WWE star should have been let go with Indi Hartwell, Vince Russo says (Exclusive)
Indi Hartwell reportedly received her release from WWE on November 1. Vince Russo, WWE's former head writer, is not surprised by the Australian's exit and thinks Candice LeRae should also have departed.
LeRae has been Hartwell's tag team partner for several years. On Friday's pre-taped episode of SmackDown, the duo lost to Bayley and Naomi in their final match together.
Speaking to BroDown host Mac Davis, Russo said on Backstage Pass that he predicted Hartwell's departure a week ago. He also implied that LeRae only stayed because her husband, fellow wrestler Johnny Gargano, has a good relationship with NXT's head of creative Shawn Michaels.
"No, no [not surprised], I think I ran down a laundry list last week of who was on the show and who needs to be cut, and literally I believe I listed Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox. And, listen, come on, let's be honest, Candice LeRae should have been let go with Indi Hartwell but her husband works there and Shawn Michaels is in love with her husband. Who knows what they got going on? That's the only thing that saved her job," he said.
As Russo referenced, Baron Corbin and Tegan Nox are also reportedly no longer with WWE.
Vince Russo on how WWE will book longer SmackDown shows
In October, it was reported on Backstage Pass show WrestleVotes Radio that SmackDown will move from two to three hours between January and May 2025.
Mac Davis mentioned how the November 1 episode of SmackDown highlighted a lack of star power on the show's roster. Asked how WWE would deal with an additional hour on Friday nights, Vince Russo made it clear he thinks the on-screen product will suffer.
"Real simple, Mac. Longer matches, more packages. All they're gonna do is this [keep the product the same but add more time]. And guess what happens when all you're doing is this? Now you are boring the cr*p out of me," he said.
Russo also explained why main roster creative figurehead Triple H made a mistake with the original Bloodline's reunion on SmackDown.
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Please credit Backstage Pass and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.