Mike Kanellis recently appeared on the Smarks and Stripes podcast. During this podcast, Kanellis spoke about his release request from WWE. For those who missed it, Kanellis announced on Twitter a few months ago that he had asked WWE to release him. This request has not been granted.
Here is what Kanellis had to say about why WWE hasn’t given him his release (h/t to 411 Mania for the quotes below):
“As far as not giving me my release, I think it’s like anywhere. Like, the Patriots aren’t going to trade or release a player that they think the Jets are going to pick up. And I think we have to think of it like that. It’s not a negative, it’s just how it works. It works in sports, it works in wrestling.”
Kanellis on Triple H recently saying that it is unprofessional for Superstars to ask for their releases on social media:
“You know, honestly [I don’t think about it] a whole lot. Because I get it. You know, I have a brand. He has a brand. Again, I have no negativity or animosity. And that’s kind of where my life has pushed me, I get it. And I also think we live in a different time. I think we live in a social media time that we all have to adapt to, that wasn’t necessarily there in the past. And I think companies in general, and CEOs and anyone are learning that there is a power in social media that wasn’t there before. And so, I get it. I’m not mad. I have a great relationship with Triple H. I talk to him. I’ve brought up my issues. I get it. So I understand why people might be upset, but me personally, I got too much going on. It doesn’t bother me.”
Kanellis on what his plan is from here:
“So people keep asking me this, and I get it. But personally, again, I go back to personal accountability. If WWE were to call me tomorrow and say, ‘We’re gonna put you on TV and we want to work you,’ great. I’ll show up and I’ll do my job. If they say, ‘Nope, you signed five years, you’re going to sit at home.’ Okay, cool. I own that, and then I’ll figure out something else to do with my life. I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘Oh well, just do this and do that.’ It doesn’t do me any good. And that’s why I’ve started doing like motivational speaking, and going to indy shows and talking to the guys in the locker room. Because if I’m not going to do anything, I’m going to give back. I’m gonna do whatever I can to help younger guys out, because I can worry all day, I can sit on my couch. Or I can just go and be active. So again, it just comes down to accountability.”
Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
In other news, check out my list of WWE stars who should go back to NXT.