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-   -   WWE Black Wednesday - Talent Releases (https://www.tpwwforums.com/showthread.php?t=137035)

Mr. Nerfect 04-26-2020 01:19 AM

And I really doubt any big name stars are going. Rusev was probably the biggest, but he's been off TV anyway, which was a good indicator that he had made it pretty clear he was not going to re-sign. The rest of the talent were sadly guys that were the Main Event crew and stuff.

The only "big names" I can actually see being released are Bobby Lashley and Sheamus. Bobby looks great, but he's getting up there in age and it's not like he's going to change the game if he goes to AEW or anything. WWE have survived him being elsewhere in the past. Sheamus has his spinal issues and is probably more likely to take it easy and call it a career if he gets released, come back for shots, do some sort of workout show on the WWE Network down the line, etc. Might try and do some more acting.

MAYBE Jeff Hardy if he's made it clear he wants to go and work with Matt in AEW, because the Hardys aren't really a threat when they are left to their own devices. There's still value in Jeff, but that value is in him being Jeff Hardy in the WWE. They might decide they want it, but they might decide to cut the costs there too, since I'm sure he's making a pretty penny.

Mr. Nerfect 04-26-2020 01:22 AM

Ones I could see but would also surprise me, to a degree, are Cesaro, Nakamura and Fandango. Not that Fandango is a big name or anything, but he does the Southpaw Wrestling stuff, which is why I think he survived this round. Cesaro is the sort of guy that you wouldn't want wrestling anywhere else, but if he goes to AEW what is he actually going to do? Join The Dark Order? That's not going to change business. Nakamura seems like a guy they like, but to say that he's gotten tremendously over and is an irreplaceable act in WWE is a bit of hyperbole.

I really don't think they are going to release Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar or anyone like that lol.

GD 04-26-2020 01:30 AM

From his recent posts, it's safe to assume that Noid has a raging hardon for Fandango.

Emperor Smeat 04-26-2020 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5340599)
I really doubt they're going to get paid the full five years of their deal. WWE always has out clauses and the like.

Think they still would get the guaranteed downside amount remaining since their deals had 4 years left. WWE could pay them less but that would require them to not issue the non-compete clause which they did.

Need to check up on the percentages since I think it got revealed some time ago but think its around a third for the downside so Gallows and Anderson liekly would still be getting a hefty amount back.

Splaya 04-26-2020 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect (Post 5340599)
I really doubt they're going to get paid the full five years of their deal. WWE always has out clauses and the like.

Of course, but at the same time, even getting a fraction of what they were owed would be a substantial amount.

There are times when I wish WWE had to say how much they sign someone to, almost how like pro sports leagues did it.


"Randy Orton was signed to a 5 year 12 million dollar deal with an opt out after year 4"

XL 04-26-2020 12:00 PM

There’s got to be something in there that benefits the talent surely?

We’re signing you to an exclusive contact that means you can’t work anywhere else but you’re still an “independent contractor”. We can hold you every day of the contract and extend it if you miss a period of time due to injury caused whilst performing your duties as a non-employee of our business. You do not have the right to end the contract earlier, and if you request to do so we will hold you to the full length of it whilst we try to devalue your worth elsewhere. But, we can end the contract whenever we like without any financial ramifications for us. Oh, and once we’ve done that, you can’t work elsewhere for 90 days.

I get how that *could* be the case as WWE have all the power, but it stinks.

Emperor Smeat 04-26-2020 05:45 PM

Used to be thought that if WWE ever had to go to court over their definition and treatment of "independent contractors", they'd easily lose and open the door for talent to actually be treated as employees. Its why WWE usually caved when someone threatened a lawsuit over this issue like Del Rio did years ago.

That theory took a serious hit when UFC managed to emerge victorious in a legal case last year over the same issue with their talent.

Mr. Nerfect 04-26-2020 05:49 PM

Personally, I think talent that want out should fight it. But I wouldn't sign with the WWE under those initial terms either.

Emperor Smeat 04-27-2020 10:33 PM

Gerald Brisco ended up being among those released according to the Observer.

Also means WWE lost one of their top scouts since he was the guy responsible for grabbing notable talent from the amateur and college wrestling scene.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Observer
Gerald Brisco, who has been with WWE since 1984, was the latest name to surface as being released ...

He worked in the office with McMahon and was one of his most trusted advisors, being one of the very few people told ahead of time about the 1997 screwjob on Bret Hart. He was a television character during the Attitude Era and later became the company's top talent scout, through his connections in the amateur wrestling world as a former Oklahoma State wrestler.

Brisco discovered Brock Lesnar as a junior at Minnesota and signed him along with almost every top amateur wrestler of the last 25 years who has come through the company's doors.


slik 04-28-2020 04:48 AM

Cain Velasquez lasted one match in WWE

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOR: Cain Velasquez gone, Gerald Brisco, RAW, more! <a href="https://t.co/pX4fYTWPI7">https://t.co/pX4fYTWPI7</a> <a href="https://t.co/Cxj3zJzdwW">pic.twitter.com/Cxj3zJzdwW</a></p>&mdash; Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) <a href="https://twitter.com/WONF4W/status/1255054910501969920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

XL 04-28-2020 05:16 AM

At least it was a 5 star classic.

Damian Rey 2.0 04-28-2020 05:35 AM

Velasquez was really impressive in his initial AAA debut. That budding athleticism and potential upside would've been/was being wasted in wwe. I'm glad he'll get to show back up in Mexico when things get better.

Evil Vito 04-28-2020 07:28 AM

So they ended Kofi’s six month title reign in a ten second squash to set up Brock/Cain, which lasted two minutes, and it was ultimately for nothing.

lol

Mr. Nerfect 04-28-2020 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conspiracy Victim Vito (Post 5340970)
So they ended Kofi’s six month title reign in a ten second squash to set up Brock/Cain, which lasted two minutes, and it was ultimately for nothing.

lol

I don’t think Kofi vs. Brock was just to set up Cain vs. Brock. They had the match there and dangled it. Brock didn’t need to be the champion for it, and Kofi was really a placeholder champion. Brock was always going to get the belt to drop it to the guy they wanted to knight at Mania.

drave 04-28-2020 07:47 AM

Having Kofi as champ was way more interesting. He seemed 'beatable" and also didn't throw out the same 3 moves every time in a 5 minute shitfest.


Brock is Brock. For me, Brock is boring.

#1-norm-fan 04-28-2020 10:03 AM

I don’t think having a guy who “seems beatable” as world champion is a good thing. Why should anyone care about who wins the title if they constantly drive home the point that you don’t need to be top tier to win it?

BigCrippyZ 04-28-2020 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emperor Smeat (Post 5340606)
Think they still would get the guaranteed downside amount remaining since their deals had 4 years left. WWE could pay them less but that would require them to not issue the non-compete clause which they did.

Need to check up on the percentages since I think it got revealed some time ago but think its around a third for the downside so Gallows and Anderson liekly would still be getting a hefty amount back.

They should still get the downside guarantee. Even if WWE didn't enforce or G&A refused to adhere to the 90 day non-compete, then WWE would still be in breach for failing to pay the downside, and theoretically WWE would still owe them the downside guarantee less the value of the non-compete. However, WWE could also argue that the monetary value of the non-compete to WWE is greater than or equal to the downside too and so G&A are also in breach and actually owe WWE money instead or that G&A are owed nothing for WWE's breach. Not a great position either way. Much simpler to just pay them off.

drave 04-28-2020 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #1-wwf-fan (Post 5340993)
I don’t think having a guy who “seems beatable” as world champion is a good thing. Why should anyone care about who wins the title if they constantly drive home the point that you don’t need to be top tier to win it?




I guess it seemed more "interesting" in that it was less predictable maybe? I didn't watch regularly, but the match ups seemed to be more of "Well this guy might actually beat the champ"


vs


"A hundred suplexes, an F5, or 2" and its over. Brock became too boring to me, reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally fast.

drave 04-28-2020 10:52 AM

If it were "real" I can see why someone unbeatable would be ideal. This is scripted, so it doesn't matter does it?

Lock Jaw 04-28-2020 11:52 AM

I was big into the Kofi story, and loved his moment of winning.... but then afterwards it just felt like "oh.... wait. Kofi Kingston is WWE champion and this just seems so... out of place. Like it just doesn't belong with him"

drave 04-28-2020 12:32 PM

It was different, they got scared.

Lock Jaw 04-28-2020 12:39 PM

Shouldn't have won the belt in my opinion.

Evil Vito 04-28-2020 12:55 PM

He definitely should have won the belt. But they quickly turned him into a generic “come out every week and cut the same babyface promo” guy.

Prob gonna happen to Drew before long.

Lock Jaw 04-28-2020 01:28 PM

Yeah... I guess he could have won the belt and then actually been booked well.... think he definitely needed to split and distance himself from New Day and that gimmick and look a bit.....

Sepholio 04-28-2020 01:44 PM

I hate Brock as champion. It isn't because of his easily predictable matches or the whole unbeatable schtick though. Its because he was never there. Showing up once every 3 months to squash someone who actually puts in work is just annoying af to me.

I didn't really like Kofi as champ either but knowing he would be there day in and day out defending the title and doing different things made it far more enjoyable than most everything that Lesnar does imo.

drave 04-28-2020 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seph (Post 5341035)
I hate Brock as champion. It isn't because of his easily predictable matches or the whole unbeatable schtick though. Its because he was never there. Showing up once every 3 months to squash someone who actually puts in work is just annoying af to me.

I didn't really like Kofi as champ either but knowing he would be there day in and day out defending the title and doing different things made it far more enjoyable than most everything that Lesnar does imo.




And even WM title defenses end up being 5 minute finisher, kick out, reversal, other finisher, kick out, finisher, pin.




zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzZZZZZzzZZzzzZZz

Evil Vito 04-28-2020 03:03 PM

It's frustrating because Brock will absolutely make someone look like a million bucks when he needs to. He sells his ass off for the guys he's trying to help look good. Bryan came off looking amazing for being able to hang with Brock, Balor too to an extent.

But in order for merely hanging with Brock to look like an impressive feat, it necessitates him murdering most of his opponents in minutes if not seconds.

Damian Rey 2.0 04-28-2020 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by #1-wwf-fan (Post 5340993)
I don’t think having a guy who “seems beatable” as world champion is a good thing. Why should anyone care about who wins the title if they constantly drive home the point that you don’t need to be top tier to win it?

Having a babyface who you can buy is in periland has to workunderneath is valuable. Doesn't mean he's not good or great. But maybe not dominate. Granted I don't know how they booked Kofi but if it as similar to Cena in that the odds were always against him, I think that's fine.

Mr. Nerfect 04-28-2020 05:09 PM

Who has Brock actually made look “bad?” Kofi Kingston? Dean Ambrose? Brock usually has great matches, and the matches that aren’t are there to accentuate his more significant work. He beats Kevin Owens in a couple of minutes so he can go 15 with Daniel Bryan.

Damian Rey 2.0 04-28-2020 05:20 PM

It's very odd that Lesnar has steamrolled the bigger guys you'd think would give him a fight like Joe, Stromam etc but the smaller guys like Styles, Balor and Bryan put him in more peril.

Emperor Smeat 04-28-2020 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slik (Post 5340954)
Cain Velasquez lasted one match in WWE

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WOR: Cain Velasquez gone, Gerald Brisco, RAW, more! <a href="https://t.co/pX4fYTWPI7">https://t.co/pX4fYTWPI7</a> <a href="https://t.co/Cxj3zJzdwW">pic.twitter.com/Cxj3zJzdwW</a></p>&mdash; Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) <a href="https://twitter.com/WONF4W/status/1255054910501969920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He might have been the worst contract signing since maybe Sin Cara in terms of busts but unlike Cara, it wasn't his fault it happened.

Had he stuck with AAA instead, probably would have developed into a decent talent by now. Instead whatever momentum he had from his AAA debut got squandered by WWE, especially after they decided to strip away everything that had generated interest with wrestling fans.

Evil Vito 04-30-2020 02:56 PM

Curtis Axel has been released.

Evil Vito 04-30-2020 02:58 PM

B-TEAM B-TEAM NO NO NO

Danny Electric 04-30-2020 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damian Rey 2.0 (Post 5341059)
It's very odd that Lesnar has steamrolled the bigger guys you'd think would give him a fight like Joe, Stromam etc but the smaller guys like Styles, Balor and Bryan put him in more peril.

On the whole yes, unless your name is Ricochet.

Danny Electric 04-30-2020 03:36 PM

I wonder if they will introduce Bo into The Fiend storyline now,

XL 04-30-2020 03:37 PM

Who’s reporting that? Not on wwe.com

XL 04-30-2020 03:38 PM

They need to rehire Maverick and put him with Seth’s group.

Danny Electric 04-30-2020 03:40 PM

I saw it on Bleacher report

Danny Electric 04-30-2020 03:47 PM

https://mobile.twitter.com/WWE/statu...30442265567232

screech 04-30-2020 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conspiracy Victim Vito (Post 5341481)
Curtis Axel has been released.

Damn. Isn't he usually who works out with guys who are coming back from injury? Figured he'd be around forever.


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