PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

JOHN HENNIGAN COMMENTS ON WWE RELEASE, THANKS THE AUDIENCE

John Hennigan, who was released by WWE on 11/18, took to Instagram to express thanks to those who have supported him during his most recent WWE run commenting:

"Aquaholics, Jomo Sapiens, Johntourage, Slamtonians. I want you all to know how grateful I am for the support you gave me during this past run with WWE. I also want you to know that I did in fact, receive a phone call from John Laurinaitis during which he told me that my services as a talent were no longer required by WWE. I didn't even get a best of luck in your future endeavors. I mean, if you're going to let me go at least hit your catchphrase, right?

I don't know if it's something that draws people to professional wrestling or something that happens to people when they've been in the business for a long enough time, but my mind always races towards ways to pop the crowd, even at my own expense.  The whole idea of making yourself look bad to make someone else look good is a strange thing. But for me, it's such an important part of what I do and it's a foreign concept to so many people.

I think that's why this past run with WWE meant so much to me. You know, I saw and spoke to people that I hadn't seen in 10 years.  The chance to reconnect with old friends, make new friends work with some of the best production people in the business, some of the best professional wrestlers in the business. I mean just the whole thing was nostalgic. It brought me back to how I felt when I was brand new to the business. I was always so nervous. I just, I wanted to do everything right.

 So I do things like get to the arena super early all the time, which actually just gave me more time to be nervous. But there was one time in particular. I remember I was, I was standing there in the ring. I was before doors looking out at all the empty seats, thinking couple of hours, this place is going to be packed and there is going be a person in every one of those seats, all staring at me expecting me to do stuff. I got to get better at stuff.

I think maybe the most important thing I learned during my first run with WWE is it's not the stuff that people go to see wrestling for. It's the stories.  We're storytellers. Now I happen to be a storyteller who takes a lot of pride in being able to do the flips, the tricks, the kicks and the hair whips, but those are just tools. The moves, the ropes, the ring, the mic, they're all just tools used by those who practice the art of professional wrestling to tell stories, and the great thing about being a storyteller is when one chapter ends another begins."

Thanks to Diego Duran.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet