[Triple A]

via observer newsletter

Simon Gotch (John Smith, 34), has been released. He was signed in the summer of 2013 after the company saw him do his early 20th century gimmick for Harley Race’s World League Wrestling where he used the name Ryan Drago. His actual inspiration was the old-time pro wrestling circus strongmen types, in particular George Hackenschmidt, but was given the Simon Gotch name after Frank Gotch. He was put together with Matt Rehwoldt, as Aiden English, as the Vaudevillains in developmental. It was the kind of a gimmick that got them noticed at first, but also had a very low ceiling and shelf life. They debuted one year ago and were given a quick initial push, and then quickly forgotten about and were essentially an enhancement team. At the time of his incident with Sin Cara, there was at least speculation both would be gone but neither was let go, but it was clear his situation wasn’t strong. His personality rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. English is supposed to be getting a singles push coming off this. The most over English ever was really was the period when he did the singing gimmick in NXT shortly before the creation of the Vaudevillains. He was a heel, but a lot of people cheered him because he was such a good singer. Then they did a feud with him and Cass, who can also sing. Rehwoldt used to do musical theater. He’s very good at that music theater style of stage singing. That role, if they do it, will either make him a star or people will crap on it bad and they’ll give up on it. Until he does it, you don’t know which it’ll be.