Today was the beginning of the end for 3 WWE talents. This will begin a time period where the company will evaluate their talent and inevitably release the people they feel are unnecessary for success moving forward. As these releases happen, I will do my best to keep everyone informed, but unlike the rest of the sites, I will take it a step further. Exclusively on MouthoftheSouthShore.com, I will offer up my opinions on the reasoning behind the release and predictions for the future of the talents. With that said, let's examine the first batch of cuts:
Paul Birchill - This is the least surprising of the releases as he's done absolutely nothing in about 2 years. While he is a quality worker, he never oozed personality and never did find a niche within WWE programming. I do expect him to still find work in wrestling as he's a big guy who can work well. After 90 days, I could certainly see Birchill latching on in TNA, perhaps as the new enforcer of the British Invasion. He has the look and build of an enforcer and it would be perfect for him to carve out a niche in that role.
Greg "Hurricane" Helms - Six months ago, this would have come as a complete shock to me. It's amazing how embarassing yourself and the company you work for with negative publicity can change perception. With impending cuts, Helms made his release an easy decision by making a bad personal decision. However, given his ability to work in the ring and on the mic, he'll find work. His problem has always been his size, but he should fit in perfectly in the X-Division in TNA. Couple that with the rumor that Helms' buddy, Shannon Moore, has already signed with TNA and perhaps we'll get a 3 Count reunion minus Evan Karagias (heck, even Jimmy Hart could be part of it again). Helms will be fine, and one day, he could be back with the WWE.
Maria Kanellis - This one was the most shocking to me, mostly because she just started a new storyline with Matt Hardy. Birchill was already written off TV and Helms didn't have anything going on either, but Maria just started a TV romance and is now gone. However, given her contractual obligations to NBC and "The Celebrity Apprentice", she wasn't allowed to be on tv soon anyway. Couple that show with other projects she's involved in and it's clear that Maria won't miss her job with the WWE. With that said, if she wants to come back after her elimination from the celebrity apprentice, she will be welcomed back with open arms. I'm not so sure she'll want to come back though as she isn't a wrestler by nature and doesn't live and die with it. I feel bad for Matt Hardy though. For once, he actually had a story, and now, back to the drawing board. As for anyone who suggests that Maria will end up in TNA.......don't count on it. Either she returns to the WWE or gets out of wrestling for good. She isn't that into working matches that she'd go to another company.
Unfortunately for some other workers, this is only the beginning of the season of cuts. As they happen, I will keep everyone up to date. Until then, I wish the three endeavored superstars the best of luck and to remember at least one of them fondly, I leave you with a video from the peak of Greg Helms' WWE career.
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