It’s been a few days since Lena Yada‘s not-so-shocking release and now the Wrestling Observer has released all the juicy details! And as many of you suspected, Lena was partly released because of the impending arrival of Gail Kim. Thanks to Lee for sending along the following:
Regarding the release of ECW backstage announcer Lena Yada, there are two reasons behind her departure from World Wrestling Entertainments (besides the cost cutting measure).
The company wanted to eventually use her as a wrestler. Though obviously athletic due to her time as a former top ranked professional tandem surfer, she had not progressed much as a wrestler. There were actually ideas tossed around to capitalize on her surfing background, but Vince McMahon nixed them immediately and the creative team got the message. This time last year, McMahon had to be convinced to sign her to a contract coming off her tenure in the Diva Search. The creative team lobbied for her, saying she had a unique look that stood out among your usual blond silicone Diva types. The lobbying paid off as she was signed to a deal and started on television at the start of 2008 — even before the official WWE debut of 2007 Diva Search winner Eve Torres.
Following the news of Yada’s departure from World Wrestling Entertainment, a number of fans speculated online that Yada was being let go as a result of the recent hiring of former TNA Knockout Gail Kim, who is of course Asian too. As it turns out, the speculation appears to be correct. According to one source, as soon as WWE signed Gail Kim (who is indeed under contract to the company), both Vince and Stephanie McMahon felt there was no reason to have Yada on the roster anymore since “they looked too much alike.”
I’m pretty shocked, to be honest. I guess I was looking through rose-coloured glasses, because I never thought that Lena’s release would have anything to do with Gail. That’s really sad and pathetic. It’s ironic that WWE jumps at the opportunity to hire cookie-cutter blondes that can’t barely be resembled from one another. Is Tiffany not just Kelly Kelly 2.0? I was never a fan of Lena, but that’s really unfortunate and as Lauren Conrad would say, extremely shady.
Posted by 
November 13, 2008 at 2:19 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OMG THATS SOOOO FUNNY
XD
November 13, 2008 at 2:19 pm
THEY ONLY WANTED HER BECAUSE SHE WAS ASIAN
XD
November 13, 2008 at 2:21 pm
^ Yes, just like the only have Eve becuase she is spanish.
Anyways that really sucks for Lena. I like Gail Kim a lot more but honestly they could have at least given Lena a chance. She obv didn’t improve becuase she didnt get much ring time but whatever. I’m more interested in when Gail is debuting.
November 13, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I agree, Jane. I think it sucks for Lena that she’s out of a job but wouldn’t most fans rather have Gail?
November 13, 2008 at 2:31 pm
I wouldn’t say Tiffany is Kelly 2.0. Kelly is attractive, Tiffany on the other hand, is not.
November 13, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Why don’t they do this with white girls?! This is the one thing I hate about the WWE. So Melina, Eve, Layla, Victoria and the Twins are the minorities right? But basically Melina and Layla are really the only visibily minority Divas. Even in that Layla is not Jackie Moore. I like TNA because of their diversity alot. On my gosh! We can’t have 2 asians..they all look alike!!!! What’s worse is Gail is Korean and Lena is Japanese…what a typical stereotype of two Asian people!!
November 13, 2008 at 5:48 pm
That is really sad. I feel bad for Lena but hey what can you do WWE works in mysterious ways. Maybe she can go to TNA and be the new Gail? Or WWE could have made the storyline Gail Kim vs Lena Yada with the loser leaving the WWE?
I’m just saying!
November 13, 2008 at 6:11 pm
This is cruel, but far from unexpected in WWE Land. Ah, well…
“Alas, poor Lena, I knew her…not so well, really.”
November 13, 2008 at 7:52 pm
It’s a shame that when it comes to the WWE that there can only be room for one asian in the mix. Although I’m not all that high on Lena, being asian myself, it upsets me that WWE would make that kind of judgement. I suppose there’s no room for Angela Fong then since she resembles Gail now too??
November 13, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Pfft… Lena Looks Like Gail Kim.. Riiiight.
I Dont See Any Resemblances! xD
November 13, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I actually wanted to see that Lena was only released based on a roster cut only, but I knew inside that it was an Asian thing, and I didn’t want to believe it…but surprise surprise. Being Asian myself, this is totally inappropriate. How can WWE justify her release by letting her go based on the fact that Lena and Gail look similar? Gail is Korean and Lena is Japanese! Like seriously, are they going to release Angela, who’s Chinese, based on the fact that she’s Asian too, and Gail is the better wrestler? I haven’t seen Lena wrestle, so I can’t make any judgements based on ring work, however, I’ve seen Angela’s ring work, and from I’ve seen, and what others have said, Angela is a really exceptional wrestler. I’m upset. This is not right.
November 14, 2008 at 12:14 am
I was never a huge Lena fan or anything, but I can’t help but feel for her here. That’s really not right to let her go just because of the fact that she’s Asian. And even as far as that goes, I don’t think that they look that much alike.
And also, that is very true that they never do this with all of their generic blonde girls.
November 14, 2008 at 4:10 am
Thats really unfair and sad, funny cause WWE is rambling to do more international shows as a way to gain larger audiences yet they get rid of an Asian girl because “they look alike”. WOW! Nice one!
November 14, 2008 at 6:02 pm
thats not rite.
i mean in my honest opinion i think Lena is prettier.
but dont get me wrong Gail is so amazingly beautiful.
November 15, 2008 at 12:57 am
WOW!
I can’t believe that! That is sooooo messed up, they should’ve kept her and then Lena and Gail could’ve been a tag team or something.
November 15, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I was looking forward to Lena, Gail Kim and Angela Fong forming one heck of a trio and taking on the other Divas for a title or two. Well so much for that thought! Very sad!
November 16, 2008 at 12:07 am
I was never a fan of lena but it’s still pretty unfair the way she got released hopefully tiffany’s next