-WWE has dropped Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) as one of its developmental territories. WWE now has OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling) as their only developmental area.
Also, Mike Sanders, EZ Money, and Race Steele have all been cut. More cuts could follow. With business as it is, it is not a surprise that WWE is cutting costs.-
Hmmm. I thought I had read in the past week or so that they were going to be calling Sanders up. It's a shame- I dug him. EZ Money is all right, but I won't lose any sleep over it. I have no idea who Race Steele is. Was HWA a big deal, or did most of the guys that WWE has been calling up come from OVW? I don't recall hearing much about HWA in the past, it's always OVW.
(edited by Eradicator on 19.7.02 1108) Yes, indeed I can dig it, Sucker.
Sanders was overrated. He's could make a deceant manager, but the WWE doesn't use managers much anyway these days. Not only that you already have Stevie Richards toiling in the lower midcard, there's no reason to hang on to a lesser version.
It's just a fucking pathetic statement on the WWE's priorities that they can release four EXTREMELY talented proven talents like Sanders, Jett, Waterman and Steele, and in the same week sign a dandie like Josh Matthews to a developmental deal because they can't bear to see him be a part of Nwa:Tna.
I'm not sure how proven Jett, Waterman, and Steele are. And though I liked Sanders in WCW, they weren't exactly raking in the dough during his time there.
The reality of the situation is financial I'm sure. They won't have to pay these four to develop, feel they could afford to let them go because there is only an outside chance of them actually signing a long-term deal with anyone (anyone meaning NWA-TNA), meaning they can sign them back at anytime. But if they do lose them, it's not that big of a deal anyway.
There just isn't that many more spots for developmental talent at this current time anyway, so way pay so many at this time, when you know you probably aren't going to call them up no matter how ready they may be.
Originally posted by Jay BowerIt's just a fucking pathetic statement on the WWE's priorities that they can release four EXTREMELY talented proven talents like Sanders, Jett, Waterman and Steele, and in the same week sign a dandie like Josh Matthews to a developmental deal because they can't bear to see him be a part of Nwa:Tna.
my take is that mathews is a *wwf boy*, so they will do anything to see him not get a shot at another fed. he is wwf born, and so he shall be wwf for life. sanders, and jett were wcw/indy creations basically (from what i can gather), and so they have no real worth to the wwf. i don't understand the waterman canning, because hasn't he been around for at least two years working house shows and dark matches? steele, i know nothing about. i am still kinda peeved over the chad collyer firing as well. what the hell was up with that?
so i guess i am DOOMED to never see sanders wrestle/commentate/cut a promo. *sigh*. i was really looking forward to it, too.
I can't say I'm really upset with WWE for canning HWA, as I'm not really familiar with everyone from there. I heard Mike Sanders was great in WCW, though.
What IS troubling about this, though, is WWE's constant re-assurances on a business level about how "everything's fine" and that, while they are in a downturn, business will still continue to flourish.
This is more evidence of that all being a smokescreen while they get rid of some expenses (such as watercoolers and breast implants) in order to live up to their fiscal predictions. The only way they can make money like they used to is to cut these expenses off.
As attendance and ratings continue to fall, so will everything else and they'll still end up falling short of their predictions.
Of course, all they really have to do is get Austin back, promote a match everyone wants to see, and deliver with that match and that's how they make money, but I see that they want to do things the hard way.
Mike Sanders was one of my favorite performers in WCW (as if you couldn't tell from my handle). He kicked all sorts of ass on the mic and in the ring. Sure, he was a little green, but he was FRESH. You know the guy's got skills... Flair was mentoring him, for crying out loud! He was around for, what, less than two years and he ends up Head Booker for HWA... Doesn't that indicate a good head for business? Man, if ever there was a time I wished Kevin Nash used whatever stoke he has left, now is the time.
I hope NWA: TNA lasts. Borash's comments seem to indicate Sanders will end up there. Russo was the one who re-hired him and pushed him intially, so here's hoping for Mike Sanders, new Franchise of TNA~!
Jason Jett... You will be missed. New star for the X-Division? I'd bet on it. I never saw him in ECW, but in the span of about four weeks on consecutive Nitro's, he went from nobody to one of the most over wrestlers based on SHEER ABILITY. You gotta respect that.
Praying for the day when McMahon gives non-homegrown talent a chance,
WTF! Sanders has been released? Jesus Christ. One of the few entertaining people in WCW's last days, gone because Vince has to pay the salaries of Albert and the Godfather. Nice going WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment: for over 50 years the worldwide leader in pissing smart fans off
This isn't as bad as it seems, I don't think. Look at it this way - the guys that weren't necessarily going to make it to TV with the WWE right now (which is very new talent heavy at this point) are getting a chance to go elsewhere without being the one that burned the bridge...
If they can make a name for themselves in the NWA or WWA or any other televised fed, that's a step up from where they are now - languishing in a practice fed.
The wrestlers get a chance to make it on their own, the door will be open if they do. I think that's probably a good thing... better than if they quit and put their hopes in the NWA on their own, right?
Actually, BorneAgain, Albert and the Godfather both have very low downside guarantees reportedly, so Vince is really paying Stone Cold, The Rock, Hogan, Nash, Hall and Triple H and cutting developmental talent to trim down the bottom line. That's all. These guys are good talents, and the really good ones will catch on somewhere else.
"That's what the Internet is for, slandering others anonymously" Banky Edwards (Jason Lee), Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
I say NWA signs Jett, Sanders, and Waterman and gets them in top level feuds right away, thus creating interest in the company and getting them some marketable faces. I'd buy a ppv for 10 once a month to get a Mike Sanders fix, dammit.
"I'm bi a lot of things, but lingual's not one of them."
My response: There's hundred of talented guys out there. I'm not too sad by the loss of these guys.
Of course, I would like to see unused talents like Bossman and Godfather cut as well. But, whatever.
I just hope when NWA folkds the WWE's smart enough to cash in on Krush and Lawler.
An open letter to Andrew Gilkison from me: Sir, I am no longer pleased with your product and thus will not read it. I am the consumer and your product is not living up to my expectations. I could open up an Andrew Gilkison message board and cry about it, but that's a waste of my time. In the meantime, I would suggest you work on improving your product. Thank you.
Watching RAW and Smackdown doesn't cost anymore than your posts do. And so, like a good consumer, I'm tuning you out.