There's a new article up on WWE.com saying that they've released Gail Kim, Chuck Palumbo, and Nidia.
I can't say that I'm surprised by the last two. Nidia really doesn't bring much to the table. She's not good enough to get by on ability and not hot enough to get by on looks, so she's definitely expendable. Palumbo is kinda unfortunate. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for guys who will take the questionable angles that other guys might turn down, such as the Billy & Chuck wedding. It was clear, though, that they'd given up on Palumbo when they broke up his FBI team with Stamboli to turn him into a Heat jobber.
Gail Kim was a surprise. Was she not on Raw just two days ago? She's serviceable for a womens wrestler, and since they just wasted 250gr on a woman without a day of wrestling training...oh, I guess I just answered my own question.
And somehow, Rosey continues to escape the chopping block...
Wow, not five seconds ago, I ranted about the releases in the thread dedicated to the other three guys and then I read this! These three are really surprising, especially Kim. I won't rant again because I just did that, but WWE has a really thin roster right now, and all this means is that we'll be seeing a lot more Snitzkys and Heidenreichs in the coming months. Friggin morons.
I don't really get releasing Gail Kim. I doubt she was making much money and she was decent enough in the ring. Its not like they have an overwhelming amount of women wrestlers who can do a decent match.
Palumbo and Nidia are total non-factors to me. Same as Test and A-Train. I didn't really mind having them around but I doubt anybody will really notice that they're gone.
I wonder if they're coming short of projections for the next quarter? This is quite a lot of releases in a short period of time.
"When did they pass a law that says the people who make my sandwich have to be wearing gloves? I'm not comfortable with this. I don't want glove residue all over my food; it's not sanitary. Who knows where these gloves have been?" - George Carlin
Really really really bizarre cuts as I can't imagine that any of them were making a significant amount of money and all three had been regulars on some form of TV over the past few months. Can't say I'm suprised by Palumbo's cut, but it's very unfortunate since the talent was there for him to be a solid midcard big man. Nidia was a passable wrestler and an underrated manager. Kim's release is the shocker, since she had been steadily improving after her terrible start and she was part of one of the main women's angles on Raw.
I get the feeling that there's more to this than just budget cuts.
I hear it's amazing when the famous purple stuffed worm in flap-jaw space with the tuning fork does a raw blink on Hara-kiri Rock. I need scissors! 61!
I'm with Vito, why the hell have Gail Kim do a run-in on RAW, then release her less than 48 hours later? ...
Palumbo was a good solid tag team wrestler. I wish they'd have left him to team with Stamboli and have Nunzio as their mouthpiece while competing in the cruiserweight division.
Anyone else see a stable of ex-WWE wrestlers forming in some other promotion?
I wonder how many HeAT and Velocity guys are looking over their shoulders right now? And any guys that are out and hurt and probably running to the gym to get back in shape to return so they don't get canned.
Originally posted by MayhemAnyone else see a stable of ex-WWE wrestlers forming in some other promotion?
Possible, but somehow I don't see TNA laying down the big bucks for a Billy & Chuck reunion. Test is injured, although I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him pop up and be a player in TNA. I always thought they could do something real good with him if his pushes were ever sustained for longer than a month.
I can see cutting Palumbo and Nidia, but Gail is a bit of a surprise. Her matches were at least a little more interesting than the other ladies when she put those cool submission moves in there.
They didn't have a lot of women wrestlers in the first place, and they cut two more....I wonder what that means for the future of the division.
Jeeze, I hope they don't take Gail Kim's theme song off the new WWE CD now. I've been looking forwards to getting my hands on that theme for a long time.
Why yes, I collect WWE themes. Don't look at me like that. =\
"You won't see that on Everybody Loves Raymond!" -J.R. after Trish gets pasted with a chair
Originally posted by MayhemAnyone else see a stable of ex-WWE wrestlers forming in some other promotion?
Possible, but somehow I don't see TNA laying down the big bucks for a Billy & Chuck reunion. Test is injured, although I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him pop up and be a player in TNA. I always thought they could do something real good with him if his pushes were ever sustained for longer than a month.
They'd have to reunite Billy & BG "Road Dogg" James ... speaking of which, does Sopp (I think that's his real name) own the rights to the "Billy Gunn" name?
Shame. I liked Gail's "mistress of weird submission holds" gimmick -- it gave her a more distinct ring style. But it looks like the women's division is going to be all Trish, Lita, and Stacy all the time for at least the foreseeable future.
Originally posted by Shem the PenmanShame. I liked Gail's "mistress of weird submission holds" gimmick -- it gave her a more distinct ring style. But it looks like the women's division is going to be all Trish, Lita, and Stacy all the time for at least the foreseeable future.
Gail had taken over as the queen of mean, taking down Victoria with a series of holds and overall viciousness. She had a great look, a small build and the willingness to work the mat and the crowd. This really surprises me. A totally puzzling move.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
I think if anything, these are a couple of guys that TNA could bring in for a while at least to give it a bit more name recognition. Very surprising to say the least. I wonder if they pulled some shit that was a WWE no no.
Originally posted by Mayhem I'd also say Shannon Moore, Scotty 2 Hotty, Steven Richards & Val Venis are getting a bit ancy right now ...
Well a few of them, have the potential to be cut. But I seriously doubt they would get rid of Stevienight heat. From what I've read Vince has a soft spot for him. Shannon and Scotty could easily work indies and japan, and lets not forget the released Rikishi months ago. Thats right babaay!!!!! a II Cool Reunion on the indies with Grandmaster Sexay...oh crap that would suck!
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Val Venis must be hiding somewhere right now, with his phone unplugged from the wall. How he hasn't been released with Test, I do not know. They must be making around the same amount, if Val isn't making more.
The only speculative guess I can muster about Gail is that she and Randy Orton broke up... and that this falls somewhere close to the Triple H-Chyna breakup. That's the best I can do. Even that doesn't justify releasing her. She was the only woman whose matches I enjoyed. And yeah, she wouldn't be making a lot of money... I'm sure we'll hear something by the weekend.
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I was never a Brock Lesnar fan during his first run with WWE. His whole Aryan jar head muscle farm boy demeanor didn't resonate with me - couldn't relate. Still can't, really.