The post-Wrestlemania spring cleaning surprisingly came about a month too late, but the inevitable did indeed happen. Four WWE Superstars and Two WWE Divas, one of which a former Champion and head of the division, have been released today.

Shelton Benjamin: Sad man. Shelton started pro wrestling in 2000 and joined up with OVW at the time and teamed with current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar there as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, a gimmick thought up by Jim Ross since he discovered both Shelton and Lesnar at the University of Minnesota. Shelton was considered the best pure athelete in the WWE and alongside Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, one of the few truly scary shooters in the business. Shelton debuted with Charlie Haas (who was released a few months ago) as Team Angle and later the World’s Greatest Tag Team on Smackdown. In 2004, Shelton would be drafted to Raw and in his first match, score a huge upset over Triple H, which to this day may be his biggest win ever. Shelton would compete in all but one Money in the Bank Match and for the first few, would easily steal the show. Shelton is an incredible worker, but many felt his charisma is what held him down. From just being a good wrestler, to bringing in his ‘mama’, to being the Gold Standard, he never really broke out.

Sho Funaki: Yes, Kung Fu Naki is gone. After TWELVE YEARS of being a signed talent in WWE, he was let go. He began his career as a member of the Japanese stable Kaientai alongside Dick Togo, Mens Teioh, and TAKA Michinoku. Afterward, he formed the infamous INDEEEEED version of Kaientai with Taka. Once Taka left, Funaki was used as a comedy figure and enhancement talent sparingly on WWE TV.

Jimmy Wang Yang: I guess with Yoshi Tatsu being there, they didnt need Wang or Funaki. Hell of a worker – works hard everywhere he goes. He used to be in a stable with Tajiri ages ago and came back as the redneck countryboy Jimmy Wang Yang. Basically an enhancement talent for most of his career, he had notable great undercard matches with Hurricane Helms, Billy Kidman, Chavo Guerrero, and Paul London.

Slam Master J: He used to be Jesse from Jesse and Festus but is known to most insider fans as Ray, the son of the legendary Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy. After Festus split off from Jesse to go to Raw for a brief time (now he’s CM Punk’s lackey Luke Gallows), Jesse formed a team with Cryme Tyme and called himself Slam Master J – essentially another white rapper (since Cena hung up his chain and is a Marine now). He hadn’t been on TV in quite some time and with the split of Cryme Tyme, naturally creative had nothing for him.

Katie Lea Burchill: Katie Lea Burchill started with WWE in 2006 and was sent to OVW to feud with Beth Phoenix – but that never really materialized. Katie Lea was brought up to the main roster in 2008 alongside her kayfabe brother Paul Burchill, which was originally set to be an incestual angle, but that was dropped soon after. She later was moved to ECW and did absolutely nothing. In fact, he hasn’t done anything for a long time, which is sad because she’s a much better worker than a lot of the divas who get pushes. She was seen as a good girl who didn’t look for trouble.

Mickie James: This comes as both a surprise, and no surprise. Mickie started in the WWE at the top of the women’s division, in a program with Trish Stratus as the lesbian stalker. She soon turned babyface and became a pretty popular figure near the end of Trish’ active career. Mickie is a multi-time women’s champion and has had notable feuds with Beth Phoenix, Candice Michelle, Melina, and most recently was involved in a somewhat offensive feud with Michelle McCool where she was essentially made fun of for being fat. Mickie James is not fat, she just has a big fat ass, which is a thumbs up in my book. Mickie was recording a country music record AND going to college – taking online courses – during his time as a full-time WWE star. WWE most likely felt that with her pursuing other ventures (see Stacy Keibler or Maria) she would most likely leave anyways.

Update 11:01 PM Eastern: Mike Knox becomes the seventh man released by WWE today.

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