In the last month, three very-talented former-WWE superstars were let go from the roster. Wade Barrett was the least surprising out of the three. He was supposed to be a WWE World Heavyweight champion and someone the WWE could count on to hold a spot in the main event. Instead, Barrett took on roles in the mid-card without WWE officials putting him in the main event. Therefore, Barrett asked for his release and got it.
Cody Rhodes’s departure was shocking, to say the least. He was a journeyman with the WWE for a decade and wanted to do something his father couldn’t, and that was win a WWE World Heavyweight title. Dusty Rhodes, who is a legend and Hall of Fame wrestler, passed away last year and his legacy is still carried with his son, Goldust, employed by the WWE.
However, Cody couldn’t take being ignored by WWE officials anymore. He was also frustrated with his position in the company. Stardust wasn’t supposed to be as long as it went on for. Cody almost came back to WWE TV. Vince McMahon nixed those plans and now Cody is gone from the company. The third and final person is Damien Sandow.
At one point, he was the most-over man in the WWE. Time went by, and his stock decreased. All of a sudden, he was released by the company. Several weeks later, Sandow spoke to Vince Russo on his podcast, The Brand , to talk about his departure from the company and backstage news on his character.
“He says that although he would sometimes send in ideas for his character, he refused to pester the writers week after week. He figured if nobody in the company could see the reactions he was receiving as Mizdow, it wasn’t worth pointing it out to them.
“Stevens admits that during certain points he became frustrated with the creative, and he contemplated leaving the company over the last few months when he was presented with opportunities in film and television. He says the main question backstage was how to get him out of the Mizdow character.”
Sandow’s journey inside the WWE is nothing short of a tragedy. There was an unlimited amount of untapped potential that the WWE could’ve taken and used to their advantage. However, WWE officials, as well as McMahon, saw otherwise with Aaron Stevens. It can be said that he’s just too nice of a guy to scratch and claw to get better backstage. Whether some want to admit it or not, there are backstage politics in nearly business.
So, what does this mean for the WWE moving forward? Veterans like Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus are in a similar situation. Both men are great workers and some of the better performers in recent history. At this moment, Ziggler is in a feud with Baron Corbin. Sheamus just started a rivalry with Apollo Crews. If the WWE wants to remain consistent, both young men will win the feuds.
Sandow’s sentiments towards WWE Creative has become a common theme. No longer is it a feeling among Internet Wrestling Community fans. It’s now a public outcry from former-WWE employees that feel the same way. They are stifling performers who have the potential to do great things in the company. Cody should have won the WWE championship. Sandow deserved a main event feud and run with a top guy. Barrett’s wasted potential was similar to Cody’s.
It’s not a problem with the talent, as their pool is one of the best in history. If that’s the case, what is the problem?
[Image via WWE]