Ex-WWE Star Fired For Not Being “Aggressive Enough”

A former WWE star has spoken about his frustration at being released due to his lack of aggression.

Afa Anoa’i Jr. – better known as Manu – signed with WWE in 2006, wrestling in their Deep South Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territories before being called up to the main roster in 2007.

The following year, he joined Randy Orton‘s faction, The Legacy, alongside Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase Jr. The group assisted Orton in his feuds with CM Punk and Batista. However, Manu was kicked out after losing several matches, including a final test set by The Viper where he was defeated by Matt Hardy.

A few weeks after his storyline with The Legacy ended, Manu was released from his contract in February 2009.

During an interview with Steve Fall of WrestlingNews.co, the star explained that his release came because he wasn’t “aggressive enough” in the ring, this came despite being told he was too aggressive earlier in his career.

“I was told I wasn’t aggressive enough. Total, like kick in the nuts to me because I was insane at that time. Like, they had to tone me down.

“I was doing too much on house shows and stuff like that and they were just like, ‘Hey, kid, you got to settle down, settle down, settle down.’

“So I would settle down until they didn’t say anything and then when they stopped saying stuff, I guess I settled down too much. It was a hard balance to figure out what they truly wanted, what I’m supposed to give them.”

Manu remembers meeting Bray Wyatt in WWE

During the same interview, Manu recalled meeting the late, great Bray Wyatt when his father, Mike Rotunda, brought him to a show.

“Bray, he was a good brother. He was one of us. When I first met him, his dad brought him on the road and I was up as Manu and I was his host. Like, his dad asked me to, you know, he was like my rookie. I had to show him around, take them around the boys, take him to catering, you know, be his guy to hang out with all day.

“This one sucks. This one hurts. A lot of them, you know, they suck. You hear about it, like, oh, man, you know, it sucks, but this one’s really close to home and my thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the above transcription.