WWE: 5 People to Blame If Your Favorites Are Released

In the next few weeks, WWE will announce the names of those who will be released by the company. A total of 54 performers were sent packing in 2010. With a shaky economy, we can anticipate a similar act in 2011.

Every wrestling fan seems to have that one under-the-radar performer that they are high on. Be it Zack Ryder, Primo, Yoshi Tatsu or any other superstar that isn't prominently featured, they are all up for potential release. While all may not be gone, it is expected that many of them are in their final weeks of employment.

So why is this happening? Who is responsible for some of our favorite superstars getting fired? Here are five of the top names that you can write your complaint letters to.

Hornswoggle

I've had just about enough of this guy. Of all of the superstars that I look at as being useless to the company, this is the only guy I know will survive the cuts. His gimmick has become very stale to me, especially given the fact that he was brought in to accompany Finlay and stayed around after Finlay retired.

In his time in WWE, he was accused as Mr. McMahon's bastard son, he was the final cruiserweight champion, he became a part of D-Generation X and he had various moments where he came off as much stronger than other superstars. Now, you can see Hornswoggle lead Titus O'Neill to the top of NXT every Tuesday night. With his stint on NXT and the success of O'Neill on the show, Hornswoggle will stay around longer.

It is sideshow acts like Hornswoggle that make me hate the young kids that watch wrestling. It is because of them that Hornswoggle is still here and quality talent that could have turned out to be great was cut loose.

Jerry "The King" Lawler

My patience with Jerry "The King" Lawler is running thin. Not only are his commentary skills not as good as they used to be, but his constant wrestling matches are becoming a thorn in my side. While I know that Lawler still has it in the ring, he is taking a spot away from a young guy. I understand that he never had his WrestleMania match until this year, but Lawler is still having matches almost weekly.

It is irresponsible for Lawler to hang onto the twilight of his in-ring career at the expense of a young guy. There's a case to be made against Mark Henry, HHH and The Undertaker, among the other superstars on the older side, for taking up spots that should be meant for younger superstars. There is no excuse, however, for Lawler to be seen in constant matches when a younger guy is released for not having a purpose in the company.

Tribune Broadcasting

You may not know why to blame Tribune Broadcasting for released wrestlers. Tribune Broadcasting owns many news and media outlets, including Chicago-based WGN, known nationwide as WGN America. The station was broadcasting WWE Superstars up until this week, when the show was cancelled on television. With the show surviving only on WWE.com, the show that featured low and mid-card talent is now expected to be watched by fewer people than ever.

The show was the only place to often see many superstars who are in danger of a pink slip. Without the exposure of the show on television, it gives WWE more of a reason to make the cut that much more swift and work leaner than previously imagined.

NXT Redemption and Season Six Rookies

Much like most of the NXT rookies before them, the rookies of NXT Redemption may be given spots on the main rosters once they are eliminated. More specifically, the winner of the season will be on the sixth season of the show, which is believed to feature father-and-son teams.

Which would you believe should be kept by the company: a prospect with a WWE bloodline or a superstar that has been on the main roster for a while without proving himself? Can you blame WWE for that choice?

Vince McMahon

Ultimately, any specific superstar being released is up to Vince McMahon. He likes money and he knows what sells. This is why Hornswoggle is still around for the kids and why The Great Khali is around to get a huge following in India. WWE is becoming more important worldwide and those who don't fit the financial strategy do not stick around very long. It doesn't really matter what many of us think as far as who should stay and who should go because McMahon and the rest of the team in WWE tells us who to like and who to not like. Our opinions do have some weight in decisions, but they reserve the right to jam certain ideas down our throats.

After all, what else are we going to do? Stop watching?