WWE released 4 talents from their contracts on 8/5, and a 5th left of her own free will. The timing comes right after their recent Q2 2011 earnings report, so this was likely a case of them looking to trim what they considered fat. After the break, I look at each release, and all of the other news related to the releases.
Gail Kim, in her own words, quit WWE on Monday night, and said that this wouldn't be the last we see of her. Obviously she's competed in TNA in the past, so it wouldn't be surprising if she returned there. She was tired of the Divas' division not being an important part of the company. They're unfortunately viewed as filler matches for house shows and Superstars. She was happier in TNA, but the money was better in WWE and that's why she had another run there. I've always liked Gail's work, and I hope she's used as a big part of TNA's Knockouts Division. They'd be foolish not to sign her given how well she did in her last run there. But if she doesn't want to return there, they can't force her to. It should be noted that WWE hasn't officially acknowledged her departure yet.
Melina was the first release of the day by the company. She spoke out about her release as well. One thing I always thought that Melina had was "it". She was marketable from day one in the company. Her character, whether face or heel, was always played exceptionally. She really stood out in the Divas' division, and I think they really lost something here. Now, there might have been some kind of backstage issue I'm not privy to, and that would really have to be taken into consideration, but I can't put her over enough as a talent. Solid in the ring and put her all into everything. She was quite possibly the most marketable Diva (who was also a strong worker) the company had made since the days of Trish and Lita, though Beth Phoenix would also be a very worthy candidate for that spot. Bottom line, she was one of the most well-rounded, polished performers in the Divas' division, and was even better than some guys on the roster. TNA should snatch her up as soon as they get a chance, barring said rumored backstage issues. The link also goes to a great post by her boyfriend John Morrison and an audio message discussing her feelings on the situation.
Vladimir Kozlov was also cut, which was a bit surprising given how frequently he was used with Santino. He was getting older, but could still be used in a good role. He was entertaining in any role he was given, from comedy to more serious things. I'm not too upset with this one, but I do think he still had something to give to the company. If they didn't know what to do with him on Raw, send him to Smackdown. That's always an option. They can always get someone else's opinion and a fresh idea with someone. It's just sometimes that they don't make the effort or feel the need to make cuts. If they "had" to cut a couple of people, Kozlov was on the more expendable end, though. It should also be noted that this takes yet another talent off of NXT, which is really in need of a restart for Season 6.
Chris Masters was the 4th total wrestler leaving WWE on 8/5. His tenure there was a tale of two wrestlers. He came into the company as a heavily-muscled guy who got by a lot on that. I enjoyed the MasterLock Challenges and the like, but he was really limited at that point. He had troubles with Wellness Violations and such and was eventually cut by the company. At some point a few years back, something changed in Masters. He became more trim and slim. He was quicker. All in all, a more technical and crisp worker. He went from being one of the most hated talents online to one of the most adored. It took time for fans to buy that transition, but I think he earned most of that praise. He brought his working boots, so to speak. I think if he was given a good enough opportunity (possibly being put back on the Smackdown brand so we'd actually see him more), he could have joined that "youth movement" of people making their way up the card. I'm not so sure TNA fans would go for him, unfortunately, but I hope this isn't the last we see of him. If it wasn't for those two strikes on the Wellness Policy, the sky could very well have been the limit in time.
Update: Masters released a statement on the matter. Glad he's continuing his career.
Finally, WWE cut David Hart Smith from the roster. I liked his work from day one and thought he was a "blue chipper", but if they had to cut someone, he was pretty much the first choice to go. I would have liked to have seen him feud with Tyson Kidd on Smackdown, but really, Smith's career was pretty much dead in the water at this point. I got queries semi-frequently the last few months asking if he was even in WWE anymore. They'd be wasting time sending him to FCW, because he's not deficient as a wrestler by any stretch. They just couldn't come up with a track to put him on. This release is of the "tree falling in the woods and no one being around to hear it" type.
That's it for this special look at WWE's roster cuts. I thought the story deserved a separate article and a decent amount of space, so it was separated. A Smackdown report will be up at some point, and the rest of the day's news will follow. Thanks for reading!
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