So yesterday, WWE Diva
Emma - real name Tenille Dashwood - was
arrested for allegedly shoplifting a $21.14 iPad case from a Walmart in Hartford, CT. She was charged with "misdemeanor larceny in the 6th degree." Within a day's time, she went to court and was sentenced to one day of community service. Emma's lawyer maintained that the whole thing was a mistake that happened while using a self-checkout machine.
This afternoon, WWE.com posted the following...
WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Diva Emma as of today, July 2, 2014. WWE wishes Emma the best in all her future endeavors.
We all know how much the WWE hates bad press. Plus, they happen to be in the midst of
some serious budget cuts.
But about a little over an hour later (and a notable amount of online complaints), the WWE seemed to
change their minds about the entire thing.
Upon further evaluation, WWE has reinstated Tenille Dashwood (WWE Diva Emma) but will take appropriate punitive action for her violation of the law.
Wrestlezone speculates that the WWE may have initially fired her because the arrest would have violated her work visa, making it so she'd have to return to her home country of Australia. And that perhaps they were able to clear up the visa issue, allowing them to reinstate her.
So Emma was jobless for small moment there this afternoon. It still remains to be seen if or how she could be punished on WWE TV or backstage (lose a ton of matches or not be featured at all or given an actual shoplifting gimmick, etc.), but for now she's got a paycheck.