WWE Released Ricardo Rodriguez Over Weight Issues?

Ricardo Rodriguez's abrupt release was initially seen as nothing more than a basic budget cut during a tough time for the WWE. New details have emerged to what led to the situation, and budget cuts don't seem to be the primary situation. Rodriguez asked the company for his release because he had grown frustrated due to not being used as a wrestler. Even though he'd been used on some WWE TV as the masked El Local, he was replaced by Sin Cara due to an injury. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it also appears as if there was an issue regarding Rodriguez's weight. The WWE set a weight goal for him, and he was having issues achieving and maintaining it. This may have prevented Ricardo from moving up the ladder in the WWE. Even though his contract expired in just two weeks, Rodriguez still wanted out. He'd been under contract as both an in-ring talent and an announcer and served as on the Spanish-language announce team of late. With budget cuts looming overhead, a three-man Spanish team was too much to maintain. Just last week Ricardo's former on-screen partner Alberto Del Rio was also released, albeit for unrelated reasons. Ricardo served as Del Rio's "personal ring announcer" for several years on WWE programming.