10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Bobby Lashley
1. THAT Original Exit
Michael Hayes was allegedly responsible for Bobby Lashley's original WWE exit. His, ahem, general disposition - in an unrelated incident, the man was suspended for 60 days for bragging to Mark Henry that he was "more of an [N-word]" than he was - converged with WWE's frivolous, insulting treatment of then-girlfriend Kristal.
An incensed and loyal Lashley rejected the big push, leaving at the height of it. Lashley's departing words were both mysterious and telling. "Evil has prevailed," he said. Certain industry veterans may spin this as "rumour and innuendo," but it's telling that such a prize asset was not subjected to the freeze-out treatment. Moreover, Lashley was free to pursue a TNA run, contravening the usual non-compete clause, on the understanding that he would not - explicitly - make reference to the damaging details. Lashley's exit is not the launching point for some great redemption story; it is a sorry tale indicative of WWE's history of toxicity that the company will simply ignore with the expectation that the audience will, too.
Hayes is still very much part of the key furniture in WWE, which only adds to the fascination.