The mass layoffs moved from WWE offices to WWE locker room, as the company started cleaning house. D'Lo Brown {hired in
the middle of last year} was the 1st given the boot, followed by Bam Neely, who dropped off the Smackdown picture a while ago. Long time employee Val Venis was also cut, surviving a total of 11 years with the company. Kevin Thorn, who wrestled for ECWWE, was given his marching orders & is already accepting bookings ~ seventhorn@comcast.net 2 developmental wrestlers, Shawn Spears & Mike Kruel, have similarly been let go. Superstars & office workers aren't the only employees being let go, as 3 referees ~ Mike Posey, Kevin Keenan & Jimmy Korderas ~ were told that their services weren't needed anymore as well. Korderas has worked for WWE for 22 years & his departure was a surprise to many, since he's 1 of the most experienced referees. 2 limousine drivers who worked for Vince McMahon were fired as well. Former WWE referee Tim White was also 1 of the casualties of the layoffs, after being employed by the company for well over 20 years. White served as a referee till 2002, when a Hell In A Cell match bump practically ended his career. After his work as a referee, White moved to the Smackdown brand, where he served as a producer/agent. Tim's probably remembered the most for having several attempts to kill himself on http://www.WWE.COM with Josh Matthews following a stunt that was played out @ the Armageddon 2005 Pay-Per-View, where he took a shotgun from his bar 'The Friendly Tap' & attempted suicide. Rhode Island police received over 1,000 calls that night from people who didn't realize it was all an angle. White was a big friend of Andre The Giant, as he's featured a lot in the just-released Andre biography.
WWE has released British developmental wrestler Hade Vansen. WWE ran a bizarre vignette on his planned character on SmackDown a few weeks ago. WWE had plans for his dark character with cult-esque overtones to engage in a feud with the Undertaker, but Vince McMahon halted the direction following the initial vignette. McMahon didn't want new talent from developmental to be put in such a major angle before being tested & then trusted enough to carry the ball. SmackDown creative team writer Michael "Purely Sexy" Hayes came up with the idea for the storyline. He had plans for Kevin Fertig (aka Kevin Thorn) & the large masked developmental wrestler Black Pain to be associated with Hade in some form, before the character & direction were dropped. WWE released Fertig last week as well, so only Black Pain remains. Vansen was signed to a developmental contract in May 2007, following a successful tryout during WWE's European tour. Hade missed most of 2008 due to injury, before returning in December.
Matt Cappotelli has also been released from his WWE contract. Cappotelli was the co-winner of Tough Enough III, alongside John Hennigan (aka current WWE Superstar "John Morrison") Matt was developing his talent further in the WWE development territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, but was diagnosed with a brain tumour in December 2005, forcing him to step away from wrestling & relinquish his OVW Championship. The tumour was removed in May 2007 & he had hoped to return to the ring @ some point. Of the 7 winners in the history of Tough Enough, only Hennigan remains under contract to WWE. Cappotelli's departure from WWE follows Maven Huffman, Nidia Guenard, Linda "Shaniqua" Miles, Jackie Gayda & Daniel Puder, as all of them have since been released from the company.
In a separate note, http://www.PWInsider.com has also confirmed the release of referee Mickie Henson.
Gadzooks, man! They've even fired WWE Hall of Famer Sergeant slaughter & former WCW Heavyweight champion Ron Simmons!!
Posted on Jan 16, 2009, 1:22 PM from IP address 134.153.20.97