Earlier this week, last year's Raw Diva Search winner, Christy Hemme, was released from WWE. The question on many people's minds is...why?Christy was very popular among the wrestlers and other divas and was improving steadily in the ring. She had enthusiasm and a real desire to do more than just stand there and look pretty. She was serious about learning to wrestle. So serious that she relocated to Kentucky just three weeks ago to work in WWE's developmental and training promotion, OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling).
She had posted on her personal website that she was very serious about learning to wrestle and would be training hard and returning to Smackdown soon. This was just two days before she was released. (The WWE section of her website is now completely removed and all mentions of her bar one are removed from WWE's website.)
From all accounts, this was a sudden firing. Christy graces the cover of one of WWE's December magazines, showing that management didn't have firing her on their minds when they produced the magazine a few weeks ago. This has happened before where a star was featured in a WWE produced magazine after he or she was released by the company and almost always, it is because the company wasn't planning on firing the worker and something suddenly changed their minds.
I was not a fan of Christy's during the Diva Search, but then, I wasn't a fan of the Diva Search. However, once she won and I saw that she was trying hard to fit in and to work in the ring, she grew on me. She didn't really have much in the way of a storyline but then, not many of the women do. The last match I saw her wrestle was against Melina, I believe, and I was quite impressed with both women.
So, it came as a shock to me when I read that Christy was no longer with WWE. Since I found out, I have been trying to find out why she was let go. So far, no one's talking. In fact, the people I have talked to were as surprised as I was that Christy was released.
WWE has made no statement other than to post a very small blurb on their website indicating that they and Christy came to a "mutual agreement" on her release. This leads me to wonder if she broke a rule. Generally when someone is let go in this manner, there's something more than just dissatisfaction with the person's work rate. I can't speculate - I have no clue what WWE used as basis for Christy's release.
However, in time, as always, the truth will come out. I believe that she will have the standard 90 day no compete clause meaning she will get paid for three months but cannot wrestle or work in wrestling for that time. This obviously will give her time to train but, now that she is not in WWE, she is no longer in OVW. She will have to find a school or trainer and go it alone.
Although WWE was legally able to fire her since her since her one-year quarter million dollar contract ran out a few months ago, there was absolutely no indication that the firing was coming.
I wish Christy the very best and I hope, if she does have a 90 day no compete clause, she works hard and then joins TNA where former WWE divas Gail Kim and Jackie Gayda are working. TNA can use decent women workers and Christy would fit in fine there.
When I find out more about why Christy was released, I will let you know. For now, know you won't be seeing her on a WWE programming again.
Tajiri, who just signed a new three-year deal with WWE, has left the company and is going back to Japan. I can't say I blame him. He has been underused since day one. I wish him all the best as well.
I sense more WWE workers will be leaving in the coming months, either by choice or by being released for whatever reason. I'll keep you informed of the comings and goings as they happen.
Get well wishes go out to Mr. Ken Kennedy who underwent surgery for severely torn back muscle days ago. He suffered essentially the same back injury that Batista is working through and was in very severe pain. He is looking at a long recovery period and a six-month timeframe to return to WWE TV. I have heard that WWE may try to keep him in the public eye once he is able by either having him do some work with WWE.com or in a speaking role on TV. They recognize that he is a very popular rookie and they don't want fans to forget about him as he recovers from this unfortunate injury.
Lastly, although you all saw Eric Bischoff “fired” on Raw this week, don’t expect him to be gone from WWE completely just yet…
I will be back Sunday with all the latest news and opinions and even sooner if I want to let you know something or have time to write more commentary.
Have a great weekend and don't forget TNA's pay per view this Sunday (December 11) featuring the first ever barbed wire match in the US between Sabu and Abyss. The ropes will be replaced with real barbed wire and plywood sheets with barbed wire wrapped around them will be placed around ringside. It promises to be a brutal and bloody match. Also, there may be a "surprise guest" on the show who will make history for the company according to TNA. I will have the results of that show in my regular Sunday night/Monday morning column.
Thanks for reading!
Patty
Last chance for WWE Christy photos and posters! These are autographed.
Save to Del.icio.us
