Post by jasonwestwwe on Jul 12, 2005 3:04:52 GMT -5
Matt Morgan:
It was less than two months ago that Matt Morgan was at Judgment Day, helping Carlito defeat Big Show. Morgan was one of the more athletic and imposing Superstars on the SmackDown! roster. And at 6-foot-10 and just 28-years-old, Morgan figured to have a bright future with WWE.
And while he hopes he still might, that future became slightly more clouded when Morgan was one of many Superstars let go by the company earlier this week.
In fact, after Morgan saw the first list of cuts on Tuesday, he took a deep breath, only to get the bad news one day later.
“I saw the first list of guys let go and my heart just went out to them,” Morgan said in an exclusive WWE.com interview. “Still, you’re happy it’s not you. Then the second day you get the call.”
Morgan had become a regular on SmackDown!, even appearing on the July 7 show. Considering how much he was on TV of late, Morgan was stunned by his release.
“I was kind of shocked,” Morgan said. “I thought I was doing everything they asked of me. I’m still so new to the sport and I have such an upside. I’m still going to get to where I have to go, I’m just going to have to take a different avenue.”
Currently, Morgan, who was part of Tough Enough 2, said he’s looking over a pair of offers he’s received for small movie roles. But, above everything else, he’s committed to returning to wrestling.
“Wrestling is still my top priority,” Morgan said. “I will look at my options, whether that means wrestling in Japan, Germany, anywhere overseas. Sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward. I want to get the opportunity to come back and show everyone the real Matt Morgan. The guy who’s the most athletic and promising big man in the sport.”
Still, Morgan had a blast over the last couple months, and he’s still confident a return will be in the works one day.
“It was awesome, I had the time of my life,” Morgan said. “I want to thank all of the McMahons, Jim Ross, John Laurinaitis and Fit Finlay for giving me the opportunity. I will see them again. I learned about having fun and not being wound so tight. It didn’t work out this time, but I’m willing to accept it and grow from it. I’m just 28, I’m only going to get better.”
Charlie Hass and Miss Jackie:
It has been a whirlwind summer for Jackie Gayda and Charlie Haas. In fact, June couldn’t have been better for the former SmackDown! Superstars. The new couple was married on June 10 and then enjoyed a beautiful honeymoon in the Antigua, West Indies.
A clearly emotional Gayda, however, was forced to fight back tears as she spoke to WWE.com today about their releases from WWE. “For myself, I kind of put two and two together seeing all the new girls come in,” said a soft-spoken Gayda. “You see all these new gorgeous models come in and you wonder what direction they’re going in. It seems like they were getting away from the women wrestling.”
“It’s a shock,” Haas, a three-time WWE Tag Team Champion, said when reached via phone. “Vince (McMahon) said two weeks ago that some of us would be let go. So we knew it was coming, we just didn’t know who. You wake up one morning and you’re fired. And it’s not just you, but your wife as well. WWE was how we both made a living. I’m just glad they waited until after the wedding.”
Gayda and Haas were among several Superstars let go by WWE, including Billy Kidman, Spike Dudley, Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Shannon Moore, Kenzo Suzuki, Maven, Dawn Marie, Joy Giovanni and Matt Morgan.
“That’s the way the industry is,” Haas said. “Who knows, maybe in six months we’ll get another look. You never know in this business.”
Haas expects to do some tours in Japan or possibly Italy in the near future. Haas has a college degree and a background in finance, once working on Wall Street, but says he has no plans to trade in his trunks for a suit and tie anytime soon.
“I’m one of the few guys who have that experience and degree to fall back on,” said Haas, who wrestled at Seton Hall. “But I didn’t come this far to give up now. I had a great, crazy run. I met my wife, I met great friends like Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. I couldn’t ask for more.
“This was the first time I’ve been fired from any job and I’ve been working since I was 13,” Haas added. “But when one door closes another one usually opens. The fans should keep looking for my name.”
Gayda, who is just 23, plans on joining Charlie on some overseas tours, but is leaning toward finishing her degree in broadcast journalism and possibly seeking work in that field in the future.
“I was more shocked for Charlie, he put his heart and soul into the business,” Gayda said. “This was such a passion for him.”
Gayda was the Tough Enough 2 Champion in 2002, overcoming a painful leg injury to emerge as the winner.
“In some instances I think I got a fair shot, in other ways, I didn’t,” Gayda said. “I understand WWE is entertainment, but it’s also wrestling, I think women being active and physical can be just as sexy as girls in a bikini. I decided not to do Playboy when I had a chance, maybe that even came back to bite me in the butt.”
Still, Jackie was able to find a true silver lining when reflecting on her WWE experience: Her new husband. In March 2004, Jackie was part of a trade which sent her from RAW to SmackDown! At the time, she was emotionally, professionally and personally drained.
“After the trade, I was in shambles,” Gayda said. “I had all these friends from RAW and now I was going to a new show. I had just broken up with a longtime boyfriend. It was like I woke up a different person. But then I was able to meet Charlie and I was able to get to know him and travel the world together, I wouldn’t give any of that back. God does things for certain reasons.”
D-Von Dudley:
D-Von Dudley refused to comment on WWE’s decision to part ways with himself and Bubba Ray Dudley. When asked if he would change his mind and talk at a future date, D-Von said, “I don’t think I’ll change my mind, ever.” Bubba Ray Dudley has yet to respond to an interview request WWE.com left on his voice mail on Monday. WWE.com hopes to have Bubba Ray’s comments, if he’s willing to talk, posted soon.
Billy Kidman:
Former Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman declined to comment on being released from WWE, but did leave the door open for an interview at a later date.
Pretty Harsh from D-Von dont you reckon?
It was less than two months ago that Matt Morgan was at Judgment Day, helping Carlito defeat Big Show. Morgan was one of the more athletic and imposing Superstars on the SmackDown! roster. And at 6-foot-10 and just 28-years-old, Morgan figured to have a bright future with WWE.
And while he hopes he still might, that future became slightly more clouded when Morgan was one of many Superstars let go by the company earlier this week.
In fact, after Morgan saw the first list of cuts on Tuesday, he took a deep breath, only to get the bad news one day later.
“I saw the first list of guys let go and my heart just went out to them,” Morgan said in an exclusive WWE.com interview. “Still, you’re happy it’s not you. Then the second day you get the call.”
Morgan had become a regular on SmackDown!, even appearing on the July 7 show. Considering how much he was on TV of late, Morgan was stunned by his release.
“I was kind of shocked,” Morgan said. “I thought I was doing everything they asked of me. I’m still so new to the sport and I have such an upside. I’m still going to get to where I have to go, I’m just going to have to take a different avenue.”
Currently, Morgan, who was part of Tough Enough 2, said he’s looking over a pair of offers he’s received for small movie roles. But, above everything else, he’s committed to returning to wrestling.
“Wrestling is still my top priority,” Morgan said. “I will look at my options, whether that means wrestling in Japan, Germany, anywhere overseas. Sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward. I want to get the opportunity to come back and show everyone the real Matt Morgan. The guy who’s the most athletic and promising big man in the sport.”
Still, Morgan had a blast over the last couple months, and he’s still confident a return will be in the works one day.
“It was awesome, I had the time of my life,” Morgan said. “I want to thank all of the McMahons, Jim Ross, John Laurinaitis and Fit Finlay for giving me the opportunity. I will see them again. I learned about having fun and not being wound so tight. It didn’t work out this time, but I’m willing to accept it and grow from it. I’m just 28, I’m only going to get better.”
Charlie Hass and Miss Jackie:
It has been a whirlwind summer for Jackie Gayda and Charlie Haas. In fact, June couldn’t have been better for the former SmackDown! Superstars. The new couple was married on June 10 and then enjoyed a beautiful honeymoon in the Antigua, West Indies.
A clearly emotional Gayda, however, was forced to fight back tears as she spoke to WWE.com today about their releases from WWE. “For myself, I kind of put two and two together seeing all the new girls come in,” said a soft-spoken Gayda. “You see all these new gorgeous models come in and you wonder what direction they’re going in. It seems like they were getting away from the women wrestling.”
“It’s a shock,” Haas, a three-time WWE Tag Team Champion, said when reached via phone. “Vince (McMahon) said two weeks ago that some of us would be let go. So we knew it was coming, we just didn’t know who. You wake up one morning and you’re fired. And it’s not just you, but your wife as well. WWE was how we both made a living. I’m just glad they waited until after the wedding.”
Gayda and Haas were among several Superstars let go by WWE, including Billy Kidman, Spike Dudley, Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Shannon Moore, Kenzo Suzuki, Maven, Dawn Marie, Joy Giovanni and Matt Morgan.
“That’s the way the industry is,” Haas said. “Who knows, maybe in six months we’ll get another look. You never know in this business.”
Haas expects to do some tours in Japan or possibly Italy in the near future. Haas has a college degree and a background in finance, once working on Wall Street, but says he has no plans to trade in his trunks for a suit and tie anytime soon.
“I’m one of the few guys who have that experience and degree to fall back on,” said Haas, who wrestled at Seton Hall. “But I didn’t come this far to give up now. I had a great, crazy run. I met my wife, I met great friends like Shelton Benjamin, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. I couldn’t ask for more.
“This was the first time I’ve been fired from any job and I’ve been working since I was 13,” Haas added. “But when one door closes another one usually opens. The fans should keep looking for my name.”
Gayda, who is just 23, plans on joining Charlie on some overseas tours, but is leaning toward finishing her degree in broadcast journalism and possibly seeking work in that field in the future.
“I was more shocked for Charlie, he put his heart and soul into the business,” Gayda said. “This was such a passion for him.”
Gayda was the Tough Enough 2 Champion in 2002, overcoming a painful leg injury to emerge as the winner.
“In some instances I think I got a fair shot, in other ways, I didn’t,” Gayda said. “I understand WWE is entertainment, but it’s also wrestling, I think women being active and physical can be just as sexy as girls in a bikini. I decided not to do Playboy when I had a chance, maybe that even came back to bite me in the butt.”
Still, Jackie was able to find a true silver lining when reflecting on her WWE experience: Her new husband. In March 2004, Jackie was part of a trade which sent her from RAW to SmackDown! At the time, she was emotionally, professionally and personally drained.
“After the trade, I was in shambles,” Gayda said. “I had all these friends from RAW and now I was going to a new show. I had just broken up with a longtime boyfriend. It was like I woke up a different person. But then I was able to meet Charlie and I was able to get to know him and travel the world together, I wouldn’t give any of that back. God does things for certain reasons.”
D-Von Dudley:
D-Von Dudley refused to comment on WWE’s decision to part ways with himself and Bubba Ray Dudley. When asked if he would change his mind and talk at a future date, D-Von said, “I don’t think I’ll change my mind, ever.” Bubba Ray Dudley has yet to respond to an interview request WWE.com left on his voice mail on Monday. WWE.com hopes to have Bubba Ray’s comments, if he’s willing to talk, posted soon.
Billy Kidman:
Former Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman declined to comment on being released from WWE, but did leave the door open for an interview at a later date.
Pretty Harsh from D-Von dont you reckon?
![[D619S-Arrow] Avatar](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v713/arrowbucket/obi2.gif)
off, and you would just think they had given you heaps?