8 WWE Superstars Released Today In Mass Firings

6. Hornswoggle

The 29-year-old star first joined WWE ten years ago as "Little Bastard," Finlay's leprechaun sidekick. Little Bastard would emerge from under the ring to interfere (and be used as a weapon in) Finlay's matches, eventually helping the veteran win the United States Championship. In 2007, he was renamed Hornswoggle and, in a cruiserweight open match at The Great American Bash, captured the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. The belt was soon retired.

Hornswoggle's most prominent storyline came later that year, when he was revealed to be Vince McMahon's illegitimate son (a spot originally conceived for Mr. Kennedy, who was out on a drug-related suspension). This led to many juvenile comedy vignettes which only ended when it was discovered that the tests were forged and he was actually Finlay's son. Hornswoggle would soon shift his focus, attempting to become the third member of D-Generation X.

Shiftless for years afterward, Hornswoggle eventually turned heel and joined the Three Man Band. He feuded with El Torito and Los Matadores, defeating the former in a "WeeLC" match at Extreme Rules 2014. After 3MB dissolved, Hornswoggle joined forces with Slater-Gator, but an injury forced him out of action in March of 2015.

In September of that year, Hornswoggle was suspended for 30 days for failing a wellness test. He remained inactive until his release.