Of WWE’s five most recent roster cut victims, few carried much love from the company’s top-tier management, reports F4WOnline.com.
Maria’s release, the most surprising on the surface, was largely a pre-emptive measure to guard against the Diva pursuing a full-time career outside of WWE once “Celebrity Apprentice” starts airing. In addition, Vince McMahon had reportedly soured on Maria in recent weeks, feeling as if her stint on the NBC reality series had produced an attitude problem.
Paul Burchill’s firing, which falls under the standard “creative has nothing for you” tag, was met with little internal WWE resistance. The word is that virtually no WWE official went to bat for the talent.
Details on Gregory Helms’ release are sketchy, but the general assumption is that his public intoxication arrest played at least some role in WWE’s decision. Of the talent released, Helms was the only one for which there were notable objections within the company, but such resistance ultimately proved fruitless.
Charlie Haas, had not been used regularly in several months, and his release had previously been foreshadowed in a story that broke about Haas requesting his release late last year. At the time, WWE declined the request and gave him a raise, effectively paying him to stay at home and refrain from jumping to TNA.
Referee Scott Armstrong’s release was also surprising, so much so that many assume something serious had to have gone down. At press time, no knock other than his age has been offered regarding what might have led WWE to sour on the well-respected ref.
All four of the wrestlers would presumably be on TNA’s radar, but there is enough to call into doubt whether all of them will actually end up making the jump. Haas has connections and Burchill has respect as a performer, but both carry the ex-WWE stigma that looks bad in a Monday Night Wars climate. Maria would be of value given the publicity from “Celebrity Apprentice,” but it is unclear whether TNA would have a worthwhile role for her and even more unclear whether Maria would want to get right back into the wrestling game.
Helms would ordinarly appear most likely, especially with friend Jeff Hardy apparently starting with the company, but sources say his breakup with Velvet Sky was “bad enough that it could play a factor [in keeping him out].”
At least two more candidates for release have been identified internally, although some names tossed around have enough backstage support to warrant more deliberate discussion.
