted on: 15.8.12 0807.44 | According to LORDS OF PAIN (and somewhere else, but I'm too tired to look it up since I worked a midnight shift)...
Originally posted by LOP article Sunday might have featured a TNA PPV, but it was a WWE news item that received all the attention. Wrestling fans all over the world reacted to the news of Frankie Kazarian asking for his release from World Wrestling Entertainment. According to multiple sources, his request was granted.
The potential for trouble between Kazarian and WWE first reared its head a month ago when Kazarian initially requested a release. Upset over the fact that he - after having been with the company for several months - wasn't used on television, Kazarian wanted to part ways with WWE. In response, WWE immediately began using Kazarian on Velocity, where the former TNA wrestler went over a number of fellow WWE cruiserweights.
However, he remained dissatisfied with his role as a WWE superstar. Kazarian was specifically upset with WWE management's recent decision to tone down high-flying manuevers. The straw that broke the camel's back was a request from WWE officials that Kazarian change his look and cut his long hair.
I'm stuck between applauding him for standing up for what he believes in, and saying "awww, poor baby". There have been people in OVW who have waited a heck of a lot longer for WWE exposure and haven't gotten it. To change ones look and style is just part of the game, and he'd just have to play along. Plus...he was getting a fairly decent push on Velocity...so I don't even see what the problem is.
But then again, I can't see the same future Kazarian does.
(edited by SOK on 15.8.05 0708) | Mayhem
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| #8 Posted on 15.8.05 0930.39 Reposted on: 15.8.12 0930.57 | Maybe he'll go back to TNA & team with Matt "Michael Shane" Bentley. That was a team the was on the cusp of great things.
| Destrucity
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| #9 Posted on 15.8.05 1014.23 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1014.31 | IT'S A WORK! | CRZ
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| #10 Posted on 15.8.05 1033.39 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1033.41 | Originally posted by Destrucity IT'S A WORK!
So when it turns out NOT to be a work, how long can I ban you?
(edited by CRZ on 15.8.05 1033) | thecubsfan
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| #11 Posted on 15.8.05 1034.08 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1034.09 | fairly decent push on Velocity
Those words don't compute!
Regardless of the match finishes, people who wrestler only or primarly on B-Shows are guys the company has no idea how to use but feel an obligation to put on TV and hope lightining strikes and they get an idea. Sometimes it works out and you're Orlando Jordan, Chief of Staff. Most of the time you're Kanyon or Spanky, with people surprised you're fired because they thought it must've happened months ago. As a cruiserweight, Frankie was a lot more likely to be Spanky. (Which is why it's so bizarre the WWE would hire him and Noble back, but there's an obvious disconnect between those signing talent and those using them.)
It's amazing how many guys, between the draft and being called up, that they moved around without any idea of how to use them or even introduce them. They really need to do the draft leading into the individual brand PPVs, so they're forced into at least using the new guys to fill out the card. | Destrucity
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| #12 Posted on 15.8.05 1225.26 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1225.39 | Originally posted by CRZ
Originally posted by Destrucity IT'S A WORK!
So when it turns out NOT to be a work, how long can I ban you?
(edited by CRZ on 15.8.05 1033)
Gosh, I was just kidding! Worked shoots involving Frankie Kazarian would likely be followed by Scotty 2 Hotty refusing to lie down for Funaki, or perhaps "Sylvain screwed Sylvain." | Oliver
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| #13 Posted on 15.8.05 1456.47 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1456.53 | Originally posted by thecubsfan
fairly decent push on Velocity
Those words don't compute!
Regardless of the match finishes, people who wrestler only or primarly on B-Shows are guys the company has no idea how to use but feel an obligation to put on TV and hope lightining strikes and they get an idea. Sometimes it works out and you're Orlando Jordan, Chief of Staff. Most of the time you're Kanyon or Spanky, with people surprised you're fired because they thought it must've happened months ago. As a cruiserweight, Frankie was a lot more likely to be Spanky. (Which is why it's so bizarre the WWE would hire him and Noble back, but there's an obvious disconnect between those signing talent and those using them.)
It's amazing how many guys, between the draft and being called up, that they moved around without any idea of how to use them or even introduce them. They really need to do the draft leading into the individual brand PPVs, so they're forced into at least using the new guys to fill out the card.
I disagree. Kazarian beat, what...three cruiserweights in a row on three episodes of Velocity, right? Something to that effect. To me, that's the makings of a push. So what if it isn't Thursday night Smackdown. So what if it isn't seen by as many fans. Truth is, everyone has (had) to start somewhere, and not everyone makes it big on the two flagship shows at the very beginning. | evophile
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| #14 Posted on 15.8.05 1529.35 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1529.42 | He does come off a little babyish by not having the patience to wait to be used. The writers need to find the best oppotunity. And its not like cruisers are a high priority.
But the killing of the cruisers moves would piss me off too. He won't get to show off what he can fully do. The most devastating cruiser move is Psycosis'legdrop off the top? A moonsault? Boring. I don't want them to kill themselves, but that isn't anything anyone else can't do. Blue Meanie can do the moonsault.
How many people would know Nunzio is the champ now? Or London is basically heel? I might've missed it but didn't see any recaps on Smackdown even.
| Deputy Marshall
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| #15 Posted on 15.8.05 1605.17 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1605.27 | I've found as of late that it's not just the cruiserweights, but the style as a whole has seemed to slow down a LOT in the past couple months. Not to sound like a broken record, but I think the biggest problem in WWE right now is that they don't leave guys the Hell alone and let them develop their own unique style, both in terms of workrate and delivering promos.
Now, don't get me wrong. I can get annoyed with indyish spotfests as much as the next guy, but the toning down of high-flying maneuvers just reminds me of Bill Watts banning top-rope maneuvers in WCW. This isn't as extreme of a decision and probably won't be as disastrous, but that compouned with forcing guys to adapt to what they call "the WWE style" provides for some pretty boring matches.
It's understandable that they want emphasis on psychology, but there's also a balance that needs to be reached. For a worker to get over he needs to establish himself as different in terms of both how he works a match and his personality, and WWE seems to be completely lost in how to do that. | Karlos the Jackal
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| #16 Posted on 15.8.05 1621.26 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1621.27 | Originally posted by Mayhem
Maybe he'll go back to TNA & team with Matt "Michael Shane" Bentley. That was a team the was on the cusp of great things.
I agree, but Meltzer is reporting today that Bentley is gone from TNA (he didn't like his new contract offer). Dammit! (I was wondering why Bentley wasn't at Sacrifice.)
Hopefully they'll work something out.
--K | Mayhem
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| #17 Posted on 15.8.05 1639.21 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1639.31 | Originally posted by Karlos the Jackal
Originally posted by Mayhem
Maybe he'll go back to TNA & team with Matt "Michael Shane" Bentley. That was a team the was on the cusp of great things.
I agree, but Meltzer is reporting today that Bentley is gone from TNA (he didn't like his new contract offer). Dammit! (I was wondering why Bentley wasn't at Sacrifice.)
Hopefully they'll work something out.
--K
So is it just a matter of time before he shows up in WWE as "Shane Michaels"? | BigSteve
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| #18 Posted on 15.8.05 1657.56 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1657.58 | Originally posted by Deputy Marshall I've found as of late that it's not just the cruiserweights, but the style as a whole has seemed to slow down a LOT in the past couple months. Not to sound like a broken record, but I think the biggest problem in WWE right now is that they don't leave guys the Hell alone and let them develop their own unique style, both in terms of workrate and delivering promos.
Now, don't get me wrong. I can get annoyed with indyish spotfests as much as the next guy, but the toning down of high-flying maneuvers just reminds me of Bill Watts banning top-rope maneuvers in WCW. This isn't as extreme of a decision and probably won't be as disastrous, but that compouned with forcing guys to adapt to what they call "the WWE style" provides for some pretty boring matches.
It's understandable that they want emphasis on psychology, but there's also a balance that needs to be reached. For a worker to get over he needs to establish himself as different in terms of both how he works a match and his personality, and WWE seems to be completely lost in how to do that.
Yup. Every match is built around punch-kick/basic move (suplex, clothesline, etc)/rest hold until they go to the their signature moves - Batista's spinebuster, Benoit's German Suplexes, Eddie's Three Amigos, Mysterio's 619, etc - and then they move onto the finish (which usually involves people hitting their finishing move to further underscore a lack of creativity).
"WWE style" would work much better if they actually did things to enhance the style. By that I mean that they could do simple things live get submissions over (aside from the the ankle lock and crippler crossface) and get mat-based chain wrestling over instead of just using all mat holds as rest holds. And they really don't need to do things like banning Paul London from using the Shooting Star Press because that's just dumb.
Originally posted by SOK I disagree. Kazarian beat, what...three cruiserweights in a row on three episodes of Velocity, right? Something to that effect. To me, that's the makings of a push. So what if it isn't Thursday night Smackdown. So what if it isn't seen by as many fans. Truth is, everyone has (had) to start somewhere, and not everyone makes it big on the two flagship shows at the very beginning.
The problem is that putting him on Velocity right from the start without even so much an introductory vignette or interview on Smackdown shows that the creative team doesn't have any plans to push him at all. He could conceivably get himself over in that position while having good matches and getting lots of crowd heat, but if "creative" doesn't care, it doesn't matter a bit how good you are.
(edited by BigSteve on 15.8.05 1801) | The Vile1
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| #19 Posted on 15.8.05 1715.21 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1715.25 | There was another rumor which said that Kazarian went to UN-creative to pitch an idea and they didn't even know he worked for the company. They thought he was just there to work a dark match.
Kazarian learned the hard way that WWE being the biggest stage in the game and the big leagues is clearly overrated.
That said, the shot at WWE about his quitting is hilarious. | EastCoastAvenger
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| #20 Posted on 15.8.05 1800.16 Reposted on: 15.8.12 1800.26 | Originally posted by evophile He does come off a little babyish by not having the patience to wait to be used. The writers need to find the best oppotunity. And its not like cruisers are a high priority.
But the killing of the cruisers moves would piss me off too. He won't get to show off what he can fully do. The most devastating cruiser move is Psycosis'legdrop off the top? A moonsault? Boring. I don't want them to kill themselves, but that isn't anything anyone else can't do. Blue Meanie can do the moonsault.
How many people would know Nunzio is the champ now? Or London is basically heel? I might've missed it but didn't see any recaps on Smackdown even.
I wouldn't say it's babyish at all. He's an independant contractor who saw his current contract isn't all it was made out to be. This isn't slave labor here, people, if he doesn't want to be there, he doesn't have to stick around. If he chooses to pull a Spanky and return later, that's his decision, but for now, the WWE obviously doesn't have what he wants as an employer. I actually respect him more for walking away and searching for that ideal situation rather than stay and allow his skills and name to slowly dissolve to nothing just because creative wasn't doing their job and using him correctly. |
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