We are down a useless Diva! Lena Yada has officially been pink-slipped by WWE. The Diva was part of the 2007 Diva Search before being introduced as an ECW backstage interviewer. The release comes just one week after Lena was involved in her first match on WWE television (don’t quote me on that) on Raw, when she was on the winning heel team of the 16-Diva tag team match.
Other than that, Lena hadn’t done much of note. She did appear in the Halloween Costume Contest at Cyber Sunday and surprisingly, her ninja outfit was my favourite of the night. Lena was briefly involved in the year-long Kelly Kelly-Layla feud earlier in the year also.
Due to the economic downturn, WWE is hoping to cut $20m worth of costs and thus, releases have been handed out left, right and centre. With Lena gone, I’m hoping for Tiffany to go next, as all the other Divas seem to be in prime television roles.
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November 10, 2008 at 5:56 pm
I’m actually sad about her being released (and not just because I run a livejournal fan community for her). I don’t think the WWE really knew what to do with her, so she never really had a chance. Plus, her birthday’s coming up soon. Happy birthday, eh?
November 10, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I am just a little bit upset about this just because I really wanted to see lena get really involved in some action.
But I dont want to see tiffany go!!!! She is 1 of my favs!
November 10, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Sad news all around … first it was Gail Kim four years ago, and now Lena Yada … who is next … Angela Fong?
November 10, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I don’t see a relation between Gail’s release and Lena’s other than both being Asian. I know you’re a big Gail fan, but I highly doubt that Lena’s release has anything to do with Gail or the racist implications your comment suggests.
November 10, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I agree with you mel about john.
I dont see it either.
November 10, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I think Gail’s return has a little to do with it in the sense of the WWE doesn;t have to spend alot of time training her for a possible “Asian Sensation” gimmick feud or something. I feel bad. I like her, but she didn’t do anything. I’ve got a bad feeling she won’t bethe only one. I’m kinda worried for Katie. I think we’ll be happy a useless one got released but a good one will get released too. Katie hasn’t even been in the WWE for a year. Hopefully not today its her birthday!
November 10, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I’m kinda worried for Katie too, I hope not… But I could see both her and Paul Burchill going.
November 10, 2008 at 6:46 pm
I am through commenting here … thanks but no thanks.
November 10, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Erm okay.
November 10, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Oh lord, open the floodgates..
November 10, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I think it’s sad to see anyone lose a job, especially with the way the economy is going, but really this just makes me wonder who’s next like you all have been speculating. I can’t imagine cutting Lena, Elijah Burke, and Kenny Dykstra really pushed WWE over the top with cost cutting.
November 10, 2008 at 7:11 pm
that sucks, and she was training too! maybe she’ll pop in on TNA, they need to have new interviewer anyways that other girl is boring, Lol i don’t really think her being Asian had anything to do with it especially with gail kim coming in, plus Angela is still around and i really truly believe it’s one of those situations were they probably felt she was expendable it’s a sucky and sad thing but it’s no shock they’ve done it to other girls meaning putting her in the catagory of the likes of Joy Giovanni, Rochelle Lowen, Anastasia, Amy Webber. oh well i wish her the best.
November 10, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Wasn’t Lena making some inexplicably huge amount of money per-appereance? That’s probably why she was the first, I say first because the Diva roster is huge right now and with Gail coming in with her well-deserved nice deal we’re sure to see a few more Divas heading out the door before this is all over…. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tiffany or Katie Lea go. (thought Tiffany seems to be a favorite for some reason and if she’s willing to pose for Playboy they might keep her around) Or even…and it hurts to say it…WWE and Victoria coming to a deal since she was hinting at retirement already anyway…
On their own the contracts probably don’t amount to much but added together it’s an easy way to cut costs. I personally wouldn’t mind seeing them go down to smaller rosters all around since they barely use half the talent as it is. Small rosters might mean that everyone would be used and hopefully better storylines for them… And I’d rather see them get rid of people they don’t bother putting on TV anyway then have it be someone I actually like…
But with Lena gone who will they waste all the photo shoots on> Maybe they’ll actually let Beth get more than one a month… *meh*
November 10, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I don’t really feel happy or sad about this. Lena was quite neutral to me.
I, too, am very worried for Katie Lea, and I really hope she stays. She is one of the Divas that actually has a good bit of skill. She could do great things if it weren’t for the horrible booking that WWE does for their Divas.
November 10, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I agree with Taylor Jade, Lena was quite neutral to me. Although she was traing to wrestle and have a possible feud with Tiffany, WWE rarley put her on TV to build her up as a wrestler.
Now that she’s gone it gives WWE to bring up another Diva to any brand maybe they’ll bring another Asian Miss Angela in Lena’s place.
November 10, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I think its not a big deal at all about Lena being let go. She really hasn’t done anything at all. I see Tiffany or Katie being next too…and i know this is kinda old but i also didnt get the gail kim, lena, miss angela comment either hahaha
November 10, 2008 at 8:18 pm
No real loss here. Lena was being used sparingly as is, and with Fong and (possibly) Gail Kim, the writing was on the wall for Yada.
November 10, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I woldn’t be up set if either katie lea or the bellas were to go next.
But I have a feeling that it will be tiffany or eve,
If jillian gets the axe I am so done with wwe!!!
November 10, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I actually liked Lena. It’s too bad she only had one match on WWE television, and never got into the action. I really doubt it’s an issue of being there being too many Asian women. Perhaps if WWE let’s go of Angela Fong, then there’s obviously a problem, but she’s still there training and improving, so racism isn’t the issue at the moment. Like with many superstars floating around backstage, Lena wasn’t given anything to do. We know she’s been training at UPW and FCW, but I guess there wasn’t enough time to train and still have a cross-over appeal with the fans. I wish Lena all the best, and hope that no more Divas get cut, well…some Divas anyway…
November 10, 2008 at 10:31 pm
it kinda makes me sad.
cuz they could of at least put time and effort into her
she could have been a good heel.
and i hear she was training.
oh well i just hope no more divas get realeased “/
she is very pretty though =]
November 10, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Im sad only because I think Lena is pretty likable. I also get sad when any diva gets released without being able to show what she can do.
November 10, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I’m kinda eh about this. I was starting to like Lena but whatever. I don’t know why people think Tiffany is next. She has been on ECW more than Lena has her whole time with wwe, lol. Tiffany doesn’t bother, she has been training in FCW as long as Eve has (I think).
November 10, 2008 at 11:13 pm
poor lena i really wanted to see wat she could do dammit….she was one hot asian i wonder if tiffany will stay cause i dont like her…..hope she goes soon too
November 10, 2008 at 11:20 pm
christi, actually Katie Lea has been with WWE for 2 years- (that includes her development years)
November 11, 2008 at 1:30 am
Not too upset about this. I did warm up to her a bit, but she didn’t bring anything to the table really. She seems like a really nice person, so I hope she finds lots of success outside of wrestling.
November 11, 2008 at 1:34 am
That sucks, I was looking foward to Lena getting in the ring and she was a good backstage interviewer. Il miss her, I thought she could have had a good feud with Eve.
November 11, 2008 at 3:56 am
Poor Lena, I was actually really enjoying her halloween custome too, but she was the most likely of all the current on-air divas to get axed. Tiffany could go next for all I care, maybe then they can start a small diva division on ECW with fresh faces like Fong, Alicia, or even bring Gail in there to be kinda like the Victoria of SD & help these ladies improve.. I could also see Katie being axed soon, she really has nothing going for her. Just hope they keep Jillian over her.
November 11, 2008 at 5:28 am
im actually sad
once you think of it the poor girl never had a chance
oh well i will get over it in a day or so like cherry
November 11, 2008 at 10:11 am
“Lena Yada was the Asian interview girl on ECW that never showed a spark of charisma. They wanted her to do some stuff in the ring but she wasn’t really any good there either. According to one source, as soon as they signed Gail Kim (who is signed, sealed and delivered) Vince and Stephanie felt there was no reason to have Yada on the roster as well since they “looked too much alike”. ”
From Monday’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter!
November 11, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Mann I feel really bad for Lena because of all that training shes did for the pass year!!! Everybody says WWE had nothing planned for her but, they could’ve just put her in a fued with Tifffany that would’ve been great to see (well atleast to me). I just wanna Say Happy Birthday Lena!!!
November 11, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I seriously hope Tiffany is not released.
November 12, 2008 at 3:01 pm
DAMN ain’t that some shit! ugh that bothers me so much if that Gail and Lena comparison thing is true then that disappointments me cause I’m black and Filipino i get mistaken for Dominican all the time and it just kinda sucks that WWE isn’t open to the many shades of ethnicity. Damn i hope they don’t release any developmental talent cause if the get rid of Angela or Victoria Crawford then that speaks volumes, personal feelings aside i think it’s fair to say most would like to see a Black, Hispanic, or Asian in the spotlight for once. Thank god for LAYLA! lol she’s reppin everyone!