Every year, there is a group of WWE superstars that either ask for their release or are simply let go for whatever reason. Below is the "Future Endeavored" list for 2012. This is the list of the more familar names that departed from the company this past year:
- April 24 - Goldust
- April 30 - Nikki and Brie Bella
- April 30 - Adam "Edge" Copeland (due to retirement)
- June 28 - Maxine
- July 24 - Kharma
- August 10 - Abraham Washington
- August 20 - Chris Jericho
- August 21 - Tyler Reks
- September 28 - Kelly Kelly
- October 29 - Beth Phoenix
Perhaps the biggest of this list was the announcement that Edge was forced to retire. He made the shocking announcement shortly after WrestleMania, citing problems with his previously injured neck that had caused him to lose feeling in his arms. Edge retired as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion.
Chris Jericho was another former World Heavyweight Champion to leave during the year. He has had a couple of runs in the company, having a multitude of success. He departed during 2012 to spend the remainder of the year with his band, Fozzy.
It's become an annual tradition that the first wave of releases each year come after WrestleMania. It will be interesting to see if a round of releases drop after the yearly extravaganza. Some fans would mention several names that could be on the chopping block, but it remains to be seen if WWE management will agree.
But maybe the most controversial release goes to Abraham Washington. After making an off-color remark regarding NBA star Kobe Bryant during a live television broadcast, WWE officials were quick to remove his live microphone he wore whenever he was at ringside. He was released shortly after, and went on a Twitter rampage, lashing out at Linda McMahon (who was running for US Senate at the time) and the WWE in general.
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