As previously reported, WWE Hall Of Famer Arn Anderson, Former WWE Cruiserweight Champion TJP, Tye Dillinger & Hideo Itami were all recently released by The WWE.
On a recent edition of The Wrestling Observer Radio Program, Dave Meltzer went into detail about what has transpired backstage over the past couple of weeks as these releases have been taking place.
In the case of Anderson, he was reportedly fired from the company after an altercation with WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. Details are scarce other than something transpired at a WWE House Show that evidently wasn’t handled to Vince’s liking. Anderson took full blame for the incident and was ultimately terminated from his role as a backstage producer.
Arn & Vince were said to not be on the best of terms prior to Anderson’s release. There were numerous situations over recent years where the two apparently weren’t seeing eye to eye on the different happenings within the company. Nevertheless, Arn is liked by key individuals backstage including Triple H & John Cena. Some believe had Cena been around in a more prominent WWE role like before, perhaps it wouldn’t have escalated to the point where Anderson was released. Cena’s fondness for Anderson is shared with many other Superstars that have competed in WWE over the years.
Meltzer added that he would sometimes hear word of talent speaking out about what they believed was a poorly made creative decision and Anderson would support the talent’s objection, possibly causing conflict.
He also mentioned that some people feel like Anderson may flourish as a producer over in AEW. From the side of AEW, there have only been positive things said about Anderson’s work and Arn is reportedly not too broken up about being let go from WWE.
Overall, WWE is making it a point not to fire anyone, so it apparently surprised a lot of people backstage when Anderson & TJP were let go from the company. TJP’s release in particular is said to be for disciplinary reasons and WWE felt like parting ways with TJP is something that was needed to be done. A lack of creative ideas for TJP wasn’t a deciding factor in his departure because even The WWE Superstars that haven’t been given much creative material as of late are being held to their contractual obligations.
The obvious exceptions come in the form of Tye Dillinger & Hideo Itami, who were also recently confirmed as being released from WWE. It was reported back in late January that Itami had asked for his release from WWE as a result of his frustration with how he was being used in WWE.
It was also reported that Dillinger took to Twitter after SmackDown LIVE in New Orleans to reveal that he had requested his release from the company. You can check out the statement below that he sent out after SmackDown LIVE:
“Before rumors begin to spread, let me set things straight ahead of time: This evening, I requested my release from WWE.
“In the past 5 and a half years with them, I have seen and done some wonderful things. Things that I am very proud of and will never forget. I have met and worked with unquestionably, some of the greatest talent on this earth and the pleasure has been all mine. I feel at this time this decision, as extremely difficult as it was, is what is best for myself and WWE. I wish to continue to grow as a performer and offer those paying hard earned money to watch a show I’m performing on, a little more of myself. To the male and female locker rooms, coaches and producers, to the production/ring crew, all the way up to the very top of WWE and most of all the fans…I wish you all the very best and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.”
Simultaneously, Bruce Prichard, Steve Corino, Shane “Hurricane” Helms, Sonjay Dutt, Shawn Daivari, IMPACT Wrestling Hall Of Famer Chris “Abyss” Parks & WWE Hall Of Famer Jeff Jarrett have all started as backstage producers for the company.
Source: F4WOnline
