WWE announced on its Web site that Maria, Shane "Hurricane" Helms and Paul Burchill have been released. None of the moves are much of a surprise, especially with the ECW show being done away with.
Maria, who was named Diva of the Year in a fan vote last December, said in a recent interview that she wanted to branch out in the entertainment field beyond WWE, so her release may have been something she was anticipating or possibly something she requested.
Helms, who had been with WWE since 2001, was an entertaining mid-card act as The Hurricane, but it was obvious that he was never going to be any kind of a major player. His recent arrest on a charge of alcohol intoxication in a public place probably didn't do him any favors.
I've always thought Helms was a talented performer going back to his days in 3 Count in WCW. I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up with TNA. Not only are there people there that he worked with in WCW, but Jeff Hardy – who reportedly is expected to sign with TNA at some point – is one of Helms' longtime friends.
For some reason, Burchill – a skilled wrestler with good size – never got a real opportunity to succeed in WWE.