Jim Cornette Fired From World Wrestling Entertainment

Date Added: July 08, 2005

Source: PWInsider.com

Jim Cornette, who was in charge of the Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental territory along with Danny Davis, was fired by World Wrestling Entertainment. One of the reasons to his release was due to a series of incidents including Cornette slapping an OVW student "ten to fifteen times" after the student, in front of fans, giggled instead of showing fear towards The Boogeyman Marty Wright during an OVW TV taping.

A number of people have said that Cornette seemed extremely burned out in recent months, although none were willing to defend him for raising his hands to the student. One source stated that just last week, after returning from a WWE forced vacation, Cornette snapped and walked out of a taping while claiming he was finished with the company, only to return an hour later.

No names have been speculated to who will be taking over Cornette's duties. Lance Storm finished his tenure with WWE yesterday and has headed home to Calgary. During Cornette's "vacation", Storm, Tommy Dreamer and Al Snow handled the TV end of the territory.

Cornette is considered to be one of the greatest talkers of all time. He has been with World Wrestling Entertainment since the summer of 1993, working at different points as a manager, commentary, and creative team member, prior to settling in as one of the prime instructors in OVW.

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/02/owencornette.jpg

What a shame. Cornette has a great mind for the business. His biggest problem is that he is "old school" and handles things in a different way than others. Cornette could really help out TNA or even start his own company like he did with Smokey Mountain wrestling years ago.

-Jim Cornette was released from WWE. He had been one of the main people running Ohio Valley Wrestling with owner Danny Davis. OVW is WWE's main developmental territory. Besides being an on-air presence on the show, he also wrote the TV shows. He recently was suspended (or put on a forced vacation, which he said he welcomed) for acting unprofessionally in the eyes of WWE management backstage in terms of his temper. Wednesday night in Louisville, Ky. at Davis Arena, Cornette slapped Johnny Go Basco numerous times after he reacted incorrectly in the background during an angle where The Boogey Man (Marty Wright) debuted. Everyone was supposed to react with fear, but Basco cracked up. Cornette began yelling at him and slapped him repeatedly. There were mixed feelings in the current WWE management structure on Cornette, with Jim Ross being perhaps his final defender with the power to keep him around. Others in power believed his teaching methods were "dated" and his conduct too often was "unprofessional."


World Wrestling Entertainment has released another employee, but this one may not be due to speculated cost-cutting measures.

Through its website, wwe.com, the promotion announced that longtime personality and behind-the-scenes figure James E. Cornette is no longer with the company.

Cornette's release comes on the heels of an incident at an Ohio Valley Wrestling. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, "Cornette slapped Johnny Geo Basco backstage numerous times after Geo Basco laughed during what was supposed to be a serious scary angle."

The incident occurred shortly after Cornette had come off a five-week suspension by WWE/OVW for losing his temper on numerous occasions.

Cornette has been with WWE since 1993. Originally an on-air personality as the manager of several wrestlers such as The Heavenly Bodies, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog and Vader, Cornette moved behind the microphone for some WWE programming, including the pilot episode of Smackdown. In 1996, he moved behind the scenes as a part of the WWE creative team, formatting television and pay-per-view events.

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Cornette served as a photographer, ring announcer, and wrestling magazine correspondent from the age of 15 until in 1982, at 21, when he got the chance to be a manager. The "mama's boy" was a standout manager in the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling. Most famous for being the manager of the Midnight Express, Cornette would always be seen carrying around his tennis racket, which he would use to assist his wrestlers scure victories. Cornette was also ran the Smokey Mountain Wrestling promotion, and has made indie appearances for groups such as Ring of Honor Wrestling.

In OVW, Cornette was responsible for developing WWE prospects along with head trainer Danny Davis. It is a decidedly old-school promotion. Some of the names to have been developed/groomed by OVW include Batista, John Cena, Kane, The Headbangers, Rico, Eugene, John Heidenreich, Randy Orton and Rob Conway. As well, in early 2000, Cornette was named to the NWA Board of Directors.

Cornette could not be reached for comment.

When Jim Cornette was asked about his WWE release on last night's edition of "Between the Ropes" in Florida, he sidestepped the actual incident where he struck an OVW student that was WWE management's last straw, but noted that he has no ill will towards WWE. He also said the company did him a huge favor by firing him since he was burned out. Cornette will be appearing at the NWA Legend and Wrestlereunion 2 conventions later this month, but beyond that is said to be taking it easy. He's still partners in Ohio Valley Wrestling and will be working on the promotional end. Cornette isn't expected to do anything else in the way of indy dates, unless its something special like Tony Hunter's Tribute to Starrcade event this November, until 2006 rolls around