By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Former WWE wrestler Hurricane Helms spoke out against WWE's independent contractor classification for wrestlers during an interview on the "Pro Wrestling Report" on ESPN 540 in Milwaukee. Helms also called out WWE on the statement that talent average $550,000 in annual salary.

"I can see both sides of it to a degree. The way they treat us - the restrictions they place aren't restrictions you give to an independent contractor," said Helms, who was released by WWE on February 26. "WWE places all these other rules on you. You can't work for anybody else, you can't do this, you can't do that, which are rules that really shouldn't apply to an independent contractor, but to an employee."

Helms cited WWE's classification of wrestlers as independent contractors as opposed to employees as a way to not pay taxes. "The only reason they do that is to benefit themselves and it's of no benefit to the independent contractor at all," Helms claimed.

Helms also coined a potential new phrase to describe WWE's classification. "It's not an independent contractor; it's an exclusive contractor. You're signed to an exclusive contractor and you're an employee, but without employee benefits."

When the topic of WWE recently claiming talent make $550,000 on average per year, Helms called out WWE on that statement. He said the top wrestlers bring up the average and claimed some lower-card wrestlers are making between $300 and $500 per week.

"That's total bulls---. That's the biggest (expletive) lie I've ever heard them say. That's a monstrous lie," Helms said. "I'll tell you why - what they're doing is comparing top guys's salary, but what lower card guys and mid-card guys and upper mid-card guys get is nothing compared to what that one percent of the top guys get."

In that same vein, Helms criticized WWE's "youth movement," claiming it's a way to utilize wrestlers who aren't getting paid that much to avoid paying more money to established stars.

"That's the whole thing with the youth movement. They bring these guys up from FCW because they're paying them beans. Some of these guys are getting $300 or $400 per week and that's before taxes. After taxes, you talking about McDonald's money," he said. "And these guys are going out there destroying their bodies. I'm not saying that because I'm bitter, but because it's a fact."

Helms also addressed WWE's statement that talent only work three shows per week on average to deflect criticism of the wrestlers needing time off. Helms said that doesn't take into account travel. "Travel was very hard and air travel makes it worse," he said.

-- On other topics, Helms called his run on the ECW brand, where he played a split personality of wrestler and announcer, "total misery." He said the company "was different" from when he started compared to when he left.

"I don't want to come off bitter because I loved being there, but it's a different company from when I was there," he said. Helms said one big change is the lack of organization at TV tapings where shows are being re-written up until the taping begins.

One example he claimed was not knowing until 3:00 p.m. the day of a Smackdown TV taping that he would be making his in-ring return against MVP. This was in December 2008 after he re-appeared doing the "Hurrapop" vignettes.

-- Helms also plugged an upcoming "shoot interview" he'll be conducting through Matt and Jeff Hardy's Internet reality show series.

Audio: Helms's interview segment can be heard on pwrshow.com or in the audio player below.

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