Former WWE star Mandy Rose spoke about his recent talent release from WWE, and firmly exposed rumors that performers like Kora Jade, Gigi Dolin and Dakota Kai were let go because of lazy and poor work ethics. Speaking about the “Power Alphas” podcast with her husband, “Sabby” Piscitelli (Tino Sabbatelli), Rose offered a candid insider’s perspective on the WWE release cycle, drawing from her own experiences at the company.
“It’s just business” – The reality of the WWE release cycle
Rose didn’t write down words when addressing speculation about why wrestlers were being released, highlighting that WWE runs a calculated business model rather than making decisions based on individual performance issues.
“Let’s put all the squash in [expletive] Now Rose is firmly saying. “This is a business model with a revolving door. Those sitting in the office are righteous and nerds, they punch numbers all day long and know that WWE has an X amount for their salary.”
She explained that releases occur in predictable cycles, regardless of talent or effort.
“There’s a layoff every eight, six, ten weeks. That’s what they’re doing. And at that moment or at that point… they’re probably going to sit in the room and say, “We’ve got a cut this week. We’re going here.”
And they go down this list and say, “Well, we can eliminate 10 people and hire 10 new people.” And that’s how revolving doors work. ”
Rose’s explanation is directly contradicted with rumors online that recently released talent suggest that it has not put enough effort into the WWE Performance Center.
Protecting her colleague’s work ethic
Rose is particularly problematic with a recently released claim that questioned the work ethic of performers, noting that the strict schedule at WWE’s performance centers makes lazy virtually impossible.
“Several girls, Kora and Gigi, actually commented on it on Twitter, and I like what they talked about because I think it’s BS,” Rose said. “Because we were there, it’s so stupid and we know how it works in terms of releases.”
She continued her defense of the released talent:
“You can’t even sit down and say there’s a specific reason. Or you’ve created a reason to become someone who doesn’t do enough work. You don’t have time to be lazy when you’re on your PC. You’re at work. You’re at work.
Rose also mentioned Dakota Kai in particular, saying:
“Dakota Kai had been injured two or three times at one point. He’s back to full toe shape, knowing what it takes to get back from a knee injury.”
Business: Various factors behind release
Rose highlighted that the situation for each talent release is unique, with multiple potential factors playing beyond simple performance metrics. This decision often depends on financial calculations rather than personnel evaluation.
“The reality is a variety of scenarios where everyone is in different situations,” Rose explained. “One person could be paid too much. One person is not using, can’t munch and not awake. They don’t want to renew your contract. Everyone is in a different scenario.”
Her husband “Saby” added his NFL experience and comparison:
“I got caught up in that bubble in the NFL. In my seventh year, they want to be young and cheap.
WWE’s changing contract strategy under TKO
Rose also noted the shift in WWE’s approach to talent retention since the formation of TKO Group Holdings, which combined WWE and UFC under the same parent company.
“Their big things are realising like they are now with TKO, how they hire people, and maybe they’re paying a little more to those people what’s great about them, but they have to cut others,” she explained. “They started looking at their books. They began to understand who, how much, who wouldn’t, and then, in a way, they started to remove that waste.”
She contrasted this with previous management teams.
“When Vince [McMahon] Vince, who was in charge, maintained a lot of talent. If he wasn’t using them or if he liked them… I think that’s a different business model plan.
Rose suggested that contract negotiations have become more challenging:
“The words on the street are, if my colleagues here are making so much money, why shouldn’t I make so much money? So they don’t want to give that offer.
Life after WWE: “I’m not just surviving, I’m thriving.”
Perhaps most notably, Rose, which was surprisingly released by WWE in December 2022 after losing to the NXT Women’s Championship, revealed that she has achieved greater success with the company.
“They want to make you believe you can’t survive without them, so that’s why there’s always a fear that pervades each of us in that company,” Rose recalls. “We all went through that, but for me, two and a half years later, I can sit here and say that it’s the best thing that’s ever happened.
She provided encouragement to the recently released talent:
“To be honest, when it’s released, it’s scary sometimes, so don’t take every offer that comes in your path. And if you didn’t save money and didn’t make much money to save or invest, you might be on a bit of pickle. But you should trust me.
Rose also positioned herself as a mentor to wrestlers navigating her post-WWE career.
“When these women find their release… clever people, I should say… they know who to call,” she emphasized her willingness to help her former colleagues take advantage of WWE’s name recognition. “It’s a blessing to be in WWE. It’s a big sight. As we always say, it’s a cream of the crop.
Financial preparation advice for current WWE talent
Rose and her husband highlighted the importance of financial planning for an inevitable career transition and provided practical advice to current WWE performers.
“Take care of your money is definitely a scenario that puts a little pressure on you, so take care of your money. It takes away a bit of anxiety,” advised Saby. “At this point in my life and your life, we don’t have the pressure to do anything. That’s great. And I’ll tell anyone in WWE, and I know some of them aren’t paid as much as you think, but if you’re paying a fair amount, take care of your money, save a bit and invest it a bit.”
Rose added her own perspective on financial security:
“It won’t last forever, so don’t think it will last forever because it isn’t. We hope this train will run all the time, but we know that this train will run out and we’ll move on to something new and something new.”
The couple’s candid discussion gives us a glimpse into the business reality of professional wrestling, contradicts the simple narrative of talent releases, and offers a valuable perspective for both fans and performers about the cyclical nature of the industry.
