I've reached this conclusion following the release of a Newsweek article that was published online yesterday afternoon that covered Mauro Ranallo's departure from WWE.
The piece, despite not giving any indication as to why Ranallo and WWE have parted ways, went all-in in reporting that JBL was not a factor in any of the issues behind the former-Smackdown commentator's exit.
'WWE and I have mutually agreed to part ways. It has nothing to do with JBL,' is what Ranallo is quoted as stating in an email to the news magazine.
This despite two of Ranallo's friends - MMA fighters Bas Rutten and Pat Miletich - both taking to Twitter within past few weeks to air their displeasure at Layfield.
When the story was getting hot, and with a proposition market available where customers could bet on JBL still being employed by WWE on July 1st on Paddy Power's WWE Betting Page, I noted that a major news outlet or sponsor would have to get involved for WWE to react.
Ironically, the major news outlet strengthened the chance of JBL still being employed following the schism between Ranallo and WWE.
The aforementioned market was published on April 13th with the 'Yes' opening at 4/6 and the 'No' at 11/10.
Within a day, the customers had sided with 'Yes'. They continued to back it all the way to early this week before it was taken down.
Here's how the prices moved right down to Tuesday, which is the last day I saw the market on the website.
The bets will be graded in July.
If this is the end of the story, the punters who took the 'Yes' will have a winner.
