WWE just cut a lot of guys

[Magus 0]

The board's been dead as hell lately, so with this peice of news, maybe some discussion could get started again:

 

WWE.com has just announced that Spike Dudley and Kevin Fertig, formerly Mordechai have also been released.

 

This makes eight stars that have been released today, as Mark Jindrak, Akio, Shannon Moore, Gangrel, Maven and Billy Kidman were released earlier tonight.

 

Credit: WWE.com

 

My thoughts: This is all assuming that these guys aren't too scared to sign with TNA and piss off Vince. I think Shannon Moore, Kidman, and Akio would be excellent additions to TNA, obviously in the X Division. Everything should be done on TNA's part to pick them up. I think Spike could be cool, assuming he's allowed to do crazy shit again. Maven is a possibility, as he's had hella exposure and he's good for what he is. Gangrel, Mordecai, and Jindrak all suck, so I could care less what happens to them.

[Guest *KNK*]

Akio is heading to ROH and AJPW as soon as his 90 days is up (assuming he decides to take the 90 days or not).

 

Kidman im pretty sure will be finding a home in TNA.

 

Jindrak as well. Moore will join with his buddies in TNA.

[SamoaRowe 0]

I agree that Kidman and Jindrak will wind up in TNA. I envision Kidman will get a push in the X division while Jindrak will just float around (since that's what he seemingly does best).

 

I wouldn't be shocked to see Heath return as Vampire Warrior and I'm sure TNA could think of something "fun" for Fertig to do.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'd like to see them pick up Akio, and maybe Moore and Kidman to deals.

 

Maven could take off with smart booking and a good heel character, but he better have a lot more in his arsenal than what he's done in the WWE, because his bland, dropkick-centric style won't do anything to get him over in TNA. Ditto with Jindrak, but I've never been a fan of his, he seems to have a large enough cult following in the IWC that maybe he's got something I haven't noticed yet. The way I see it though, if you can't get over in a stable with Kurt Angle, you're fucked in North America. He'd probably make a good addition for All Japan though.

 

I think they'd be wasting their time with Gangrel or Spike, and I expect Spike to hang on with WWE in a limited capacity anyway.

 

EDIT* they'll probably pick up Fertig simply because he's had so little exposure on WWE tv that he isn't branded as anything, and they'll take a chance on a reclamation project with a guy that the 'E was obviously high on at some point.

[Astro101 0]

I haven't been interested in Kidman for a long time. Dunno if he'll even fit in the X-division. Akio, I would like along with Jindrak. Always been a fan of Moore, too.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

JIMMY YANG (fuck Akio) would need to get back into the shape he was in 3 years ago to really take off in TNA, though. I watched a couple of the London/Akio matches, and he was sloppier than he usually is.

 

Pick up Spike, because he OWNS the name, doesn't he?

[King Cucaracha 0]

Spike for squash material I could really see. Kidman would be a decent enough signing too, so long as he can still go anywhere near the level he could in WCW.

[zyn081 0]

Akio is heading to ROH and AJPW as soon as his 90 days is up (assuming he decides to take the 90 days or not).

 

Kidman im pretty sure will be finding a home in TNA.

 

Jindrak as well. Moore will join with his buddies in TNA.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree about Akio, more logical thinkg to do.

 

I hope that Kidman can return to his former self. Possible reform with Konnan?

 

Whose are Moore's buddies in TNA please? Maybe he could form a tag team with Shark Boy?

 

I agree that Kidman and Jindrak will wind up in TNA. I envision Kidman will get a push in the X division while Jindrak will just float around (since that's what he seemingly does best).

 

I wouldn't be shocked to see Heath return as Vampire Warrior and I'm sure TNA could think of something "fun" for Fertig to do.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I cant see Jindrak ending up there, especially cause O'Haire didnt.

 

Maybe they could team up Vampire Warrior and Kevin Fertig?

 

Id like to see Fertig, Akio (which I doubt), Jindrak (possibly), Gangrel, Moore and Kidman. You could form 3 lower card tag teams there, or form a stable around Abyss (Fertig and Gangrel). Jindrak will need a mouth piece. Kidman allowed to hang his balls out.

[redbaron29 0]

Moore will end up with Hardy

 

Yang would fit right into the X division.

 

I personally would like to see TNA pick up Maven and make something out of him just as a major fuck you to Vince. Granted like stated earlier he would need some improvment to make it in TNA, if they can put Maven over where the WWE failed that would be awesome.

[RedJed 0]

I really didnt think they would get rid of Maven. He's homegrown WWE and usually with those guys, they are alot more patient with them. Not to say Maven could have been a huge star, but I think he was doing ok as a midcard talent. I dont know what/if TNA could do with him, I have no idea if his name is trademarked (even though thats his real name, its possible I suppose). He's questionable at best when he's out of a WWE setting. We have no idea how good of a worker he really is, and part of me thinks he may have a real hard time adapting out of the late 90s WWE style of punch, kick, punch, closeline, etc. In fact maybe thats why he got released, he couldnt adapt to the more oldschool approach of working a match that WWE has been emphasizing the past year or two.

 

Moore, Yang, Kidman (hopefully off the juice) will probably all be picked up for the X division.

 

Spike might very well call it a career, as he's all banged up currently IIRC and his only calling card has been his ECW role or else side by side with the Dudleys. If he can't use that name especially, the gimmick is kind of pointless as is signing him.

 

Doubt Jindrack will be signed, and I hope he isnt. Unless they had some idea of signing up O'Haire and reforming their tag team, I'm totally opposed to anything with Jindrack in singles.

 

Fertig could be signed as could Gangrel to be aligned with Jim Mitchell as perhaps the New Church. Just a thought....

[eirejmcmahon 0]

I don't think TNA need any of these bozos.

[Fro 0]

Mark Jindrak - Still has big potential. I suspect he'll go to AJPW where all the ex-WWE guys have a couple stables together. He'd be worth signing but I don't see where he adds anything. He's better than a lot of the random big guys TNA has around though.

 

Akio - Out of the guys WWE cut, he's been the best. Has worked in Japan and will probably work ROH. I'd love to see Akio and Noble as a tag team in TNA.

 

Shannon Moore - Sort of redundant, uses a lot of Jeff Hardy's moves. I've never been overly impressed with him other than a guy who is willing to bump like crazy and do some cool spots. TNA has plenty of them.

 

Gangrel - He looked okay in OVW, but he's not going to draw jack at this point.

 

Maven - Still has potential and I think he'd be great in TNA if he was repackaged and got freed from WWE style. He needs to break out from being "Maven: Tough Enough Winner" and get his own gimmick.

 

Billy Kidman - If he can be the old WCW Kidman and if he can wrestle X-Division style, he's worth signing. Otherwise don't bother.

 

Spike Dudley - I think he may be too banged up to do his old act anymore.

 

Mordecai - Stay the heck away, hor-ri-ble.

[Guest Coffey]

Wasn't Kidman considering retirement due to all his injuries and shit anyway? I don't think he'll go to TNA or ROH or anywhere else. I say he's done.

 

Spike? Eh, I doubt anyone wants him. Same with Mordecai.

 

Shannon Moore will go wherever Matt Hardy goes.

 

Jindrak is nothing special but he's big and has good punches, so I don't know.

 

I figure Yang will go to Japan.

 

Gangrel is the shits. Is he still associated with White Wolf? No one wants that. He'd be back to being the Vampire Warrior.

 

I like Maven but I don't know if anyone wants the stigma of "former Tough Enough winner" on their roster. He has greatly improved at a pretty rapid pace though. Especially in-ring and on his physique.

[Guest BrokenWings]

They've got a really solid tag division shaping up, if they can get their shit together and snag Matt Hardy, and put Jindrak & O'Haire back together.

[benoit4hor 0]

Spike Dudley would expose how small the TNA wrestlers are.

[Dangerous A 0]

My take on the new WWE released as pertains to TNA

 

 

Shannon Moore- Obvious X Division guy, but I'm not sure if he'll just be a blond Sonjay Dutt. He has never been given a real oppurtunity to have much of a personality or work the mic. If he can work the mic, great, if not, he's probrably and X Divsion JTTS.

 

Akio-Another X Division guy who I think can get away with not being able to cut a promo. If they give him the proper push, he could possibly legit challenge for the X title.

 

Kidman- Depends on his health. Word was before he was released, he was in pretty bad shape. If he is healthy, I think he could work with the regulars, but I don't see him in the X Division if he came on board.

 

Jindrak- There is potential here, but they have to totally remake him. I'm not saying to over-characterize him here, but they have to attempt to erase the taste of WWE Jindrak from everyone's mouth, otherwise this is just another chapter of TNA taking WWE's scraps, which is how it will be percieved.

 

Gangrel- I could see him joining Jim Mitchell's group along with Abyss. Perhaps form a tag team with Abyss or a short feud with Raven. That's about it.

 

Maven- I wouldn't even bother. The fact that he won the first TE doesn't mean anything anymore and since he hasn't improved one iota, I wouldn't waste my time or money.

 

Spike- I wouldn't do it. He can't be Spike Dudley IIRC because WWE owns the rights to it. Even if he can only be just plain Spike I don't think it'd be worth it. He had a nice run, but to me he just never came off good except in ECW where they knew what to do with him. His WWE run wasn't that good and I don't think he'd fare well here. Not athletic enough to keep up with what the X Division work standard is IMO.

 

Kevin Fertig- Forget about it. This guy needs at least another year or two of training before he should be allowed to have matches on TV. Has a good look, but when your in ring work makes Hoyt look like Misawa, you've got in ring issues.

[Elbarto997 0]

Spike Dudley- Man, I'm sad to see him go.

 

Jindrak- I dunno what he's gonna do.

 

Akio- Return of the Jung Dragon!!!

 

Shannon Moore- 1 Count!!!

 

Gangrel- Return of the Vampire Warrior!!!

 

Maven- No. Please.

 

Kidman- X Division.

 

Mordecai- He could tag with Trytan. Aww man, them vs Phi Delta Slam would give us the first ever -****** match ever!

[Fro 0]

Well, WWE dumped another good batch of talent:

 

# Matt Morgan

# Charlie Haas

# Jackie Gayda

# Marty Jannetty

# Dawn Marie

 

TNA needs to fire Trytan immediately and give that roster slot to Matt Morgan. The guy is a monster, works pretty solidly for a big man and is very good on the mic. Charlie Haas is an awesome wrestler, ditto Jannetty.

 

They're also not renewing the Dudleys' contract. They'd be money in TNA for a while. According to Meltzer, their deal is up in a couple months (no 90-day release) so they could be in TNA very soon.

 

[Guest BrokenWings]

Well, they just fired the Dudleys, too. They're going to have a much, much better tag division than WWE if they can get these guys together.

 

Hardys

AMW

Dudleys

Jindrak & O'Haire

Team Canada

Naturals

New Age Outlaws, if they put them back together.

 

I don't know how they could have Haas fit in, but I hope to see him get picked up, because he's a hell of a wrestler. If not, I'm sure he'll show up in ROH, and I wouldn't be surprised if he did a tour of the Orient.

[Magus 0]

I still hold that Jindrak, Gangrel, and Fertig should not be in TNA. Not sure I want to see Spike anymore, either, unless it was a one-time surprise where he got squashed. I'm not sure about Matt Morgan. Isn't he the guy who was on TE and was doing the stuttering gimmick? I also don't really care to see Janetty, either, but that's just my opinion. I never saw any of his work since his return. Here's my thoughts on the rest of the Mass Exodus....

 

Kidman: If, and only if, Kidman could get back to his WCW shape, he'd be recognizable name to put over X Division workers, much like Jerry Lynn used to be. If not that, maybe something in the midcard. I've just always liked Kidman.

Shannon Moore: I like the idea of teaming him with Jeff Hardy, if Matt isn't signing with TNA, that is. Jeff needs to be in a team, and Moore fits the mold well.

Jimmy Yang: Along with Moore, he'll probably work a lot of ROH, which is great since he can still work TNA. A top contender for the X Title in the future, and I'm hoping to see James Gibson in TNA soon as well.

Maven: Has the potential to be a good midcard heel, I think. But he'll need more mat skills to fit in.

Charlie Haas: Very good, from what I've seen of him. He could be awesome if allowed to go in TNA, but he might be more comfortable with a tag partner. Jackie could be his valet.

Dawn Marie: Team her up with Simon and Tryton, nuff said.

Dudleyz: I'd like to see them up against TNA's tag teams in a few one-time dream matches, but nothing permanent. I think that guy in Ohio is salivating to get Bubba and D-Von in his new promotion.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Alright...I don't care what it takes...TNA has been putting AMW over as the "best team" in the world since the promotion started.

 

The New Age Outlaws, Hardy Boyz and Dudleys must all be jobbed!!!

[RedJed 0]

This opens up a chance for Spike to be signed by TNA now, if they go with the Dudleys too, which I'm sure they will. The only question mark with all of this is if they can use the Dudley name(s) in another organization. If not, all 3 of these guys are going to be substanially less over by default.

 

Haas and Jackie will probably get some gig with TNA, mixing with X division stuff like Shane and Traci, etc.

 

Dawn Marie might be in down the road, who knows.

 

Highly doubt there would be interest in Jannetty, although one week in WWE got him very over and back as a name of sorts.

[The Decemberists 0]

If they were to bring in the Dudleys my plan would be to finally turn AMW heel, and win the straps. Then have them successfully defend against whoever and then have the Dudleys run in and have Bubba cut a promo along the lines of "We've been ECW tag team champions! We've been WCW tag team champions! We've been WWE tag team champions! In fact the only belts we haven't held...." then have them both slowly turn to face an AMW member who's still in the ring, "are yours!". Then have them 3D AMW no.1.

 

Dudleys vs AMW is what they have to do surely, and there's no way they'll get the Dudleys to debut as heels, even if just for the 'holy shit it's the dudleys in tna!' factor.

[Guest *KNK*]

what name would they go by?

[The Decemberists 0]

God knows...

 

I really hope Vince will let them keep the name. I mean, if Paul. E had wanted to he could've stopped Vince from using the Dudley name but didn't so maybe Vince will return the favour them now?

 

Or maybe Paul London will beat Batista next week, as that's just as likely

[Zack Malibu 0]

Dawn Marie will NOT hook up in TNA with Simon Diamond, as they are on horrible terms since they're split-up.

 

O'Haire also has no interest in actual wrestling, and is more focused on his MMA career right now, so you won't see Jindrak/O'Haire anytime soon.

[Astro101 0]

Didn't know Diamond and Dawn were split up.

 

Picking from the list, I'd go after Haas first, definitely.

[Dangerous A 0]

Thoughts on the new people released and their TNA outlooks...

 

 

Dawn Marie- Zack pretty much covered this. Not going to happen.

 

Dudleys- It could happen, but I'd like for them to return to their ECW heel days, just a little toned down though since TNA is filmed in Universal Studios.

 

Kenzo and Hiroko Suzuki- Not a chance in hell.

 

Joy Giovanni- I don't think she really loves the business enough to pursue other wrestling ventures. She's a mother of 2 anyways, go and be a mother.

 

Matt Morgan- They could definitely make use of him. Still, he'd have to be protected and he actually still needs some seasoning before I'd want him out there. As long as TNA doesn't make him doe something dumb like give him a chance to speak (which he does well) and then make him stutter. I'm not saying he'll turn business around, but he could make things happen here.

[Fro 0]

Matt Morgan- They could definitely make use of him. Still, he'd have to be protected and he actually still needs some seasoning before I'd want him out there. As long as TNA doesn't make him doe something dumb like give him a chance to speak (which he does well) and then make him stutter. I'm not saying he'll turn business around, but he could make things happen here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I'd rate Morgan as being better in the ring easily than Trytan and Lance Hoyt. He's pretty solid and fairly seasoned as he was OVW's main eventer for several months.

[razazteca 0]

Fertig and Lance Hoyt for TNA tag team champions?