# Any WWE fans in the audience? (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** boxing-wrestling-mma\ **Created:** [June 5, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124 "2014-06-05T15:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 450
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8986 "2020-04-15T02:56:50Z")
Lawler’s sense of humor is stuck in the 70’s. Seems like if they’d want to attract younger viewers, they’d need to cut the age limit of commentators to half Lawler’s. The no audience shows are growing on me. It’s like they’re doing shows personally for me. Maybe that’s how they’ll book in the future. They effectively have two simultaneous shows and the viewers get to use an app to choose which match they’d rather watch. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8987 "2020-04-15T19:31:23Z")
Bad day to be an un- or semi-used WWE talent. > [@](#): > > “WWE has come to terms on the release of Kurt Angle, Drake Maverick (James Curtin), Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers), Karl Anderson (Chad Allegra), Luke Gallows (Drew Hankinson), Heath Slater (Heath Miller), Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz), EC3 (Michael Hutter), Aiden English (Matthew Rehwoldt) and Lio Rush (Lionel Green),” the company said in an official statement on [WWE.com](http://WWE.com). “We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.” OC vs. Revival (with new names) in AEW in 2021? I wonder what the buyout was on OC contracts, as they had resigned for good money recently. I thought Hawkins and Ryder were attached at the hip? (only semi-joking). EC3 is probably smiling just like the Revival did. He can be a top player when and if the industry returns. How’s Heath going to feed his kids now? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8988 "2020-04-15T19:49:44Z")
I know for a fact that Drake Maverick was supposed to be in the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship tournament, and I think Lio Rush was, too. What now? And Heath’s got kids to feed! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8989 "2020-04-15T21:52:30Z")
The releases keep coming - Rusev, No Way Jose, Zack Ryder, Mike and Maria Kanellis, Primo and Epico, Erik Rowan, Sarah Logan, and Mike Chioda have been cut. Child is the biggest surprise to me, seeing as he’s been on the job for over 30 years. It sounds like anyone who isn’t a potential main eventer is being shown the door. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8990 "2020-04-15T22:55:19Z")
Updated list WRESTLERS: - Deonna Purrazzo - Aleksandar Jaksic - Rusev - Zack Ryder - No Way Jose - Mike Kanellis - Maria Kanellis - Primo - Epico - Rowan - Sarah Logan - Karl Anderson - Luke Gallows - EC3 - Drake Maverick - Curt Hawkins - Heath Slater - Eric Young - Lio Rush PRODUCERS (Furloughed or released): - WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle (Released) - Billy Kidman - Mike Rotunda - Pat Buck - Fit Finlay - Shawn Daivari - Scott Armstrong - Sarah Stock - Shane Helms - Lance Storm ANNOUNCERS: - Aiden English REFEREES: - Mike Chioda CREATIVE: - Andrea Listenberger ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8991 "2020-04-15T23:12:07Z")
Anybody for predictions to where they’ll wind up? I’m thinking AEW will grab EC3, Maverick, Rowan (to reunite with Brodie Lee), and Revival. Maybe Gallows & Anderson if they don’t return to New Japan. Perazzo and Rush will return to RoH. Impact will welcome back the Kanellises and Young, and recruit Slater, Rusev and Logan. Ryder and Hawkins would fit in. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8992 "2020-04-16T00:05:38Z")
I honestly feel for everyone who got released, but none of them were really being used and the ones that were (OC and…Rusev? I guess?) were being severely underutilized. This sucks, but it’s not like anyone of any real business consequence was released. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8993 "2020-04-16T00:28:10Z")
I knew Hawkins and Ryder were connected at the hip! For the immediate future, no one is going anywhere. For most, it will be awhile after live shows restart before there will be any new signings. So The Fiend’s father s let go. Only 2 of the original Nexus left now. Vince wasted that stable, simply feeding them to Cena. At least both Rusev’s and Logan’s spouses are still under contract. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8994 "2020-04-16T00:44:27Z")
We’ll have to see what the wrestling landscape looks like post-COVID, but AEW already has a substantive roster for the amount of matches it’s producing, and I think really wants not to be “home for WWE cast-offs” that TNA used to be. They’ll pick up a couple, but not many. Impact has managed to stick around largely because Anthem has been good at keeping costs way down, so I’m not sure how many they’ll pick up. ROH, NWA, MLW? Who knows. MLW just lost MJF as the head of the rich jerk faction “The Dynasty,” so EC3 could certainly slot right in. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8995 "2020-04-16T01:19:06Z")
Rusev, Ryder, Anderson, and Gallows will certainly have a job somewhere when the dust settles. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8996 "2020-04-16T01:23:58Z")
I can easily see Gallows and Anderson going back to New Japan and re-joining Bullet Club, and Primo and Epico almost definitely have a job waiting for them back in Puerto Rico. The others I don’t know where they’ll end up, but Lio Rush was a regular in my local indy before coming to WWE and I wouldn’t mind seeing him there again. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8997 "2020-04-16T14:20:43Z")
I seem to recall reading (fuzzy memory and all that) Gallows and/or Anderson wanted to lay down roots in the US. While they would probably have jobs if they wanted to return, one or both of them may not wish to. Sad fact is, even after live shows return, it is unlikely anyone is taking on much new talent until next year at the earliest. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8998 "2020-04-16T18:18:25Z")
another piece of childhood gone: Howard Finkel, WWE Hall of Fame Ring Announcer, Dies at 69 [https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/howard-finkel-wwe-hall-of-fame-ring-announcer-dies-at-69/ar-BB12JAxS?li=BBnbfcL](https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/howard-finkel-wwe-hall-of-fame-ring-announcer-dies-at-69/ar-BB12JAxS?li=BBnbfcL) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/8999 "2020-04-16T18:19:41Z")
another piece of childhood gone: Howard Finkel, WWE Hall of Fame Ring Announcer, Dies at 69 [https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/howard-finkel-wwe-hall-of-fame-ring-announcer-dies-at-69/ar-BB12JAxS?li=BBnbfcL](https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/howard-finkel-wwe-hall-of-fame-ring-announcer-dies-at-69/ar-BB12JAxS?li=BBnbfcL) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/9000 "2020-04-16T18:28:49Z")
dupe ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/9001 "2020-04-16T19:21:05Z")
“The Fink” was an icon. I often imagine his voice when one of the current announcers is speaking. He was as good as it gets at his job. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/9002 "2020-04-16T20:12:10Z")
Just came in here to post that. I’m a huge old school wrestling fan and I’ve watched a ton of classic wrestling during the lockdown. Finkel definitely kept Kayfabe by being a professional ring announcer like you’d expect for a championship prize fight. ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/9003 "2020-04-16T20:58:46Z")
RIP Howard Finkel ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/9004 "2020-04-16T23:48:12Z")
So how is it that Baron Corbin keeps his job while Rusev and Zack Ryder get fired? Does anybody watch the show to see Baron Corbin? ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124/9005 "2020-04-17T04:09:14Z")
Baron Corbin is, IMO, a really good heel. He was overexposed as a heel in much the same way Roman Reigns was overexposed as a face, but that’s not his fault. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124.md?page=449) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-wwe-fans-in-the-audience-part-1/690124.md?page=451)