Backstage News: Updates On Missing WWE Wrestlers, Roll Call
Here is an update on five WWE Superstars who have not wrestled on WWE programming on in recent months.
* Raw Superstar "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan last appeared on television at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view on January 25, 2009. He managed to get some offense in on Undertaker, but was ultimately eliminated by Big Show. Though he's listed on the Raw Superstars section on WWE.com, these days, he is considered to be an ambassador for the company rather than talent, quite like Sgt. Slaughter and Hillbilly Jim. He is no longer under contract to WWE, which allows him to work independent shows.
* SmackDown Superstar Curt Hawkins last appeared on television on the April 6, 2009 edition of Monday Night Raw as a lumberjack for a match pitting Carlito and Primo vs. John Morrison and The Miz with the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship on the line. Hawkins last wrestled on television on the February 6, 2009 edition of Friday Night SmackDown in the SmackDown Battle Royal to qualify for final spot in WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match at No Way Out. On April 15, 2009, Zack Ryder was drafted to the ECW brand as part of the Supplemental Draft and, as a result, was separated from his tag team partner Hawkins, who remained on SmackDown. Hawkins worked a show or two for Florida Championship Wrestling last month, but has been sitting on the sidelines otherwise.
* ECW Superstar DJ Gabriel last appeared on television on the April 6, 2009 edition of Monday Night Raw as a lumberjack for a match pitting Carlito and Primo vs. John Morrison and The Miz with the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship on the line. Gabriel last wrestled on television on the March 10, 2009 edition of ECW in a loss to Tyson Kidd. Gabriel is a regular at a Florida Championship Wrestling shows these days and has since dropped the "DJ" from his ring name.
* ECW Superstar Ezekiel Jackson last appeared on television on the April 6, 2009 edition of Monday Night Raw as a lumberjack for a match pitting Carlito and Primo vs. John Morrison and The Miz with the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship on the line. Jackson last wrestled on television on the April 3, 2009 edition of Friday Night SmackDown in a loss to Jeff Hardy. On April 15, 2009, Jackson was drafted to the ECW brand as part of the Supplemental Draft, therefore breaking up his partnership with The Brian Kendrick. These days, Jackson regularly appears on Florida Championship Wrestling shows and is getting a push squashing wrestlers.
* SmackDown Superstar Jesse made his first television appearance in several weeks on this past week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown. During the first edition of "Word Up! on WWE television, Jesse was seen trying to impress Cryme Tyme. Jesse last wrestled on television on the February 6, 2009 edition of Friday Night SmackDown in the SmackDown Battle Royal to qualify for final spot in WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match at No Way Out. On April 15, 2009, Festus was drafted to the Raw brand as part of the Supplemental Draft and, as a result, was separated from his tag team partner Jesse, who remained on SmackDown.
* Candice Michelle and Sim Snuka would have been mentioned on this list, but both wrestlers were released by WWE on June 19, 2009. Michelle last wrestled on the February 2, 2009 episode of Monday Night Raw in a loss to Beth Phoenix whereas Snuka last appeared as himself on January 12, 2009. He was removed from television following a beat down at the hands of Legacy. Both Michelle and Snuka last appeared on television at WrestleMania XXV with Michelle in the role of a timekeeper for the 25-Diva Battle Royal and Snuka in the role of a disguised cameraman during the Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels match.
– Here is the complete list of talent/creative/personnel departures from World Wrestling Entertainment thus far in 2009. The year has seen 42 departures, including 20 departures from the main WWE roster. Within the span of three weeks (May 29, 2009 through June 19, 2009), the company saw ten departures (Mr. Kennedy, Barry Allen, Jon Cutler, Joseph Canterbury, Kafu, Lupe Santiago, Umaga, Vickie Guerrero, Sim Snuka and Candice Michelle).
Main WWE Roster Departures
? Bam Neely
? Boogeyman
? Candice Michelle
? D-Lo Brown
? Gavin Spears
? Hardcore Holly
? John Bradshaw Layfield
? Kizarny
? Manu
? Mike Adamle
? Mr. Kennedy
? Ron Simmons
? Ryan Braddock
? Scotty Goldman
? Sim Snuka
? Tazz
? Umaga
? Val Venis
? Vickie Guerrero
? Victoria
WWE Developmental Departures
? Barry Allen
? Hade Vansen
? Jon Cutler
? Joseph Canterbury
? Kafu
? Kaleb O'Neal
? Kevin Thorn
? Lupe Santiago
? Mike Kruel
? Saylor James
WWE Personnel Departures
? Afa Anoa'i, Sr.
? Freddie Prinze, Jr.
? Jim Korderas
? John Carle
? Kevin Keenan
? Matt Cappotelli
? Mickie Henson
? Mike Posey
? Sgt. Slaughter
? "Superstar" Billy Graham
? Tim White