Enigma 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 WWE released former intercontinental champion and 2-time tag team champion Rikishi yesterday. Rikishi had been out of action with an ankle injury and there were those in the company that felt he wasn’t exactly hurrying to return as quickly as he could have due to the fact that he had a high downside guarantee and thus made just as much money not working as he would have working. There was also a recent incident where he appeared on an independent show, which I was told was not cleared with the office beforehand. I also know that the company had wanted him to lose some weight so that they could possibly change his gimmick, but he hadn’t done so. Talk of him being released as soon as he was cleared to wrestle, which he was about a week ago, has been going on for a while now. It has finally happened. credit: PWInsider Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dark Age 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Good. Now get rid of Suzuki and Heidenreich while you're at it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MillenniumMan831 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Hard to believe he's been w/ the company since 1992. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 3 years too late for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisMWaters 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Hmm...does Samu still wrestle? If so...HEADSHRINKERS REUNION! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dobbs 3K 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Maybe TNA will pick him up. Hopefully if he comes to TNA he gets a new gimmick. The ass thing is so 1998. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Golgo 13 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Good. It's about time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Fook Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Seriously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Soylent Green Is People Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Rikishi is a decent opening match act to get the live crowds warmed up, but he's been injured more often than not for several years now, he hasn't been at all relevent since 2000 and i'm sure there's better things/talents the WWE can spend their money on, so it's no big loss. Before seeing this topic i had forgotten Rikishi was still with the company anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iliketurtles 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 He was a great babyface in 2000, but they turned him heel which just basically rail roaded the rest of his career. Can't really say he'll be missed since he hasn't done anything intresting since...forever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Maybe TNA will pick him up. Hopefully if he comes to TNA he gets a new gimmick. The ass thing is so 1998. TNA is that current? I figured they were still stuck in 1995 mode. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detox 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 they should have gave Scotty 2 Hotty his walking papers also Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JN News 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Good. Now get rid of Suzuki and Heidenreich while you're at it. Don't forget about Scotty 2 Stupid, as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Fook Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Keep Scotty. Aside from that ridiculous worm, he's a pretty decent worker. He just needs a gimmick change. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
humongous2002 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 I would trade Rikishi for JBL anyday of the week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thuganomics 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Rikishi was cool in 2000, but this doesn't really surprise me as his act has been stale for well over a year. I definitely see him surfacing in TNA as soon as his injury heels up. Maybe he can team with little brother Ekmo as the new Samoan Swat Team! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Rikishi likely was the only guy in the last 5 years to ever go "Im injured. Perhaps I should let it heal". Rikishi isn't as offensive as Hardcore, Gunn, Heidenrich, Kenzo are... Rikishi, once upon a time was a very capable worker when he was in the 350-420 range and had some really good matches in 2000 when he literally was the Eugene of that time period. (i.e CRAZY OVER due to some quirk that the rest of the roster didn't have and was fan loving). TNA likes rejects, So Rikishi will likely work some indy dates and pick up a spot with TNA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Mandarin 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 they should have gave Scotty 2 Hotty his walking papers also That's pretty harsh. Scotty 2 Hotty got neck surgery so he could continue to provide money for his kids. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 I'll sleep better tonight knowing I won't have to see the Stinkface or it's overly predictable set up any time soon. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Good. Now get rid of Suzuki and Heidenreich while you're at it. Am I the only who thinks Suski isn't that bad? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Murmuring Beast 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 I'm rarely in this folder often, but I think this is sad news. Rikishi is no doubt a great guy and I hope he gets work elsewhere. For his weight, he was tremendous in 2000 and we shouldn't forget that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vyce 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 I'm rarely in this folder often, but I think this is sad news. Rikishi is no doubt a great guy and I hope he gets work elsewhere. IMO, he did this to himself. Too much heat in the last year or so. Not just with this ankle thing, but in previous months, you know - the whole laser eye surger thing, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steviekick 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Good. Now get rid of Suzuki and Heidenreich while you're at it. Am I the only who thinks Suski isn't that bad? I don't think he's that bad. Yeah, he sucks as the wrestler. But his gimmick is so over the top and goofy. He's kind of like the second coming of the Berzerker. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Copper Feel 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 they got rid of the kish? good now if they get rid of vince and steph theyll be on the right track. they might even be like they were in 1995. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zack Malibu 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Yes, because the family that owns the company will fire themselves. Yeesh. Anyways, onto the topic at hand, I don't think it was really the heel turn that did Rikishi in, but it's the way everything after the fact happened. Had they kept him as a killer heel with the right motivation to injure Austin, it could have worked. Having him become Triple H's lackey made him look like less of a star than he was at the time, and he never recovered. The fact that he never freshened up his gimmick also hurt him greatly. As for the TNA Samoan Swat Team idea, that was an idea I felt should have happened in WWE when they ditched Jamal and needed something for Rosey to do. I don't think it would be that bad, personally. 'Kish isn't a great worker these days, but it would be nice to see him not making a living off his fat ass and dancing around the ring again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
algrim 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 I'm happy it happened. His place has been taken by guys like Kidman and Londodn, who are hungry and are eager to perform. If they got rid of Billy Gunn, it means we would be seeing the FBI on SD! on a regular basis. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Placebo Effect 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 I'm happy it happened. His place has been taken by guys like Kidman and Londodn, who are hungry and are eager to perform. If they got rid of Billy Gunn, it means we would be seeing the FBI on SD! on a regular basis. Billy Gunn hasn't even been seen on Smackdown for quite a while, minus the London/Kidman celebration. So if you got rid of Billy Gunn on Smackdown, there'd be more room on Velocity for... A second FBI match??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
algrim 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 An Orlando Jordan appearance (err.. I mean jobbing). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SinToxic 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 Finally he can go down to Florida and sell cars with Meng. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Murmuring Beast 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2004 No one should be happy about another man's firing. Think about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
