7 Released: James, Benjamin & Knox among them.

[CMWaters]

I'm kinda upset that we never got Slam Master J/Luke Gallows interactions, but ah well.

[livetowin]

The most shocking one is Funaki, methinks.

The good thing about Mickie is that she actually has her degree, so if the singing doesn't work out she can fall back on that. Good for 'er.

[DiBiase is Good]

Shelton is the only one that really bothers me. I suppose Kofi is going to get the annual MITB slot (although I realise Shelton missed one).
I loved Mickie a few years back but what with her singing career, I feel wrestling would become her second priority.

[AriadosMan]

Two weeks after HBK leaves, one of his buddies (Funaki) gets canned.

Proof that Funaki was history's luckiest jobber.

[derrtaysouth95]

WHAT THE f***!!!!!

Mickie James - WHY? I know she wanted out soon but WHY?

Shelton Benjamin - going to TNA

Kung Fu Naki - they finally realized he was employed and fired him...dammit

Jimmy Wang Yang - yeah whatever

Slam Master J - I see him showing up in TNA

Katie Lea Burchill - hopefully goes to TNA

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

You know with Funaki gone, there is no talent I grew up with in WWE anymore. They are all retired, in TNA, or dead.

All I have left is Triple H...what a world, eh Hunter?

[Legion]

Apr 22, 2010 17:01:39 GMT -5 TheDarkestKnight said:

Apr 22, 2010 16:59:34 GMT -5 legendkiller said:

Shelton gone? WTF? Well he would make a nice fit in the X division.

s***.......

Shelton is above the X Divison. Hell Shelton could easily have some great feuds with Angle, AJ, RVD and Hardy in the main event scene at TNA.

Shelton has it all, just needs the correct storyline to elevate him to the top.

He needed Momma. He was a great in ring talent, but couldnt make me care about him as a performer and these days it's that bit that is more important.

He is a brilliant example of why some guys NEED old school managers.

[Tyfo]

I will say this, not in a mean way or anything, but this is the best possible thing that could happen to Shelton Benjamin career wise. It's been obvious that they aren't going to do a thing with him. But now, he's perfect for TNA, he's perfect for ROH. He may take an initial hit to the wallet, but overall, he should be just fine, and now he may really become the big time player that I think he can be.

I like both Mickie and Katie Lea a lot, but I'm not surprised they are gone really. God knows if you do something outside WWE that Vince can't latch his name onto and make money from, then you are of no use to them anymore, so that ended Mickie. Katie Lea just hasn't done anything in over a year now, so while she's one of the more talented divas in the company, that means little to them of course.

Yang and Slam Master J are not shocking at all. Both will be just fine out there on the indy scene. Yang has done TNA and ROH in the past and I'm sure would be welcomed back, plus he has his wrestling school and promotion on Ohio. Ray Gordy is talented enough to be a steady hand somewhere, I could even see TNA giving him something if they had room on their roster.

Funkai. Geez, it's been a long, entertaining, and just damn fun road. For years now, over a decade in fact, he's been with us. Today, they finally got him. He was the poster boy of keeping your job for so long, but it's over now. It was one hell of a great ride buddy. God speed Funaki, God speed.

[Deleted]

Guessing Shelton will be popping up in TNA then, probably along side Charlie Haas. Helps that they've got connections and all, plus TNA could use a good tag team (prefer both the Machine Guns and Beer Money as solo stars).

[Ben Wyatt]

Wang, Funaki and Slam Master are not shocking at all.

Shelton was surprising, but the reality is, he was never going anywhere beyond where is now.

I love Mickie. I do, but she never did anything majorly intresting after the Trish angle.

[Firearm: Supposed Big Deal]

Katie Lea = Not like they had anything for her
Wang Yang = Expected
Slam MASTER J = How bad does it suck to be him; his partner finally got a workable gimmick and he gets stuck with SMJ and soon released
KUNG FU NAKI = I'm going to miss him. INDEED!
MICKIE JAMES = Pretty expected after the end of the "Piggy James" angle
SHELTON BENJAMIN = FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-

[DiBiase is Good]

Apr 22, 2010 17:03:56 GMT -5 xxshoyuweeniexx said:

You know with Funaki gone, there is no talent I grew up with in WWE anymore. They are all retired, in TNA, or dead.

All I have left is Triple H...what a world, eh Hunter?

Undertaker and Kane?

[Metalheadbanger Man]

Shocked that Shelton and Mickie are gone. Both served their purpose very well, I will say.

The others aren't as surprising - Funaki hasn't been used in about a year on TV to be fair, and it had to happen sooner or later.

I'm also kinda sad about Yang, because he's very talented.

[Arturo Classico]

Man so Tyler Reks and Vance Archer survived? Again? Man did Funaki get tired of working for WWE and give the blackmail photos to them?

[Phil Parent]

Yang seems to hint at failing wellness with his reference to strike three, doesn't?

Let's think about the releasees' future endeavors...

- James: Hiatus from wrestling for now, to concentrate on music
- Katie Lea: I can see TNA + Shimmer.
- Benjamin: TNA, for sure. Even more if JR does become their talent relations guy. ROH even, for a short time. I know if I were Cornette I would push for him.
- Funaki: Depends where he wants to take his life. If he wants to stay in Texas he'll probably do indy appearences and conventions. If he wants to return to Japan, he'll have a lot of offers. He's got name value as a long-time WWE wrestler, and enough skill to hold his own in any match. That is why he won't become a Kenzo Suzuki, and will be able to return to his home land.
- Yang: He hints at TNA, surely he's X-Division style for sure. But it's been many years since he was allowed to do his spectacular high-flying style. The man at a time was one of the most spectacular flyers in wrestling. We'll see.
- Gordy: He will need to reinvent himself. A shame he doesn't have his father's size. I don't know.

[________ has left the building]

I'm having a funny feeling that JR is about to be released. Mickie and Shelton were coming up on contract renewals and got chopped today. JR's contract is ending on the 30th. Something's gotta to give.

[Paco]

12 years for Funaki and he may have worked in-ring only half of those years.

If he has saved up his money, then kudos to Funaki!

[Deleted]

I think about half of this section should be put on lockdown due to Mickie. Don't want to see any ramfications here.

[vanboxmeer]

Kung Fu Naki lasted so so long.

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

Apr 22, 2010 17:05:47 GMT -5 DiBiase is Good said:

Apr 22, 2010 17:03:56 GMT -5 xxshoyuweeniexx said:

You know with Funaki gone, there is no talent I grew up with in WWE anymore. They are all retired, in TNA, or dead.

All I have left is Triple H...what a world, eh Hunter?

Undertaker and Kane?

Your right, looking at the roster in 98, there are 8 guys left.

Hunter, Taker, Kane, Matt Hardy, Regal, Goldust, Edge, and Christian.

But the ones in bold aren't long for WWE or wrestling though.