Former WWE SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long has weighed in on Carmella’s controversial WWE exit, suggesting that there may be more to the story than what’s been publicly revealed. This comes after Carmella accused WWE of punishing her for being pregnant and criticized the company for how they handled her departure.
Teddy Long Believes Carmella Didn’t Inform WWE About Her Pregnancy in Time
During the latest episode of Sportskeeda’s The Wrestling Time Machine, host Mac Davis and Teddy Long discussed Carmella’s comments regarding her WWE departure. While Long didn’t dismiss Carmella’s frustration, he theorized that WWE may have had big plans for her, only for those plans to be scrapped due to her last-minute pregnancy announcement.
“Well, here’s what I see. I could be wrong. They [WWE] probably had a whole lot of plans for her, probably had a bunch of stuff written. Now she, and I don’t know this, probably never told them about the pregnancy until it was too late. They already had a big program for her, and now they have to cancel everything they’ve done.”
Long dismissed the idea that WWE deliberately punished Carmella for being pregnant, calling such claims unbelievable. Instead, he suggested that lack of communication on Carmella’s part might have played a role in the company’s decision not to renew her contract.
“I don’t think they’re punishing her for having a baby. Come on, man. Some of the things people say are unbelievable. Why would you point out somebody just because they had a baby? All she had to do was be a woman about it, and when that pregnancy first happened, she probably thought about it too, like, ‘I’m pregnant, so I’ll probably lose my job.’ No! If you tell the truth, you’d probably still be there.” [06:26 to 07:14]
Carmella Criticized WWE for Giving Her Little Notice About Her Release
Carmella’s main issue with WWE appears to be the lack of communication regarding her contract status. During an episode of the Barely Famous podcast, she revealed that she was only informed 12 days before her contract expired that it wouldn’t be renewed.
“Yes, that’s why I was also confused because it said, ‘These dates will change based off your medical condition.’ I have a medical condition, and I assume they put that in there for any pregnant woman because you don’t know what will happen. I was completely shocked and had no idea. I got a phone call a few weeks ago saying, ‘We want to let you know your contract is up in 12 days, and we’re not renewing it.'” [H/T: Fightful]
Carmella had assumed that her contract would be extended due to her medical condition and maternity leave. However, WWE’s last-minute decision caught her completely off guard.
Why Did WWE Release Carmella While Alexa Bliss Remained?
Carmella isn’t the only WWE superstar to go on maternity leave in recent years. Alexa Bliss was also absent for nearly two years due to pregnancy, but she returned to WWE without issue.
This raises questions about why WWE chose not to bring Carmella back, while Bliss received a triumphant return.
Possible reasons for Carmella’s release could include:
- WWE not having creative plans for her.
- Differences in contract structures between her and Alexa Bliss.
- Lack of clear communication between WWE and Carmella.
WWE has not made an official statement on why Carmella was released, leaving fans speculating about what really happened behind the scenes.
Will Carmella Return to WWE in the Future?
While Carmella has been vocal about her frustrations, she has also left the door open for a potential return in the future. However, Teddy Long warned that her public criticism could make it harder for WWE to welcome her back.
Only time will tell if WWE will reconsider bringing back the former SmackDown Women’s Champion, or if her chapter in the company is truly closed.
FAQs
Why was Carmella released from WWE?
According to Teddy Long, WWE may have had plans for Carmella, but her pregnancy announcement came too late, forcing them to cancel her storyline.
Did Carmella accuse WWE of punishing her for being pregnant?
Yes, Carmella claimed that WWE ghosted her and implied that her pregnancy played a role in their decision not to renew her contract.
What did Teddy Long say about Carmella’s WWE exit?
Teddy Long suggested that WWE may have had creative plans for Carmella, but her pregnancy announcement forced them to change direction.
Why did WWE not extend Carmella’s contract?
Carmella assumed her contract would be extended due to her medical condition, but WWE informed her just 12 days before it expired that it wouldn’t be renewed.
Will Carmella return to WWE in the future?
It’s uncertain. While Carmella is open to a return, Teddy Long believes her public criticism of WWE could hurt her chances.
