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Welcome back to another stacked edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's daily WWE Rumor Roundup. As always, it has been an eventful week for Vince McMahon's company as WWE kicked off its build towards Money in the Bank.
However, the world of wrestling was hit by another untimely round of releases as 14 WWE wrestlers lost their jobs. We have all the updates and notes regarding the outgoing talent in today's lineup. Interestingly enough, one of the released superstars was shown the door by WWE for the second time in his career.
Another wrestler was reportedly not a 'Vince McMahon type of guy,' and WWE had no plans on giving him a sizeable push.
A former WWE star revealed details of a rejected WrestleMania plan and how the company wasn't in favor of having a more exciting matchup on the card.
A WWE star also revealed how he met Shane McMahon for the first time when he accidentally used Shane O'Mac's private dressing room. It has also been revealed that a legendary female star was offended by a big RAW angle from 2017.
#5. Complete list of WWE releases including backstage notes - Tino Sabbatelli's second exit, Breezango, and more
WWE recently released 14 wrestlers from 205 Live and NXT in another round of budget cuts. Given below is the complete list of released stars:
- Tyler Breeze and Fandango (Breezango)
- Tony Nese
- Jeff Parker and Matt Lee (Ever-Rise)
- August Grey
- Curt Stallion
- Gurvinder Sihra and Harvinder Sihra (Singh Brothers)
- Marina Shafir
- Tino Sabbatelli
- Killian Dain
- Arturo Ruas
- Ariya Daivari
It's interesting to note that Tino Sabbatelli was initially released in April 2020 before getting re-signed by WWE in October. Sabbatelli even wrestled one match on AEW Dark during his time away from the WWE, but he was never brought back to Tony Khan's company.
There was speculation about Sabbatelli being the 'mole' who leaked the AEW Dynamite spoilers several months back. The former NFL player did not wrestle in a single match in WWE after he was re-hired last year. Tino Sabbatelli was also previously in a relationship with Mandy Rose.
Fightful Select reported that WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan led the meeting to discuss the names to be released. It was added that many of the released 205 Live wrestlers were on high contracts, with Tony Nese having a 90-day non-compete clause.
The clauses vary as NXT wrestlers only have 30 days to finish, while a few others - including The Singh Brothers, Breezango, and Killian Dain - have 90-day non-compete clauses in their respective contracts.
Regarding Marina Shafir's release, PWInsider reported that pitches were made backstage for the former MMA fighter's new name. Storyline plans were reportedly being chalked out for Roderick Strong's wife before the news of her release hit the public domain and surprised many people within NXT.
While budget cuts were the cause behind the mass releases, Dave Meltzer reported on the Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE has also initiated a movement to hire younger and bigger wrestlers. The company released many older wrestlers, and the focus is on signing potential stars who are tall, under the age of 26, and above 220 pounds.
While the released talent will surely get bookings in a few months, WWE could compensate for the roster losses by bringing in some fresh talent.
#4. Mansoor reveals hilarious incident of meeting Shane McMahon for the first time in WWE
Mansoor has made quite a name for himself in the WWE ever since becoming the first-ever Saudi Arabian wrestler to be signed. The talented 25-year-old star has been pushed prominently at WWE's yearly Saudi spectacles, and he even had an incredible undefeated streak that recently came to an end.
Mansoor sat down for a chat with talkSPORT's Alex McCarthy, and the wrestler revealed details of his embarrassing first interaction with Shane McMahon.
The incident happened at WWE Super Showdown in 2019 at the King Abdullah International Stadium in Jeddah. Mansoor was no stranger to the arena as he was at the previous Saudi Arabia WWE show in 2018 (WWE Greatest Royal Rumble) and knew very well where the bathroom was located.
However, WWE switched things up at WWE Super ShowDown, and one of the general locker rooms was reserved for Shane McMahon.
Mansoor used the same bathroom that he did at the Greatest Royal Rumble event without realizing that he was now walking into Shane McMahon's private dressing room.
Mansoor revealed that he came across Shane McMahon after using the bathroom, and they admittedly had a very awkward exchange.
"So then the next time we were in Saudi for the biggest battle royale, I was going to that bathroom because I knew that was the bathroom that we use, right? That's the one I go to. "So I walk in, go into the stall, and I do my business. And it's one of those automatic flush toilets that I hate. Because I like to adjust, ya know, and every time I move an inch it flushes! So it's like I'm giving birth in there [laughs]. "So that's happening and then walk out into the small locker room – there's a few lockers here and three stalls – and who do I see to my right? There's Shane McMahon," Mansoor revealed.
Mansoor recalled seeing Shane McMahon with his bags as they shared some routine pleasantries. An incredibly nervous Mansoor introduced himself to Shane McMahon, and he couldn't even have a proper handshake.
"I see him there, and he's got his bags out. I'm like 'hey… hey, how's it going?' and he looks at me with the most confused face and says, 'hey, man.' Then I'm looking at my hands like, oh, I can't shake his hand! Obviously. So I go over and ,wash my hands, and I look over at the towels, and they're out. So my hands are wet and I'm like 'Sorry' and he's like 'no, no, no, it's OK.' So then I go to walk out the door, and he says, 'Hey, wait a minute.' So I stop and freeze in a cold sweat [laughs]. He looks over and says '…Who are you?' And I go 'I'm Mansoor.' And he goes, 'OK, nice to meet you, man. I'm Shane.' OK, nice to meet you!" Mansoor added.
Mansoor walked out of the room and was unsurprisingly left embarrassed by the brief interaction. Mansoor then turned his back and saw a piece of paper on the door that read 'Shane McMahon's locker room.'
Mansoor added that Shane McMahon was 'really cool' about the incident, and they even spoke after the Saudi superstar won the 51-man Battle Royal at WWE Super ShowDown.
"And I walked out like god; that was so weird. I totally bungled that interaction. I didn't shake his hand, and I wasn't respectful, and it was all weird. And then I realized, I went back and looked on the side of the door, and there's a piece of paper that says Shane McMahon's locker room. I'm like, 'Oh nooooo.' I just took a dump in Shane McMahon's locker room! But, no, he's super cool! After I won the battle royal and I cut my promo, he was in gorilla, he came over to me, shook my hand, and said 'Hey man, you did a great job, that was awesome.' So I was like, thank god! We're good [laughs]." concluded Mansoor.
Mansoor was sent to WWE RAW last month, and he has since had a few singles matches on the red brand and at WWE's Main Event tapings.
#3. Mickie James reveals she was offended by WWE RAW angle from 2017
Mickie James is inarguably one of the most respected female wrestlers of all time. However, the future Hall of Famer was recently released from WWE in April earlier this year.
While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Mickie James revealed her honest reactions to a RAW storyline from 2017. The former WWE Women's Champion was brought back to the WWE in 2016, and she was instantly targeted for her age on WWE TV.
The company booked James in an angle where she was teased for being old, and she even received gifts as part of a segment. One of the gifts included a walker, which didn't go down well with Micke James.
The former WWE star admitted that she was deeply offended by the entire angle as there was nothing funny about the creative direction. James felt disrespected by the company, and she even raised her concern about the tasteless nature of the story.
"I could never wrap my head around and find it funny that I'm given a walker [on RAW in 2017]. It's bullsh*t, and it's not funny. I was offended, and I said that I was offended. But I am a professional, and as a pro, you go, 'Fine, and let's see what happens.' 9 times out of 10, I was right, but it's already happened. I had to do it just to prove a point. I feel like you should trust me enough, at this point, to know I am not an idiot. I am looking at it through the lens of our audience and where they're at now," said James. H/t WrestlingInc
Following her WWE release, Mickie James has started working with NWA, where she is busy preparing for a historic first-ever all-female event.
#2. Recently released WWE Superstar was reportedly not a 'Vince McMahon type of guy'
As noted earlier, WWE has started a movement to hire younger and physically larger wrestlers amid all the releases. While WWE is seemingly going back to an old formula, the company is also letting go of some enormous wrestlers.
Killian Dain's name was not expected to end up on the list of releases as he fits the role of a giant, nasty on-screen monster. However, Dave Meltzer revealed in the Wrestling Observer Radio that despite Dain being over 300 pounds, the former Sanity member was not a 'Vince type of guy.'
WWE has a healthy number of heavyweights on its payroll, and WWE officials had no plans on giving Dain a push.
"Yeah, but that's not Vince's type of guy, and he had been through it, and I think that just, obviously, they didn't just think, you know they have got 300-pound guys, and I think they just didn't feel he was one that they were going to push," Meltzer noted.
WWE's loss could be another company's gain as Dave Meltzer urged Ring of Honor and IMPACT Wrestling to sign the agile 36-year-old star.
AEW could also be a possible destination for the Irish wrestler, but Meltzer felt that Tony Khan should not jump to a fast decision.
"He is agile. He is a guy that, like, if I was IMPACT or Ring of Honor, I would take him for sure. AEW, I would definitely give him a try, I don't know if I would jump on him, but I would give him a try," Meltzer added.
Killian Dain will accept bookings once he becomes a free agent in September, and fans better keep an eye out for Big Damo's redemption story.
#1. Tony Nese reveals WWE didn't allow him to have the WrestleMania match he wanted
Tony Nese was one of the 205 Live stars released by WWE, and the former Cruiserweight champion was quite active on social media after receiving the sad news.
The former Cruiserweight Champion expressed his gratitude towards the fans and reminisced on some of his WWE highlights. The most significant moment in Tony Nese's WWE career came at WrestleMania 35 when he captured the Cruiserweight title from Buddy Murphy.
Nese and Murphy had a rematch on the 205 Live episode after 'Mania, and the follow-up contest ended up being much better.
Tony Nese and Buddy Murphy wanted to have a more physical and hard-hitting match at WrestleMania, which they weren't allowed to do by the WWE officials.
Nese added that 'no one in-house' watched 205 Live as they went on to wrestle their originally planned match on the episode after WrestleMania.
"I love that my Mania moment left an impression on some of you. I suggest watching the rematch vs [Buddy Murphy] from 205 Live after. That was the match we really wanted to give you but weren't allowed. Good thing is, no one in-house even watches 205 so we just did it then."
Today's WWE Rumor Roundup has heavily featured stories about the unfortunate releases, all of us here at Sportskeeda Wrestling would like to send our best wishes to the released talent and personnel.
