By releasing Braun who was in the main event of a PPV two weeks ago, Billie Kay and Samoa Joe two days after they were on WM, Black who had been featured in vignettes for a new gimmick for weeks, who also just returned on that same PPV in a title match and was just made new theme music for, and Ruby who was just on SD with Liv like last week - they get released vs. Keith Lee, Mia Yim, Slapjack, Bray and etc. who we haven't seen in MONTHS.
You really think Vince gave Braun a million a year just to be like "you ain't worth no damn M's, get tf outta here! Go to AEW then, you think I give a fuck!?"
Wasn't doing much of anything? That's hysterical considering they just had Black cost Big E the IC title and now they gotta act like that shit didn't even happen. Two weeks ago!
WWE was a talent hoarder.
Do you really think Vince signed Braun because he thought he was worth 1 million a year? It was more like he was signed to such a high value contract because he didn't want Braun (and others) to go to AEW or any other competitor at the time.
Last two years Vince was giving talent ridiculous contracts, signing everyone they could to stop them from going to AEW.
Notice how now that AEW has basically showed their cards, being on air for two years, WWE has been open to letting people go and trimming their roster.
Braun can demand 1 million a year because of what his previous deal was, but he isn't going to get that. WWE overpaid him (and others) so they wouldn't go to the competion.
Once they saw their competition wasn't really competition, they freed up talent and started letting people go.
Where was Black before his run in a few weeks ago? Plans change in business all the time, especially in Wrestling.
Black hasn't been on TV since last winter/fall, shows up a few weeks ago for a run in....now fired.
Again, Black was doing next to nothing.
Braun is surprising because he was recently in marquee/title matches at Wrestlemania and Wrestlemania Backlash, but Black was basically forgotten.
Also, easier to repackage Slapjack and others not regularly seen as top stars. Especially when they aren't signed to higher deals dated back to when WWE was doing all their talent hoarding.
Bray Wyatt is ruined though, wouldn't surprise me if he's let go as well.