There is no good way to get fired.
WWE wrestler Lana is no exception to the rule. When WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis broke the news via phone call as the 36-year-old was relaxing in the pool, it was a bittersweet moment.
“[Laurinaitis] says, ‘I’m calling you about your 90 days.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ I couldn’t even understand. He’s like, ‘I’m calling you about your 90 days because you’re getting released.’ My heart dropped,” Lana told the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast. “At the same time, I felt really relieved, which was really weird because I didn’t expect to feel relieved. It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders.”
Lana, whose real name is Catherine ‘CJ’ Perry, began her tenure with WWE in 2013 as a manager. She worked her way up to a wrestler in 2016, where she grew into a star that matched up with the likes of Asuka, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax.
“If someone would have told me that would happen, I would have been like ‘no way’ because I love my job and I love the people I worked with. Things are shitty at times, but that’s why it’s a job,” Lana said. “[Laurinaitis] goes, ‘Stay in touch. You’ve worked your ass off.’ I go, ‘Is there anything I did wrong?’ [Laurinaitis is] like, ‘No, you’ve worked your ass off. You’ve improved tremendously in the ring. Thank you for working hard. Stay close.’”
Lana’s husband, Miroslav ‘Miro’ Barnyashev, was let go by WWE in April 2020 as the promotion cut costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the 35-year-old formerly known as Rusev was fired, he joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Lana cannot sign a new contract until Aug. 31 when her 90-day non-compete clause expires, but many are speculating that she will join her husband at AEW.
The Florida State University graduate recently threatened to “spill the tea” on chairman and chief executive officer of WWE Vince McMahon following her dismissal from the multi-billion dollar company.