strobogo Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 Even less excuse for firing all the office people though, including the writer behind the Dom/Live storyline. Some of the people released were on TV and angles a week or two ago. It's not like all those people cut had been off TV for months already. Just pure corporate shareholders are the only thing that matters shit. They've been bragging NONSTOP for 2 years about record breaking, highest ever gates, number of sell outs in a role, most merch ever sold, biggest sponsorship deals, biggest media deals, but right after the biggest and most money making event of the year they have to do cost cutting so it looks even better on the books. There's also they way they do it: no warning, random phone call and then put it online immediately before you even have time to react to it. It also rings hollow when they just bought an international company so they can funnel as many talents as they can from Mexico to hurt a competitor because they're not going to do shit with anyone they bring to the NXT/main roster as seen with every lucha dude pretty much ever post Rey and Eddie, who already had years of US TV exposure first. When's the last time the Garzas, Santos, Andrade, Dragon Lee on PPV? It only took 3 weeks before Penta was on Main Event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 20 minutes ago, strobogo said: Dragon Lee Well, since Rey was injured, Dragon Lee almost had his WrestleMania Moment tm. Losing to a racist anti-Mexican culture (that was cheered by the audience) gimmick in 5 minutes. But hey, it's all about creating Moments tm... But yeah, the privilege went to Fénix. All of this time waiting for *this*. And yeah, cutting people right after getting their hands on the second biggest promotion in Mexico, meanwhile they have been stuffing their bottom-of-the-card NXT people into TNA's programming. What a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strobogo Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 Hard to claim budget cuts when you're trying to consolidate power and control every level of the industry expansionism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 21 hours ago, El-P said: They don't release people because they "don't have anything for them" or because "the roster is cluttered". They fire people, including in the creative and production departments, which is always undersold for obvious reasons, to cut cost and make a little bit more money, to look good in front of the shareholders. End of story. This is not a discussion I am particularly passionate about and I don't have any strong feelings about these releases either way, honestly. As I said in my original post, I hate to see anybody lose their job. I am guessing some of the people on this list might not catch on elsewhere and end up out of Pro Wrestling altogether. And that is legitimately regrettable. Even if some of them sucked. All I'm saying is, the majority of the talent releases are in developmental. I don't see any names on that list that of people who realistically had a shot of making it on the main roster and becoming major stars. And the ones who were on the main roster weren't exactly setting the world on fire. It's not like they were randomly pulling names out of a bag and firing them. TKO/WWE may have wanted to save money, but WWE has been doing rounds of roster cuts right after Wrestlemania for years. And as heartless as some WWE releases have been over the years, as a long time UFC fan let me tell you, WWE has nothing on UFC when it comes to ruthless contracts and cutting people. That's an organization where unless you're one of the top stars, you're basically always a couple of losses away from getting fired. If you find yourself on a losing streak, you can pretty much guarantee your ass is getting cut...and sometimes with a publicly humiliating lecture from Dana White at a press conference on your way out the door. Once again, let me stress...I don't endorse this type of behavior, I don't think it's morally admirable or even a good way to run a business, but it certainly isn't surprising to me, one little bit. TKO is clearly applying the same standard they have with the UFC to WWE...namely if they don't see anything in you, your ass is getting kicked to the curb, contract or no. As I have said repeatedly, I don't know why the hell they signed half these people to begin with. Their developmental roster is overcrowded to the point of absurdity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 5 hours ago, strobogo said: They've been bragging NONSTOP for 2 years about record breaking, highest ever gates, number of sell outs in a role, most merch ever sold, biggest sponsorship deals, biggest media deals, but right after the biggest and most money making event of the year they have to do cost cutting so it looks even better on the books. Being the dumbasses that they are though, TKO actually took it on the chin last year financially because they lost that massive anti-trust lawsuit against all those retired fighters. They ended up having to shell out something like $375 million after that fiasco. And TKO really needed that money so they could buy the Professional Bull Riding Association, because everybody knows Bull Riding is going to be the next big thing. I expect by this time next year, this forum will be BRO (Bull Riding Only) and we will be voting on the GBRE (Greatest Bull Rider Ever) and there will be a thread devoted to finding old, black and white footage of French Catch Bull Riding. Oh and plus, TKO have a Saudi Arabian Boxing League to pay for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strobogo Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 There's also Which I gather is Vince took a lower offer from Endeavor than what Saudi offered because it would allow him to stay on the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted May 4 Report Share Posted May 4 Oh yeah I heard about that. Supposedly Vince doesn’t want to hand over his phone. I can’t imagine why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 9 hours ago, The Thread Killer said: I expect by this time next year, this forum will be BRO (Bull Riding Only) and we will be voting on the GBRE (Greatest Bull Rider Ever) and there will be a thread devoted to finding old, black and white footage of French Catch Bull Riding. Hopefully with Mauro as the lead commentator. Mama Mia!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 So, between Riley Osbourne alluding to the fact he was not medically cleared, Cora Jade alluding to the fact she was body shamed by "bosses, co-workers and fans", yeah, business as usual. But the really batshit news of the day, if confirmed true, is the list of AAA people under WWE contract, per Superluchas. Which contains : Alberto del Rio. Holy fuck. Really ? Also, La Hiedra is in the list. I believe she's a sister in Law of Cuatrero, and Stephanie Vaquer has a restraining order against her. After cutting a bunch of women, nothing better than to put a rapist/woman abuser under contract, alongside someone who harassed a victime of feminicide attempt. WWE, Now, Then. Forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 Excellent news. We can finally get the League of Nations reunion the world has been clamoring for. In all seriousness, what does Alberto bring to the table to justify having him under contract? Even setting aside questions of morality, the fact that AAA went down the tubes with him as the top star should be reason enough to kick him to the curb. By the way, what ever happened to Psycho Clown? Wasn't he the most popular wrestler in Mexico at one point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 25 minutes ago, NintendoLogic said: In all seriousness, what does Alberto bring to the table to justify having him under contract? Even setting aside questions of morality, the fact that AAA went down the tubes with him as the top star should be reason enough to kick him to the curb. By the way, what ever happened to Psycho Clown? Wasn't he the most popular wrestler in Mexico at one point? Apparently it's more vague than this. WWE doesn't really own AAA yet, so all of this is kinda blurry. Luchablog also reported that he had divergent infos about these (and other people not mentioned supposedly under contract). Well, AAA business be like AAA business still. I would expect no less from WWE, AAA and Konnan. But they announced the acquisition already. Don't tell me they are not controlling the promotion. If they don't have him drop the belt tomorrow and get the fuck away, it's as good as WWE keeping a rapist at the top of their Mexican brand to me. Psycho Clown is typically not under contract. Yes, he was the most popular AAA wrestler. Had not work a decent match in years from what I'd seen when I still checked AAA's big shows, but kids loved him. The Joe Hendry of AAA, or something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 Would be hilarious though if the "defense" of the company would be "Well, AAA signed Alberto to a contract, and since we bought the company we are supposed to honor these contracts"... Oh, the irony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 And now Meltzer says it's actually a new WWE contract. Yeah, after cutting a bunch of people (lots of women) and one (bullshit) defense being "they made place for new talent", getting this rapist and woman abuser under contract is amazingly shitty. WWE be like. (wonder if Saraya regrets asking for, and getting, her AEW release) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 UPDATE: THIS IS FAKE. Comes from a satire account. See reply below. Not even close to the scummiest thing WWE has ever done, but this is still pretty bad. "Catering is a privilege, not a right." Fuck off! Charging their employees for snack cakes, and charging men and women different rates for snack cakes - $1 and $1.50, which are already absurd prices - despite record profits, well... I don't even need to say anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 This is actually hilarious. (edited. Godamnit @C.S. !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 4 minutes ago, El-P said: This is actually hilarious. The level of pettiness is astounding. IT'S FAKE. God damn it! I got got. Comes from a satire account. Sorry, everyone. https://x.com/PWCentel/status/1922032557199159607?t=4rTwf_2YoknWyYVFvfme2Q&s=19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 I actually wondered for a minute, because I thought it could have been a joke. Then again, the fact it appeared totally plausible says a lot. Oh anywoo. 1 hour ago, C.S. said: IT'S FAKE. God damn it! I got got. Comes from a satire account. Sorry, everyone. Well, it's not like there isn't enough to fill this thread every week, and it would indeed have been very low on the totem pole of shittiness. Did I mention about Logan Paul, the MAGA crypto-scammer influencer, getting a world title shot on a "big" TV show ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted May 13 Report Share Posted May 13 WWE is trying to replace AAA contracts (which are notoriously worthless) to WWE ones, so I honestly don't think they are signing Alberto to WWE if that makes sense. He's the AAA champ and I'm sure they want him to put someone over on the first show. That may sound crazy, but if WWE is serious about making sure this is accepted at all in Mexico they can't just go in and say "we're just making this new guy the champ now". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted May 28 Report Share Posted May 28 https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/28/wwe-vince-mcmahon-laurinaitis-sex-trafficking.html And Laurinaitis has flipped back on Vince. Truly no honor among thieves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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