Earl Hebner Interested In WWE Return, Talks About Impact Wrestling Departure
Earl Hebner would love to be back in the WWE.
Hebner discussed his departure from Impact Wrestling to Sports Illustrated recently. Hebner cites his departure due to Impact's ongoing financial problem. One pay cut too many recently led to him to ask for his release.
“We thought the new company had it all worked out when they bought it, but they’ve been having financial problems” he said. “I feel like I’ve been paying them. It’s been pay cut after pay cut, so I asked for my release. Some of the wrestlers were only getting paid $100 a day. That’s a slap in the face to the wrestlers.”
He also talked about the other two referees Impact let go: his son Brian Hebner and longtime referee Brian Stiffler.
“My son, Brian, also wanted his release, and then they asked Brian Stiffler to be the senior ref” said Hebner. “But the money he’d have made there would have been spent on expenses on the road, so he quit, too.”
Now that he's left Impact Wrestling, Hebner would like a chance to referee at least one more match for the WWE. It's not known if WWE has expressed any interest yet, but it is something Hebner would like to do.
“I would love to go back to WWE and finish my life in this business right there” he said. “Vince McMahon was always good to me, and he gave me the opportunity to be who I am and what I am. I would love to go back and, if nothing else, do one more match to say thank you very much for what you’ve done for me.”
Hebner was released from WWE in 2005 after allegations of selling merchandise without WWE's permission. He had been working with TNA since 2006 until his departure this fall.
