10 Shocking WWE Superstar Firings No One Saw Coming

Umaga - or Youmanga, as William Regal would prefer - was probably never going to be the WWE's next franchise player.

He was, however, a tireless worker who proved his worth just a few weeks prior to his June 2009 release during a feud with CM Punk. The Straight-Edge Superstar emerged victorious, setting him on the path to the main event push that soon followed.

There were also signs that Umaga's character was beginning to evolve. For example, he spoke English - as opposed to what we suspect was a made-up language he spent the early part of his career conversing in - for the first time back in May.

Unfortunately, though, Umaga broke the famously strict WWE Wellness Policy just as his career may have been about to take off. Though he still technically had one strike left before he would normally be fired, the 'Samoan Bulldozer' apparently refused to go to rehab, leading to his abrupt sacking.