AW released by the WWE

[Vegas]

Abraham Washington Released By WWE, Goes On Twitter Rant

WWE announced they have come to terms on the release of A.W. (a/k/a Abraham Washington) as of August 10, 2012, weeks after the boisterous personality made a crass remark on a live program. Upon learning of the news, A.W. went on a multi-post Twitter diatribe ripping the sports-entertainment organization. He stated, "AWPromotions is no more ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your support and hate, it's been a great run. Now I get to do me which isn't PG!

"@titusoneilwwe & @darrenyoungwwe thank you for allowing me to speak on your behalf. You guys are the best and I'm glad to call u my friends!

"I've offended the wrong people that taught me how to have ATTITUDE It was the #WWE that made me bold and now it has turned it's back on me

"Let this be a lesson to up and coming talent in the WWE don't try and be great like the Rock or Stone Cold. WWE isn't the same...

"Just be normal shut up and be a yes man so you can collect your check and feel like your special. #SELLOUTS!!

"I remember a time when the WWE didn't care about breaking the mold but now everyone is so afraid of their own shadow. #RemeberTheFans

"Thanks to the fans who showed me support over the whole Kobe thing and to those I upset I apologize again. Remember It's entertainment folks."

A.W. then indicates that his termination is tied to WWE chief Vince McMahon's wife Linda's pursuit of a United States Senate seat in Connecticut, which many have speculated has led the sports-entertainment organization to steer clear of any controversial matters as to not attract negative press to the campaign.

"I really do hope Linda wins that election because If not then all of this BS has been for nothing. #GoLinda!!" he wrote.

During a live WWE Raw broadcast on July 30, 2012, A.W. made a crass joke referencing NBA player Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault case in 2003 and 2004. As client Titus O’Neil tangled with Kofi Kingston in a singles match, A.W. yelled from ringside, “Titus O’Neil is like Kobe Bryant at a hotel in Colorado hotel room. He’s unstoppable!!” When Raw returned from commercial break following the bout, WWE apologized on-air via announcer Michael Cole and A.W. subsequently issued an apology via Twitter, noting that "there was no malicious intent behind the joke." After Raw, WWE issued an official apology via TMZ.com stating that they had "taken appropriate action in the matter."

Prior to joining the main roster this spring, A.W. was a fixture on the final episodes of ECW on Syfy with an in-ring interview segment called "The Abraham Washington Show." He had been under contract to WWE since 2009, where he also performed for developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling.

Washington noted on Twitter that he would doing stand-up comedy going forward, remarking, "If you think that Kobe joke was bad wait till you hear my Vince jokes."

[marktaggart]

People will trash this guy for being "bitter" or whatever, but in my opinrion his points are valid. There seems to be no room for anyone to break out, be edgy, or do anything really remotely interesting in the WWE of 2012. The main goals appears to be about stock numbers, keeping investors happy, and keeping Linda McMahon's political aspirations alive (remember, Daniel Bryan got fired for choking someone with a tie last time she was running for senate). If this type of environment existed in the WWF of the mid 90s, I believe there would be no WWE today because they'd have likely gone bankrupt instead of letting guys like Austin and Rock do what put them back in black and made them culturally relevant again.

[Fringe]

I agree with AW, but at the same time it feels like he's burning that bridge. It's unfortunate, but at the present time that's how the company is. It's not just WWE either, the whole country is this way now and I can't wait until people have had enough of it. As for AW, his talent in speaking can cover a lot of bases in the business (managerial roles, wrestling talk show host, commentary, and just as a wrestling talent) and I hope he does well if he steps into the independent scene.

[Matt]

Seriously, can no one joke about anything anymore?

[cman]

Most people dont even remember what happened with Kobe back then anyway so who cares that he said it. Personally when he made that joke I laughed, but to get released over it is just stupid, and if Linda was not running for the Senate this would have never happened. I also think that Titus and Darren are going to suffer for this too, and probably get depushed, or sent back to NXT.

[Sinclair Promotions]

I really liked AW. He did a great job with two men who couldn't cut a decent promo, which was the role of guys like Heenan and Hart back in the day. Wrestling needs managers and the WWE only has one half decent one right now in Vickie Guerrero. I am betting that the PTP will probably get teamed with with one of the Diva's now (Eve is a strong possibility) and they will continue to chase Kofi & Truth for awhile as other teams get built up around those two teams (One can hope).

[Vegas]

More news on this story:

Abraham Washington Angry With Linda McMahon, Rips WWE For Double Standards

After WWE unceremoniously terminated A.W.'s contract Friday for what a company spokesman said was due to his continued use of offensive and inappropriate comments on live television and on social media after uttering a rape joke on the July 30 episode of Raw, the All World Promotions chief posted a barrage of vitriolic messages on Twitter blistering his former employer for what he perceives are double standards.
A.W. strongly feels it is unjust that he's now out of job when Big Show made a similar remark referencing NBA player Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case, Vince McMahon reneged WWE's anti-bullying campaign two months ago on Raw by ridiculing Jim Ross' facial paralysis, CM Punk told a fan on Twitter to kill himself, Triple H simulated mock sex with a mannequin in a casket, McMahon used a racial epithet on national television, and the company showcased a character making light of mentally challenged individuals, among other unsavory events. Fans comments he posted include: "VINCE MCMAHON CAN SAY THE "N" WORD ON NATIONAL T.V. BUT @awpromotions CAN'T TELL A JOKE.............whats wrong with this picture???"

"McMahon is a hypocrite! It's cool for him to mock JR's Bells Palsy, & you aren't cut any slack for one joke? #BeAStarVince."

"I hope Vince hasn't forgot How he mocked @jrsbbq on #RAW live, and @awpromotions gets released for one joke?"

"@if only you had strangled someone with your tie, you'd be back within 6 months lol."

"so Dx can tell everyone to suck it but u can't make a joke?"

"@cmpunk told one of his twitter followers to kill themselves. biggest double standard in the world."

"@kane has sex with a dead girl but @awpromotions makes a kobe joke and gets fired."

"Vince can kick the leg out from under a one legged kid, wrestle women, mock The mentally retarded and he fired you!!!"

"@didn't Big Show make a Kobe Bryant reference in a battle rap with Cena in 2003 www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V6gr8CB-Eg ... but AW gets let go?"

A.W. feels he is a casualty of Linda McMahon's Republican pursuit of a United States Senate seat in Connecticut, which many have speculated has led the sports-entertainment organization to take action on any matter deemed controversial so as not to affect her campaign.

He tweeted to Linda, "Creates jobs my ass!! I'm fired thanks to you and your campaign."

[swarm]

I don't have enough cuss words to describe how I feel about this. I got into this with Payback last week when I asked why what AW said was so bad. "You can't say stuff like that. You can't talk about rape." was his defense. He agreed with the little homosexual liberal on ESPN who cried about and basically repeated his argument. I don't buy that bullshit. You CAN say stuff like that because I've seen it done a billion times...in movies, by comedians, on TV, and...wait for it...in the WWE thousands of times. Hell, Heidenreich ass raped Michael Cole on Smackdown for Christ's sake. Not to mention all the stuff AW himself cites above. It's ok for Vince to make fun of cerebral palsy but AW makes an 8 year old joke and is fired? Anyone else offended that WWE thinks you're this fing stupid??

Who's life was so negatively effected by AW's comments that they couldn't go to work the next day? Please, show me all the women who booked psychiatric appointments Tuesday morning thanks to what AW said because they were so mentally damaged by his joke, they just could not go on with life. Did Kobe care? Did the woman who slept with Kobe care? Did ANYONE but those in charge of Linda's waste of money campaign efforts care?

Here's the real answer Payback should have given me "You can't say stuff like that. You can't talk about rape when Linda McMahon is running for office." That's the correct answer. We need to cut out all the bleeding heart liberal PC bullshit that is destroying this country. I started talking about this YEARS ago when I saw it coming. Pussificastion of America! Kind of hoping since AW is black this backfires on the McMahons, and AW finds serious backers. Cause he's 100% right. He's been 100% wronged by these fing agenda driven hypocrites and this shit has to stop. Today, I'm ASHAMED to be a WWE fan and in protest, I will not be buying Summer Slam. f YOU WWE!

[Bazzy]

Can none joke about anything anymore ? . But I believe it was the PPV he made a joke about the Batman rises shooting . Days after it happened .

A.W Promotions seemed to be going somewhere , building an old school style stable ? .

[swarm]

And why wasn't CM Punk fired when he first called a fan a "homosexual", then later when he hypocritically and ironically defended gay marriage by telling an opposing fan to "kill yourself." ?

I'll wait.