WWE announces release of six Superstars

Despite frequent speculation that WWE would no longer be releasing wrestler and other contracted performers, preferring instead to allow their contracts to run out in order to avoid having to make announcements like this, WWE.com is reporting this morning that six Superstars have been released as of today, June 12, 2014.

The list of names being "future endeavored":

Curt Hawkins
Theodore Long
Camacho
Brodus Clay
Evan Bourne
Yoshi Tatsu

Most of these men have been used most recently as enhancement talent in NXT, so their sudden absence won't create any holes in main show storylines.

There are still some surprises.  Teddy Long has been with the company for sixteen years and was a prominent screen presence as the General Manager of Smackdown and WWE's version of ECW for half that time.  Brodus Clay is prominent in many of the company's reading and anti-bullying efforts and was feature in the Scooby Doo WrestleMania Mystery animated movie from earlier this year.  And Evan Bourne has been injured and/or suspended since 2012, yet still recently tweeted about celebrating an anniversary with the company.

Hawkins, Tatsu and Camacho all had support among the internet wrestling and "smark" communities (Tatsu's name having become a popular chant at NXT tapings in Florida), but obviously no plans for them from WWE Creative.

Speculation will probably turn to this as a cost-cutting move due to some of the company's business challenges since the WWE Network launch, but there is nothing to go on beyond the sudden and basic statement released by the company this morning.

More from cSs as we have it, and thanks to the new free agents for their work to entertain WWE fans during their time with the company.