10 WWE Wrestlers Released In The Middle Of A Push
4. Umaga
What a talent Umaga was. The term "athletic big man" is thrown around far too often, but Umaga was the perfect example of what a great athletic big man was all about.
With a gimmick that evoked genuine fear and dread, complete with aggressive, flurried offense and movement, the role of Samoan Bulldozer was a phenomenal fit for Eddie Fatu. Previously one half of 3-Minute Warning a couple of years prior, Fatu's return and rebrand as Umaga in 2006 was brilliantly done.
That return saw Umaga embark on an eight-month undefeated run before he fell foul to, of course, John Cena at New Year's Resolution '07.
Despite never capturing one of the company's World Championships by the time of his WWE release in June 2009, Umaga was consistently a featured player involved in major rivalries - with him battling Cena, Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton and being Vince McMahon's chosen fighter in the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania 23.
When that release came, it was totally out of left-field as Umaga was fresh off the back of a feud with CM Punk that had seen the pair trade PPV victories. The last match between the two was at 2009's Extreme Rules, with Punk emerging victorious before going on to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase to become World Heavyweight Champion later night.
While some thought Umaga may continue to target a Second City Saint who now had Big Gold in his possession, the Samoan was fired the very next day due to violating the Wellness Policy and refusing to enter rehab.