More on Toni Storm's release -- UPDATED
Added 2021-12-29 20:54:48 +0000 UTCFor those who missed it, Toni Storm was released this afternoon by WWE, which was confirmed to Fightful by the company.
Those that Fightful spoke to within WWE say that Toni Storm asked for her release from the company. This was later confirmed to me, and we reached out to people close to Toni said that things were fine when we asked about extenuating circumstances, and how she was doing.
Storm worked a triple threat match at last night's WWE live event, and PWInsider noted that talent indicated she flew herself home. This is also what we've heard from other talent.
The memo that went out did not list budget cuts as the reason, as has been tradition of late.
We've been told that many within WWE were "blindsided" by the news of Storm asking for her release. One source within the company we spoke to said that it would have been difficult for WWE to justify not granting someone their release after several rounds of "budget cuts."
Comments
What an idiot
ARose Lab
2021-12-30 16:36:10 +0000 UTCEzequiel Jackson what are you talking about? The CDC guidelines were for less days quarantining not drop testing entirely. If she doesn't want covid she isn't going to be cool with no longer testing at a job where you're literally in people's faces breathing heavy, regardless of a CDC guideline.
brandon hennessey
2021-12-30 05:13:32 +0000 UTCI'm pretty sure the lack of covid testing. Is really in relation to the CDC changing their guidelines
Ezequiel Jackson
2021-12-30 05:05:17 +0000 UTCI've got to believe this is connected to the lack of covid testing
brandon hennessey
2021-12-30 02:23:01 +0000 UTCWell at least she gets to leave on her terms rather than getting blindsided
e d
2021-12-30 00:17:26 +0000 UTCJust hope everything is OK with her personally. She's super talented and will not be short of bookings when the times right.
Dave McDade
2021-12-29 23:32:57 +0000 UTCWhen storm I think a month or two ago started getting fustrated about the lack of tv time, And the fact of how WWE was booking her. I can see why she wanted to leave the company
Kamonte Jackson
2021-12-29 23:28:53 +0000 UTCYour summarization glosses over her booking which was less than good to say the least. That's what it would come down to I'd imagine, she wasn't being booked well at all. Yeah she was in a program with Charlotte but she was made to look like a fool more often than not. Not to mention the crap she had beforehand too. I don't really think there's a whole lot more to it than "Person wasn't satisfied with their booking, asked to be release to explore other options."
UntoldUnknown
2021-12-29 23:06:36 +0000 UTCI'm not saying the two things are connected, but when wwe announced they were no longer testing for covid, I thought there could be at least one employee that turned round and said "fuck your paycheck, asshole". There could be many reasons, but the timing is interesting.
Ben Williams
2021-12-29 22:51:51 +0000 UTCShe was in a women's title program with Charlotte, but it was a program where she was made to look like a complete loser for like 95% of it. I wouldn't be surprised if we find out her booking was exactly why she asked to be let go.
Marq
2021-12-29 22:45:09 +0000 UTCThere’s more to this. Everyone knows it. It’s just a question of “what?” A young girl, who’s *dream* was to work for WWE and was (from my understanding) being pushed into a prominent position in the WM build up season. Has the look, personality, moveset, athleticism that VKM looks for and was on TV with one of their biggest stars this week. She asks for a release and it’s granted, no questions asked, immediately? Sorry for the cynicism but there’s not a rabbit off here. There’s several.
David Pick
2021-12-29 22:42:23 +0000 UTCI’m honestly curious what prompted the request suddenly and what made WWE seemingly not attempt to talk her out of the request based on how I’m reading this.
Kyle Cotton
2021-12-29 22:39:00 +0000 UTCI’m not too surprised by this: weeks upon weeks of not being on TV, losing in the first round of the Queen’s Crown when about to be built up to be #1 contender to Charlotte, not being the last member of the Smackdown Survivor Series team when already said #1 contender, building up a feud with Charlotte by being pied in the face, being nicknamed cuz of said pie in the face…with creative like that, why wouldn’t she want out of the company?
Edward Liu
2021-12-29 22:37:26 +0000 UTCCurious. WWE very well may be willing to just let anybody go now. They have been hesitant to grant releases in the past..unless of course they (the company) initiated it.
Travis Selvidge
2021-12-29 22:17:24 +0000 UTCShe was in a program with Charlotte. My speculation but I have a feeling it's not wrestling related.
Raul Ortega
2021-12-29 22:15:23 +0000 UTCThis might be a start for some of the WWE on air talent. If they are not being used or used well. If they ask they may be let out if there contracts? Man how times have REALLY changed from hoarding.
NateF_81
2021-12-29 21:54:12 +0000 UTCHope everything is OK with her, she's super talented
Ant
2021-12-29 21:28:50 +0000 UTCThat's why we sub to Fightful Select!
Dirty Jose
2021-12-29 21:21:15 +0000 UTCAw hoping for the best! I listened to her on Lilian Garcia’s podcast a few years back and she struggles with mental health problems. Praying it isn’t related to that
ARose Lab
2021-12-29 21:08:20 +0000 UTCThis is a head scratcher for me. Not for her wanting to leave, but for how she was handled. We aren’t talking about someone without talent or looks. She’s got both. And yeah I know they book VERY FEW people correctly so she shouldn’t expect different, but it seems they went out of their way to make her look like a chump.
Wallace Koalis
2021-12-29 21:04:51 +0000 UTCBest to her. She has so much potential.
Andrew Welander
2021-12-29 21:03:21 +0000 UTC😂😂😂
Randy Moss
2021-12-29 20:58:13 +0000 UTCThanks for your hard work on this Sean. Never a dull moment on WWE's wild ride!
Rj Kelly
2021-12-29 20:58:00 +0000 UTCYeah a garden hose told me
Fightful Select
2021-12-29 20:57:36 +0000 UTCWho would’ve thought that she would hate looking like the lamest of baby faces. I respect Toni Storm for realizing a huge paycheck wasn’t worth that BS 👍🏻
Jordan Lassiter
2021-12-29 20:57:14 +0000 UTCHoly cow! Did not hear about this until just now.
2021-12-29 20:56:33 +0000 UTCHose??
Randy Moss
2021-12-29 20:56:28 +0000 UTC
