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WWE continues to release more on-air talent over the past two days after their announcement last Friday that they would releasing 10% of their overall staff in order to alleviate $20 million from their overall budget.

Late on Tuesday, January 13, it was announced the company released two of their more legendary talents – former WWF World Heavyweight Champion Sgt. Slaughter and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ron Simmons. Slaughter retired from full-time competition in 1992 and has been working for the company in a backstage capacity since then, and made occasional on-air appearances and matches in the full “Sgt. Slaughter” character. Simmons retired from full-time competition in 2004 and since then had been doing promotional work for the company. He too would also appear sporadically on television, usually in comedy skits to provide the joke’s punch line with his signature catchphrase, “DAMN!”

Then on Wednesday, January 14, word came out that the company had also let go long-time referee Mickey Henson, who had been an official for over twenty years in the business, including a long stint in World Championship Wrestling as well. They also released “Tough Enough 3” reality show winner Matt Cappotelli. Cappotelli never made the big state as he endured a series of injuries and bad breaks while training. He was eventually diagnosed with a brain tumor in the fall of 2005 and has been fighting that ever since.

Now early this morning, January 15, it was announced that developmental star Hade Vansen was also let out of his contract.

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