PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

WWE KILLING OFF ALL THEIR DARKER CHARACTERS, BLACK & ZELINA IN AEW, MACHINEGUNS, WERE TALENTS RELEASED OR DID DEALS EXPIRE (AND WHY IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH) AND MORE

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO MIKE FOR THE PWINSIDER Q&A BY CLICKING HERE.

I've noticed that just about every dark, "spooky" character was cut from WWE's main roster with the releases.  Do you think there's a pattern there?

I don't know if there's a pattern but I can tell you there's been a story bouncing around among talents that someone in the TKO realm isn't a fan of the darker characters and that's been the blame placed on why The Wyatts, Aleister Black, Zelina, etc. were all cut.  One person even suggested to me that Undertaker being The American Badass and not The Deadman in appearances is proof of that outlook.  I have no way to prove that is correct, but the story has made the rounds this past week among numerous people we've spoken with.  Whether there is something to it, or just assumptions, I can't verify at this juncture.  I guess we will see if and when WWE leans back into supernatural and dark characters again.

Do you think AEW grabs Aleister Black and Zelina Vega?

Well, they have 90 days before they can sign anywhere else.  I know there's all sorts of discussion about whether AEW would take Black back but the reality is there's only one person who makes that call, and it's Tony Khan.  I think if Khan believes Black can add to the company, he would be open to it.  Anyone who claims otherwise isn't speaking from a realistic perspective.  It's all Khan's call.  Do I think they can add something anywhere they land?  Yes.

You mentioned a museum with an Andre the Giant exhibit? Do you know of other similar museums?

The Rankin Museum of American Heritage in North Carolina.  It's a small exhibit celebrating him as he lived in Ellerbe.  The Humboldt County Historical Museum in Iowa has items from Frank Gotch's life.

I am shocked WWE let the Machine Guns go.  Do you think they should have just gone to AEW?

In hindsight, it's easy to say that.  They obviously wanted to try WWE and they did win the belts there, but were never in the mix.  But, they couldn't have known how it would work out.  They wanted to try and they did. 

Have there been any other releases since last week?

As of this writing, none I am aware of.

Were these releases cuts or talents being told their contracts would not be renewed?

I have yet to hear of one person who was told their deal wasn't being renewed.  Everyone, in their public statements, has pretty much intimated they were cut.  Plus, that's all semantic crap.  It was when Paul Levesque tried to claim Drew Gulak wasn't cut, but his deal wasn't renewed when everyone in the company used the word "released" to us.  It's all the same.  They had a job with the company and then they didn't.  Either way, they were let go and will have to ply their trade elsewhere.  

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO MIKE FOR THE PWINSIDER Q&A BY CLICKING HERE.

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