Today, after some time that I haven't blogged in, I blog on a rather sad note. Not many will understand, but whatever.
The Wrestling Observer reported that, sometime over the weekend, Paul Lloyd Jr. - better known as Justin Gabriel - quit his work situation with WWE. It comes surprising, on one hand, and yet kind of expected on the other.
Justin Gabriel had been a participant in the very first season of NXT, together with Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, and the man that's now known as Ryback. He has been part of The Nexus as well as The New Nexus and The Corre, and teamed together with Heath Slater (being two times Tag Team Champions with him), Tyson Kidd, and The Usos.
He also stared in the first season of Total Divas and was overall known as a very fan-friendly wrestler.
I had had the opportunity to meet him back in 2012 in Zürich, and he was... What can I say, he was gold. Friendly, chatty, and just an overall sweet guy. I liked him, in the ring and behind the microphone - even though many say he doesn't show any charisma on the mic.
Yet, what had happened to him in the past years should have been some kind of indication of his parting. It took me as a surprise, actually, that he hadn't been among those wrestlers that were fired by WWE last year. Being mistreated and not used to his full potential must have been frustrating.
Now, he took the one obvious consequence and quit.
And yet, I can't help but see the positive side of this. In my eyes, WWE lost a lot of it's potential, influence, and flair it had held over the last years, gradually yet also drastically. Thus, maybe Lloyd left a sinking ship just in time.
From interviews and from seeing him in the ring at least in earlier years, his passion for wrestling will not subside. My hopes, and predictions, for him is to find a place in another promotion, one that is able to appreciate his high flying talent. The first that jumps to mind for me aren't TNA or ROH though, but Lucha Underground.
for a few weeks, we've been following this promotion now, and it looks more than promising! Former WWE talent have found their spot there, like Chavo, John Morrison, or Ezekiel Jackson (all, with the exception of Chavo, under new names). Why shouldn't a high flyer like Lloyd find his way into a promotion that rewards talented wrestlers, especially when they have a passion for top rope wrestling?
I will keep my eyes and ears open!
Edit: So, according to WWE, he was released. Don't know if I'm buying it.
Edit: Seems like he doesn't stay unemployed for long! PWS already announced him as being a part of their Frozen Fallout event - under the name PJ Black.
