Major Backstage Update On Petey Williams' TNA Firing Inside

Quote :

Source: PWTorch.com

Technically, the wrestlers who recently left TNA were not released. TNA doesn't believe in releasing wrestlers when they still have dates remaining on their contracts. Rather, their deals were just not renewed.

The Petey Williams decision took just about everyone by surprise because he'd been with the company so long. He was also considered a good hand who didn't rock the boat and accepted whatever they gave him creatively. However, creative apparently determined that they didn't have anything for him and the decision was made to move on.

"Why they wouldn't bend over backwards to sign a guy who doesn't do drugs or drink, looks like he does while being able to pass a drug test, and works hard and never bitches I'll never know, but I guess it's just the way things were meant to be," remarked inside source.

The company never made a formal offer to Williams, so this was not a case of him demanding too much money or even the company low-balling him. His deal wasn't set to expire until March, but he finished with the company at the last set of television tapings. He reportedly shaved his head and goatee a short time after he worked his last match to abandon the Scott Steiner look.

More than one person has stated that Williams was vulnerable because he wasn't tight with Jeff Jarrett. Although they weren't enemies, Williams wasn't the type to hang out at Jarrett's table at the hotel bar and suck up to him like some of the hanger-ons.

Still a real shame that this happened, there's other guys even in the X-Division I would rather get rid of than him. I did really enjoy his exit from TNA, he looked really good in the ring, which in turn helped make Beer Money look great, followed by the emotional exit, but why couldn't it have been Eric Young getting the boot?

even if they had nothing for him at present, why not let him play Suicide, if they are still going to run with that, and reintroduce Christopher Daniels

To logical?

Yes far too logical, you're talking about wrestling company here, I don't think any of them really know how to do the logical thing. And as for having nothing for him, surely that's a load of bullshit as there was plenty of options available to them, and I really feel he could have played a fairly big part in the MEM/Frontline story, basically being a second-tier guy behind Joe and AJ. They should have had him go over Steiner, and if nash had been fit him too. Even a PPV match against Angle where he is made to look competitive even in losing, which could have been fantastic. TNA really missed the boat with this one.

Agree completely, anytime I see 'never had nothing for him' I instantly think two things, one its bullshit or two its just plain lazy

Like you said, he should have been in the Frontline, particularly since his role with Steiner got him involved, it was perfect for him, like the story said, he doesn't drink or do drugs and for someone who looks as good as he does, he never has a problem passing a drugs test, grafter and doesn't rat people out to others, he sounds like the ideal guy, maybe not THE guy, but definitely one to keep close at hand

As for a possible match with Angle, they done one in late 07 with Kaz and it was brilliant, really got him over as a possible main event guy for 08 but they just never went near it

TNA seems to be sinking. Releasing decent X-division talent in order to keep stale people at the top of the card sound an awful lot like WCW before the fall. If petey and Dutt go and are successful in WWE, then it will really reflect poorly on TNA.

As Guns will say though, the ratings don't reflect the majority opinion though, who knows why the ratings are so high these days, more exposure probably, possibly a bit like Car Crash TV as well, seeing what else they can do wrong.

The Frustrating thing with TNA is they have the potential to be a really well run company in terms of on screen product

Dammit took the words right out of my mouth gaffer!

I actually read a statement from Dixie Carter the other day, saying that TNA will be trying to put more of a focus on the X-Division, which had seemed like it might be the case until these firings. The word I've been hearing is that they're basically being released to allow fresh talent like Paul London the chance, possibly Colt Cabana. I'm also hopeful that this will allow them to give Doug Williams his big chance, as he's been under contract for about 6 months now and done nothing. Still, Petey being given the boot is a bit ridiculous as I feel over the last year or 2, Petey had really upped his game and was only getting better. Dutt on the other hand was no real loss.

I thought dutt was doin really well as a heel, least agianst leathal.

released and not resigned are basicly the same thing, what a pointless claim lol

tna dont believe in releasing their wrestlers (like its trying to sound good)

and if you aint going to be used, why not get released saves rotting by not being able to go somewhere else. its just they dont have that many on contracts compared to wwe so dont need to release people but they failed to resign a talent/offer him a deal