Vince McMahon Refuses To Use Luke Harper Because He "Doesn't Get Him"
Shave those sideburns!
Dave Meltzer provided a fascinating - and morbidly hilarious - update on Harper in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Harper recently requested his WWE release, placing on record his thanks without, for obvious political reasons, citing the motivation behind it. This week, we learned why:
Vince McMahon has gone full Monty Burns by demanding Harper shave his sideburns in the form of adopting a southern accent.
Vince McMahon, famously erratic, wondered aloud where Harper was on the day of WrestleMania. This was the impetus behind his 11th hour addition into the match, his performance in which did not impress Vince. He was sent home afterwards because creative had nothing for him. They did - a very promising feud with Sami Zayn the poor prick was likely incredibly excited about - but plans changed.
Plans changed again, when Harper was brought back to television as a test of EC3's credentials. Putting aside that A) EC3 was previously contracted by WWE for four years and B) that's what NXT is presumably for and C) he was called up from NXT in January, the call was made nonetheless. Vince hated this match, too, which was strictly laid out on EC3 and Harper's behalf by unidentified road agents. So this wasn't even Harper's doing. Sensational. Apathetic, Vince sent Harper home again for the second time in under a week. Vince "didn't get" Harper, who "cannot even do a southern accent".
Harper requested his release, which Vince denied in writing, before warehousing this performer he has no plans to use and doesn't rate whatsoever because AEW may show interest in him.
This week's edition, again, is well worth reading in full, particularly for Dave's sobering run-down of WWE's latest financial report.