Black Friday 2017 preview/predictions *completely speculative*

With WWE cutting expenses by scaling back Network shows, pyro, and set design ahead of tomorrow's release of their earnings from Q2 2017, it's natural to think they could be releasing talents from their contracts to further trim costs. Here are some names that would likely be considered for such an effort, and my thoughts on each:

-- Raw:
- Apollo Crews. I really, really hope he's safe, but WWE's not using him much. That's not a good sign. 

- Bo Dallas. A name I wouldn't rule out despite his TV role if WWE doesn't see him having a long shelf life. 

- Curtis Axel. See above. 

- Dana Brooke. WWE isn't using her. That's not a good sign. She'd be easy to cut.

- Darren Young. Safe due to injury. Otherwise, there's a chance they'd cut him. 

- Emma. Pretty much the most obvious cut after her tweet about not being on Raw. They had her get squashed by a fellow heel just to send her a message. She's pretty much done.

- Heath Slater. As much as I don't want to see that happen, if WWE needs to make a fair number of cuts, he's someone who's not an important player right now.

- Kalisto. I don't know how much value they see in him beyond being around to job to others. 

- Mark Henry. They'll probably just let his talent contract expire soon and that will be that. 

- Paige. Probably safe due to injury. If she's going to be cut, it's going to be because of the airport incident. She hasn't been formally charged yet, so she should survive a hypothetical Black Friday. 

- R-Truth. Unless they're going to keep him on for the remainder of his deal for him to retire and become a producer or something, I could see WWE viewing him as expendable. 

- Rhyno. He's not doing much of anything, and I doubt they have plans to use him more. It will depend on how much WWE thinks they need a team at his and Heath's level.

- Summer Rae. Unless she's officially injured, I'd be very surprised for her to stick around. She's practically invisible right now. 

-- Smackdown:
- Aiden English. Depending on how much WWE thinks they need him as a jobber, he's not someone who has a lot of momentum. That could hurt him. 

- The Ascension. Obviously WWE has ZERO plans for them. Unless they want to keep one around as a jobber or think they REALLY need them to job as a duo, they seem like they'd be on the short list to be cut.

- Breezango. I wouldn't completely rule one or both out as a surprise release if WWE doesn't think they have a big shelf life. 

- Chad Gable. As a wildcard "did not see that one coming" option if WWE doesn't see him going far as a singles wrestler. 

- The Colons. Presumably safe due to Primo being injured. I would think that would mean The Ascension's chances of staying around drop.

- Dolph Ziggler. I'm about 90% sure he's safe, even though they don't use him all that much. He's shown himself to be really dependable. 

- Eva Marie. This one's a no-brainer, since she's not expected to come back for anything anyway. I'm surprised she's still under contract as it is.

- Erick Rowan. Unless WWE's got Wyatt-related plans for him, there's not a lot to do with Rowan. He's not used on TV as it is, which isn't good when WWE's looking for someone to cut.

- Kane. He's practically retired anyway, and might volunteer to be released. I'm leaning toward him being allowed to stay under contract as a nod to his many years in WWE and the fact he could return in a PR role, but he's worth mentioning. 

- Luke Harper. I REALLY want to be wrong on this one, but since they're not using him, he's on the list of possibilities. 

- Sin Cara. Given his backstage problems and how little he's used, things don't look great for him. 

- Tamina. I'd think if any active Smackdown woman was in jeopardy, it'd be her. She's 39 and has been wrestling there a while. Theoretically her being released opens up a spot for someone from NXT.

- Zack Ryder. I hate to say it, but I wouldn't rule him out to be cut. WWE always has a few names that are shockers.

More wrestling coming up.