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WWE Fires Alarming Number Of Superstars


WWE has released Kurt Angle, Rusev, Rowan, Lio Rush, Sarah Logan, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and more.

We’re just one week removed from WrestleMania 36, which was the most unique WrestleMania in history, and already the WWE is making a major personnel change.

As the company continues to film episodes of Monday Night RAW and Friday Night Smackdown on a closed set during the coronavirus pandemic, it appears as though they have been forced to cut costs. 

As reported by WWE.com, a number of wrestlers are now without a job after a series of lay-offs were announced today. The majority of superstars could have seen this coming — like EC3, Primo, and Epico who have not been on television in months — but other releases are a bit more surprising.

WWE Fires Alarming Number Of Superstars
JP Yim/Getty Images

“WWE has come to terms on the release of Kurt Angle, Rusev (Miroslav Barnyashev), Drake Maverick (James Curtin), Zack Ryder (Matthew Cardona), Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers), Karl Anderson (Chad Allegra), Luke Gallows (Drew Hankinson), Heath Slater (Heath Miller), Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz), Rowan (Joseph Ruud), Sarah Logan (Sarah Rowe), No Way Jose (Levis Valenzuela), Mike Chioda, Mike Kanellis (Mike Bennett), Maria Kanellis, EC3 (Michael Hutter), Aiden English (Matthew Rehwoldt), Lio Rush (Lionel Green), Primo (Edwin Colon) and Epico (Orlando Colon Nieves). We wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” announced the company in a press release today.

Of the announced firings, some of the most surprising names listed are Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, who appeared at WrestleMania 36 during AJ Styles’ match with The Undertaker. Rowan was also involved in a televised storyline for weeks, squashing his opponents in quick order as he appeared to receive a mini-push. Rusev has not been utilized correctly in years, so this gives him a chance to start fresh with a new company. Maybe AEW?

What do you think of the releases?

WWE Fires Alarming Number Of Superstars
FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP Getty Images

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WWE’s Kurt Angle Gives His Mount Rushmore Of Pro Wrestlers

Angle explains why Brock doesn't make the cut.

WWE Hall of Famer and Olympic Gold medalist Kurt Angle has a ton of respect for WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, but that doesn't mean The Beast Incarnate is worthy of a spot on Angle's "Mount Rushmore" of professional wrestlers. 

During a recent interview with The Sun, Angle explained the criteria for making his list, and had this to say about Brock, specifically.

“I think it’s because he’s not a guy… he’s a man of very few words. He goes in that ring and performs as good, if not better, than anyone in the world but in sports entertainment you have got to have something behind that.”

“If you are talking about the Mount Rushmore then you are talking about the overall entertainment - how people get wowed and what they say to people and to the fans and how they pertain themselves in their character."

Considering the value that Angle places on the entertainment aspect of professional wrestling, in addition to each wrestler's ability to perform in the ring, there shouldn't be any issues with his Top 4 of all-time. 

"A guy like Shawn Michaels would be on the Mount Rushmore, Ric Flair would be on Mount Rushmore," Angle tells The Sun. "I don't see Brock as an overall athlete that would be up there. But don't get me wrong, what he does in the ring, no-one does better."

“Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. I would never put myself up there, it’s just not who I am. I imagine some people do but when I think about Mount Rushmore I don’t think of myself.”

There's always room for debate with any Mount Rushmore, but you won't catch me campaigning to remove Flair, HBK, The Rock or Stone Cold from any such list.