In a pretty big surprise, it was announced on WWE.com that Chavo Guerrero has been released from his WWE contract. Guerrero was the last wrestler still with the company whose contract had been acquired in the purchase of WCW's assets in 2001, and he was interviewed about that bit of trivia in a WWE.com video a few months ago.
For his part, Guerrero is claiming on his Twitter account that he asked for his release, which he first hinted at last night:
Guerrero's have always been rebels, so It's time for me to start being a Guerrero..Big news coming a bit later..stay tuned!
A few hours ago he tweeted the following, which I have formatted into paragraphs from multiple tweets so as to make everything easier to read (It's otherwise completely unedited, with the sudden capitalization signifying a new tweet):
Yes, it's true. My release is the big news I was talking about. But let's get something straight. I asked for my release. I was just tired Of not being used correctly. Just cuz u can make other ppl look good, doesn't mean they should just have u lose to them. The same thing Happened to Eddie. After being champ, they still had him working mid card status. Being a Guerrero, we've been taught since diapers to get The most out of ppl & matches. It's our gift, but also our curse. WWE has always used us to make other ppl look good.
It all comes down to Being happy. I was not happy in WWE anymore. I had a smile on my face last night though when I got my release though! :) now it's time for For me to start being a Guerrero again, and start kicking ass again, be able to tell stories in the ring like u know we can. :) win or lose. I will never go back to the place WWE put me in. I will never go back to being under utilized and watching ppl who suck get bigger "pushes" Than me! Thank u to all of u who stuck by me & kept reminding me, I was better than that! :) stay tuned.. Big things coming!! Now I will Really be able to entertain u! :) like me or hate me, 1 thing I have always tried to do is entertain u and give u fans your $ worth. Even if My hands were tied most of the time. I love u all and can't wait for the future!! So happy. :)
I know it may sound like it, but I've got no hard feelings toward the WWE. I've just been unhappy there for a long time & if you have Watched the show, u will no why. I made a lot of money, but I'm better than just cashing a paycheck. I wish no hard feelings toward the WWE& Want to see them and all my friends there succeed! I love wrestling & want nothing but wrestling to get better & bigger. U fans deserve Nothing but a great show and great stories& athleticism for staying so true to wrestling. It's in my blood & always will be. :)
Now, while it's not surprising that he'd feel this way and want out, as I said at the beginning, it is surprising that WWE would let him go. For years, it seemed like there was no way he'd ever be released, regardless of how low he was on the totem poll, because he "knows where the bodies are buried," so to speak:
- He found the body of his uncle Eddy Guerrero when he died and was alleged in Irv Muchnick's book "Chris and Nancy" to have assisted Chris Benoit in the disposal of his uncle's stash of the anabolic steroid stanozolol (brand name "Winstrol") before the police and paramedics arrived.
- He (along with referee Scott Armstrong) received Chris Benoit's troubling text messages ("my physical address is...") after Benoit killed his wife Nancy and son Daniel, but for didn't tell WWE (who called the local police) about them until a day after Chris had gone missing. He's told conflicting stories about why he waited.
This makes me think he's absolutely telling the truth. I'm sure he had a job as long as he wanted one. I'm just wondering if WWE had to get any promises in writing in exchange for the release, like they reportedly did with Bobby Lashley when he wanted out after dealing with racism within the company.