8 Wrestlers Fired By WWE After Major PPVs

1. Umaga (Extreme Rules 2009)

Big Cass Money In The Bank 2018
WWE

The 2009 downward spiral of Edward 'Umaga' Fatu's life happened all too quickly - and ended all too tragically.

Though the Samoan Bulldozer's comeback trail was doused somewhat by Triple H - who else? - that March, the monstrous Umaga remained a relevant, high-profile heel as foil to CM Punk's WWE title tilt going into the summer. Punk's Money in the Bank cash-ins were repeatedly thwarted by his Polynesian pursuer, culminating in a bitter match between the pair at Judgment Day - which Umaga dominated.

The bad blood continued into June, where Punk exacted his revenge with victory in a Samoan Strap match (functionally identical to any other strap match, but presumably with leather imported from Apia). The feud promptly ended the next day; Fatu was suddenly fired by the company after refusing to enter a rehab programme following his second Wellness Policy violation.

Just six months on from his WWE dismissal, Fatu died at his home of a heart attack, brought on by drug intoxication. He was 36 years old.

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Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.