Umaga Released from the WWE

As of June 8th, Smackdown! Superstar Umaga has been released from the WWE. Coming off of WWE Extreme Rules in a Samoan Strap Match with CM Punk and having spoke for the first time in his Umaga gimmick, this was quite a shocking and out-of-nowhere release.

Personally, I think this was a bad decision, depending on exactly why he was released in the first place (since no reason has been released as of this posting). If he was released due to some incident involving him or a Wellness Policy strike, then I can understand why the WWE would want to let him go, at least for now. If his release has nothing to do with those two reasons, though, then bad move on WWE's part.

Umaga is a great big man to have on the roster because he has the brute strength and that menacing look that makes him a guy that you just do not want to mess with, but at the same he was able to move quicker than some bigger men out there. Sure, he may not be a Samoe Joe or anything, but the Umaga gimmick is about bulldozing through his opponents, as his moniker suggests (and my feelings about Samoa Joe are for another day). He had quite a good list of matches going that I would personally rate with two thumbs up (Last Man Standing versus John Cena, Royal Rumble 2007; Battle for Brand Supremacy versus Batista, WrestleMania 24; Falls Count Anywhere versus Jeff Hardy, One Night Stand 2008), he was involved in one of the highlight matches at WrestleMania 23 by being The McMahon's handpicked opponent for Bobby Lashley in the Battle of the Billionaires, and I personally believe he has the potential to be a great World Champion for the WWE, if only for a couple of months or to act as a thorn in the side of a top brand face.

It's just a shame that the man hasn't really been relevant as of late, due to being drafted to Smackdown! in the 2008 draft and sustaining an injury in the latter part of last year. I think the WWE could have turned things around for the guy by turning him face at some point down the line, especially since the SD! brand seems to be getting close to running low on regular top faces. Just take the character and have him start going after the heels and I think he could get a rather nice reaction from the crowd.

Not to say that his release means he won't ever return. This could just be a way for the WWE to see how the man reacts at being released (if his release has nothing to do with any incidents or Wellness strikes). If he continues wrestling and shows great heart in it, I can see him being brought back at some point down the line. I hope to see the Samoan Bulldozer return to a WWE ring soon, as I've always been a big fan of his since he debuted the Umaga gimmick with Armando Estrada at his side. The character isn't for everyone, though. Some may dislike his finisher, the Samoan Spike, and some may put it down as something that isn't a realistic finisher, but I disagree with that. I love him using The Spike as a finisher. If a simple back bump can be labeled as a Rock Bottom and a simple front bump can be labeled as a Pedigree, I think a thumb jammed into someones throat would be enough to keep them down for three seconds. Although, I wouldn't have minded seeing him have a combo as a finisher: Samoan Spike followed by a top/middle rope splash? Yes, please. Some may just not be interested in the gimmick or his wrestling style, which is their right. I, however, will always be a fan of his.

So as for the release, I am just assuming that his release has nothing to do with him being involved in an incident or a Wellness strike. I don't want to jump to those conclusions. For now, I will just say that I am dissapointed to see him released, but hope that he keeps going strong in the business and will await his return to the WWE, hopefully to go on to become a World Champion at least once.

Oh, and to see the WWE make a bigger deal about the guy talking on the mic for the first time. I disliked that JR and Todd Grisham put zero reaction into Umaga, the man who has really been silent outside of yelling and screaming and grunting up to that point, walking over and grabbing a microphone. But that's just a small nitpick.