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The days are getting longer and warmer. The easter eggs have long-been replaced with picnic and BBQ provisions in stores. Your neighbours' lawnmowers serve as a daily alarm clock that can't be put on 'snooze'. Summer is coming, and that means one thing... WWE contracts coming to an end.
It is traditional for the WWE to end over a dozen contracts around this time every year. This is to make way for new additions to the roster, as well as recovering losses made from overpaying part-time stars like The Rock and Brock Lesnar. More roster members than ever are worried for their jobs as most of 2012's releases were in the offices or disciplinary actions.
After Punk signed a new contract in 2011, Punk criticised Triple H and John Laurinaitis on an episode of Raw for firing so many talented stars each year to keep so many part-time performers happy. Punk was making specific reference to Chris Masters, Harry Smith (David Hart Smith), Lance Hoyt (Vance Archer), Vladimir Kozlov, Gail Kim and Melina being released in the same weekend. Since then, the WWE has been careful not to release people in such quick succession.
So far, only 4 releases have been confirmed, but there are many more expected to be announced very soon.
Released stars:
Derrick Bateman - Bateman appeared as a contestant on the last 2 competition versions of NXT. Despite being promoted to SmackDown, Bateman has mainly featured on NXT and YouTube exclusive content.
Briley Pierce - Pierce is the younger brother of WWE Champion Dolph Ziggler. Pierce had been tipped to be added to the main roster for some time.
Sakamoto - Sakamoto appeared briefly as the man-servant to Tensai.
Audrey Marie - Marie had yet to debut properly with the company.
It is traditional for the WWE to end over a dozen contracts around this time every year. This is to make way for new additions to the roster, as well as recovering losses made from overpaying part-time stars like The Rock and Brock Lesnar. More roster members than ever are worried for their jobs as most of 2012's releases were in the offices or disciplinary actions.
After Punk signed a new contract in 2011, Punk criticised Triple H and John Laurinaitis on an episode of Raw for firing so many talented stars each year to keep so many part-time performers happy. Punk was making specific reference to Chris Masters, Harry Smith (David Hart Smith), Lance Hoyt (Vance Archer), Vladimir Kozlov, Gail Kim and Melina being released in the same weekend. Since then, the WWE has been careful not to release people in such quick succession.
So far, only 4 releases have been confirmed, but there are many more expected to be announced very soon.
Released stars:
Derrick Bateman - Bateman appeared as a contestant on the last 2 competition versions of NXT. Despite being promoted to SmackDown, Bateman has mainly featured on NXT and YouTube exclusive content.
Briley Pierce - Pierce is the younger brother of WWE Champion Dolph Ziggler. Pierce had been tipped to be added to the main roster for some time.
Sakamoto - Sakamoto appeared briefly as the man-servant to Tensai.
Audrey Marie - Marie had yet to debut properly with the company.