Yet another superstar released

[Luke]

Just like everyone else, I am shocked that they've got rid of Mickie James, she was one of the biggest Diva talents they had on either brand and she's just been featuring in what was the biggest Diva storyline on SmackDown. Odd.

As for Shelton Benjamin, to be honest, as good an athlete as he is, he was never going anywhere beyond the lower mid-card, so I can't say I'm as surprised by this one, I mean how much did we even see him on TV as of late, let alone on PPV? His WWE career had been over and done with for a long time now.

As for the rest of the names on the list, I didn't even know who some of them were!

[Insanity_X]

Mickie was going going gone anyway imo. She was starting a new career which would take up a lot of her time and, lets face it, her best years are fast getting behind her. Now she's moving into a career where she wont risk injury, and will forever be remembered as a great woman's wrestler. I doubt she's going to TNA though. I think she's done with wrestling.

[Devil's Advocate]

her best years are fast getting behind her.

Right. Because she's truly haggard at the ancient age of thirty. She really looked like she was feeling all that age her 2nd to last match too. *sarcasm* (That 4/16 match w/ McCool was a beaut, for a diva's match! ). Silly me not ordering my lilies for her right then.

I wanted to note, that although Mickie did just have the belt as several people have pointed out, she only held it for about 30 seconds, which tends to be a sure indication of displeasure from the Powers that WWE. The rumors of her budding music career made this less of a shock to me, because any diva that does anything seriously outside of WWE gets released. I'm not quite sure why. Jericho manages to stay around, despite Fozzy. But whatever.
Katie Lea isn't a surprise, due to the fact that she wasn't being used AT ALL. But what I can't figure out is WHY. She was one of the more solid wrestlers and she was fun live.
Shelton..eh. I always thought he had talent, but he never "stuck" at the top. I'd have liked to see hm feud w/ MVP.
The others are a yawn.

[Veritas]

Fozzy is different because Chris doesn't sell his image as part of WWE. Mickie James's figure being on posters that don't say "WWE" on them would conflict with interest. Fozzy is a band name that doesn't automatically link to Chris. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Chris probably worked into his contract some freedom with Fozzy so he could make it work, and the Divas are likely on a very tight leash as to what they can and can't do with, especially, their image.

[RileyTaker]

her best years are fast getting behind her.

Right. Because she's truly haggard at the ancient age of thirty. She really looked like she was feeling all that age her 2nd to last match too. *sarcasm* (That 4/16 match w/ McCool was a beaut, for a diva's match! ). Silly me not ordering my lilies for her right then.

I wanted to note, that although Mickie did just have the belt as several people have pointed out, she only held it for about 30 seconds, which tends to be a sure indication of displeasure from the Powers that WWE. The rumors of her budding music career made this less of a shock to me, because any diva that does anything seriously outside of WWE gets released. I'm not quite sure why. Jericho manages to stay around, despite Fozzy. But whatever.
Katie Lea isn't a surprise, due to the fact that she wasn't being used AT ALL. But what I can't figure out is WHY. She was one of the more solid wrestlers and she was fun live.

I can probably answer that. WWE doesn't use wrestlers based on being solid workers, they push them based on entertainment value. For example, Maryse may not be the best wrestler on the roster compared to Katie, but she has the looks and she has the character that allow WWE to use her. I imagine if they had been able to find a better character for Katie Lea, she'd still be in WWE.

BTW, correct me if I'm wrong, but Mickie James had to give up the title because of her staph infection, didn't she?

[Devil's Advocate]

her best years are fast getting behind her.

Right. Because she's truly haggard at the ancient age of thirty. She really looked like she was feeling all that age her 2nd to last match too. *sarcasm* (That 4/16 match w/ McCool was a beaut, for a diva's match! ). Silly me not ordering my lilies for her right then.

I wanted to note, that although Mickie did just have the belt as several people have pointed out, she only held it for about 30 seconds, which tends to be a sure indication of displeasure from the Powers that WWE. The rumors of her budding music career made this less of a shock to me, because any diva that does anything seriously outside of WWE gets released. I'm not quite sure why. Jericho manages to stay around, despite Fozzy. But whatever.
Katie Lea isn't a surprise, due to the fact that she wasn't being used AT ALL. But what I can't figure out is WHY. She was one of the more solid wrestlers and she was fun live.

I can probably answer that. WWE doesn't use wrestlers based on being solid workers, they push them based on entertainment value. For example, Maryse may not be the best wrestler on the roster compared to Katie, but she has the looks and she has the character that allow WWE to use her. I imagine if they had been able to find a better character for Katie Lea, she'd still be in WWE.

BTW, correct me if I'm wrong, but Mickie James had to give up the title because of her staph infection, didn't she?

No, Michelle won it back from from her within a week of the PPV match.
And you're right about WWE keeping divas based on entertainment value. And also right on about that being true of Maryse..and I don't even mind that. I like watching Maryse, even though she's really not great in terms of wrestling/move set; she always manages to make me laugh. She has a real flair for comedy and I like what she comes up with. But I don't see why that removes Katie Lea from qualification because when I saw Katie live she had some of that same ability. She was amusing and interacted well with the live crowd. She really didn't ahve an opportunity to further that recently as she's hardly been on tv.

[Insanity_X]

Carlito's gone. Judging by the wording, I dont think it was a roid related offence. I'm guessing he was on an unprescribed narcotic.

I'm applying narcotic to mean 'addictive drug' not the more correct definition of an opiate.

[Veritas]

Well, it wouldn't be due to pot - we know that's just a fine from the Brian Kendrick affair - so I am expecting that means not roids (a suspension) but something more serious. His nose looks a little raw in that photo.....

[3XtremeTaker]

Not surprised. If he's refusing to go to rehab, he's dug his own grave.

A little part of me thinks maybe part of his refusal to go to rehab might be with him WANTING to be released.

I just get the feeling he's incredibly ungrateful. Most WWE superstars don't get the chance to do anything OTHER than work for the WWE. Carlito's been given special permission throughout his entire career to continue wrestling for his dad in Puerto Rico, and has been on the receiving end of great pushes in his time, and if he's not grabbed it and run with it, then that's entirely his fault.

Hope this doesn't spell the end for his brother, though!

[Insanity_X]

Well, it wouldn't be due to pot - we know that's just a fine from the Brian Kendrick affair - so I am expecting that means not roids (a suspension) but something more serious. His nose looks a little raw in that photo.....

I've read the wellness policy, and knew pot was a fine long before Kendrick. He's on something addictive without prescription though. The fucker should have spoken to Mercury about rehab. The man admits that he owes his life to Vinny Mac. I hope Carlito can one day say the same.

I'm betting on heroin, btw.

[Veritas]

It's not healthy for him at all, whatever he's doing. I was just reminding the people out there who may not have the due diligence of you (or I) who have read the policy.

The Wellness Policy works to protect the WWE, so, I assume they did what they felt was right in this case.

[Ed Burns]

Carlito fucked himself... He's been doing that for almost 3 years now. He's gotten enough chances in the past to the pont where he failed so badly that this move's about 2 years overdue... No big loss to me... His Brother will be joining him shortly...

As for his drug use... He really needs to get his head out of his ass, and get help. If he doesn't, he could become best friends with Jake Roberts, and completely flush himself down the commode...

[Insanity_X]

The thing that's even more idiotic is that once a week Carlito's been sharing a locker room with Joey Mercury. The (former) crackhead, smackhead alcoholic who WWE sent to rehab for 6 months, and got fired for the same reason as Angle (WWE were worried that he was going to die). If there's anybody who serves as an example for wrestlers that WWE's drug policy fucking works it's him.

[3XtremeTaker]

The thing that's even more idiotic is that once a week Carlito's been sharing a locker room with Joey Mercury. The (former) crackhead, smackhead alcoholic who WWE sent to rehab for 6 months, and got fired for the same reason as Angle (WWE were worried that he was going to die). If there's anybody who serves as an example for wrestlers that WWE's drug policy fucking works it's him.

You're ABSOLUTELY right. It's just ridiculous that Carlito would see proof that help works in front of his eyes and just ignore the fact that he needs it. Same thing with Scott Hall.

[Insanity_X]

Meh, with some drugs (e.g. heroin or alcohol) it's easy to delude yourself into thinking you dont have a problem, and in the former case you feel like shit when you aren't having it (gotta love detoxing), persuading you not to get help.

[RileyTaker]

The thing that's even more idiotic is that once a week Carlito's been sharing a locker room with Joey Mercury. The (former) crackhead, smackhead alcoholic who WWE sent to rehab for 6 months, and got fired for the same reason as Angle (WWE were worried that he was going to die). If there's anybody who serves as an example for wrestlers that WWE's drug policy fucking works it's him.

You're ABSOLUTELY right. It's just ridiculous that Carlito would see proof that help works in front of his eyes and just ignore the fact that he needs it. Same thing with Scott Hall.

You know, it's kind of easy to say that from the outside looking in, because none of us are on drugs. But who knows what was going on with Carlito? No one knows what possessed him to do whatever it was he was doing, same with Mercury or Hall or Jeff or anyone else. We can only speculate. But whatever it is, I hope he manages to get better. Then maybe there will still be a place for him in WWE or TNA.

[Ed Burns]

You know, it's kind of easy to say that from the outside looking in, because none of us are on drugs. But who knows what was going on with Carlito? No one knows what possessed him to do whatever it was he was doing, same with Mercury or Hall or Jeff or anyone else. We can only speculate. But whatever it is, I hope he manages to get better. Then maybe there will still be a place for him in WWE or TNA.

Alot of times it's being on the road that leads to these guys either becoming alcoholics, or addicted. Look at various Rock Bands out there, and they usually say the same thing. There's also pressure from the Old School guys in the company to break in these guys. Drinking, and partying with the boys in the business is a well known fact... It could very well lead to this instance that we're talking about. The Wellness Policy protects the WWE very well. If in the event any of these guys overdosed, after they're released for a positive test, then the media circus can't blame the WWE.

[Veritas]

Just think about Umaga.

[Ed Burns]

Umaga's a prime example. When he passed on, nobody was blaming the WWE. He failed a drug test, it led to his release, then he overdosed, yet nobody said a word, or investigated WWE.... The policy works...

[Veritas]

Exactly. Ideally, the superstar in question will go get the help he or she needs, to make sure they can stay healthy and off the drugs. Now, having said that, Umaga did not want that help, so he was released. It's certainly for the protection of the WWE, but the superstar is at least given a chance. I honestly don't see a problem with this.