Backstage Update On The Real Reason WWE Released Emma

Australian superstar Emma's six-year WWE tenure came to a sudden end when she was released from the company on October 29th, one week after wrestling Asuka at the TLC 2017 pay-per-view.

Though she was long-considered one of WWE's most underused performers, Emma's departure came out of nowhere, particular in the wake of her recent mini-push. One reporter who wasn't surprised, though, was Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso, who wrote this week that "the writing on the wall had been in place for some time."

As per the write-up, Emma had considerable heat with in the company. She was particularly unpopular among the writing staff, whom she angered by using Twitter to voice her discontent on the way she'd been booked, with '#GiveEmmaAChance' gaining considerable traction in recent months. Barrasso does note, however, that the "doors remain open for a return."

Emma's heat could be a continuation of her Emmalina character's cancellation back in February. The gimmick was reportedly scrapped (after months of promotion) as WWE felt she wasn't committed to the role, hinting at discontent between the employer and employee. Regardless, Barrasso states that many see her departure as "addition by subtraction in the locker room."