WWE's roster is an ever-changing entity full of superstars, aging veterans, up-and-comers and the inexplicably still-employed. It seems every year there is a rash of performers released for various reasons, which is announced via WWE.com's patented tagline "We wish them the best in all their future endeavors." Wrestlers are fired for various reasons, oftentimes justifiable. Yet there are those cases where we're left scratching our heads trying to figure out what the company was thinking letting a talent get away. We're going to be taking a look at some examples of WWE releasing a performer who had much more to give WWE and its audience. For the most part I will not be including anyone who was released for personal issues such as legal problems or drug usage, and evaluating talent I feel could have made a much bigger impact during their time in WWE.
10. "Dr. D" David Schultz
We're going all the way back to December of 1984 for this one. After successful runs in Calgary and Memphis, Dr. D was one of the first regional stars Vince McMahon, Jr. brought in to begin his national expansion. David Schultz was one of WWE's (then WWF) top heels and on a career path toward bigger things. A no-nonsense tough guy with a great promo style, he was a perfect foil for 80s babyface stars like Hulk Hogan and Ricky Steamboat. Then 20/20 happened. 20/20 reporter John Stossel was backstage at Madison Square Garden doing an expose on wrestling's secrets when he made the mistake of questioning Schultz on wrestling's legitimacy. Dr. D responded by slapping Stossel twice in the side of his head, and aggressively pursued Stossel as he tried to flee. The assault became a huge story, drawing a lot of coverage in the mainstream media. Schultz apologized and Stossel filed a lawsuit against WWE, settling for $425,000. Dr. D has always stood behind his claim that WWE officials encouraged him to attack Stossel, yet he was fired regardless. WWE missed a huge opportunity not capitalizing on the very real heat Schultz had after this event. Instead of firing him, they should have thrown their marketing muscle behind him and pushed him to the top of the card as a loose cannon that was a serious threat to Hogan's championship. Instead of creating another heel that could've rivaled that of Roddy Piper in the fans' eyes, WWE cut their losses to avoid bad publicity. But in the kayfabe era, it's unfathomable that a man who garnered more press as a villain in one moment than any pro wrestler ever had through entire careers of dastardly acts was fired. Dr. D's ring career didn't last much longer after his release and he quietly faded into retirement.