WWE announced massive furloughs and talent releases related to tightening their spending in advance of what will surely be a pessimistic earnings call next week. In addition to talent getting the axe, a lot of backstage production folks have been furloughed.
Names that have been reported so far: Karl Anderson Kurt Angle Scott Armstrong Pat Buck Mike Chioda Epico Colon Primo Colon Shawn Daivari EC3 Aiden English Fit Finlay Luke Gallows Curt Hawkins Hurricane Helms No Way Jose Maria Kanellis Mike Kanellis Billy Kidman Sarah Logan Drake Maverick Mike Rotunda Erick Rowan Rusev Lio Rush Zack Ryder Heath Slater Sarah Stock Lance Storm Eric Young
...and we'll probably be editing this post for a day or two to add even more names.
Drake Maverick was previously announced as part of a tournament to crown an interim NXT cruiserweight champion - in this video he says he's still competing, so expect him to eventually do the job.
If only Vince had a ridiculous amount of millions sitting around in the bank available to pay everyone. He could have come out of this looking good. Instead he comes out of it looking like someone so interested in his own money he makes people perform weekly despite it being unnecessary and fires what may well end up being a hundred or so employees. He may well have screwed himself over completely.
I know everyone is waiting to hear my response to my release from WWE but after 16 years I’m going to need a little more than a few hours to really digest all my thoughts and emotions. For now, thank you all for all of your kind words and support during this time.
The only thing I wanted to do in life was wrestle. I’m grateful I spent 14 years living my dream in WWE. Thanks to my fans & everyone who believed in me. As I was getting released, I was looking at this photo & smiling. I’m #AlwayzReady & beyond excited for the future. #NotTherepic.twitter.com/uKRVK7FboI
Last time I got fired I had a really funny tweet in response to it. Doesn’t really feel appropriate today. I will say this, a lot of very talented ppl lost their jobs today and out of this disaster the PRO WRESTLING community will rise stronger than ever! 🤘🏻
ec3 character synopsis Created by a perfect storm of frustration, angst, restraint, solitude and the sense of losing everything, the character of ec3 forced himself to consider the inconceivable. That he was defeated. pic.twitter.com/63vA5avDgg
1) Furlough is not something I know much about. But, how do you furlough an independent contractor?
2) I didn't know Lance Storm was on WWE's "payroll" ?
3) Am pretty sure that Cody, Matt & Nick, Kenny, & Tony have all been constantly recharging their cell phones all day today. It'll be an entertaining BTE next Monday.
3) Am pretty sure that Cody, Matt & Nick, Kenny, & Tony have all been constantly recharging their cell phones all day today. It'll be an entertaining BTE next Monday.
WWE can do this now because AEW isn’t making a lot of new money and there is no indie running anywhere. Other than looking really shitty and shoot interviews none of this will hurt them in the near future, because there is nowhere for these people to show up to a shocked crowd reaction. Vince is good friends with Trump, so he might have gotten some long term inside information that makes him think that things will not be changing for quite awhile.
I think there will be a lot more releases coming. Deonna Purrazzo says she’s gone. The NXT releases could be massive.
3) Am pretty sure that Cody, Matt & Nick, Kenny, & Tony have all been constantly recharging their cell phones all day today. It'll be an entertaining BTE next Monday.
WWE can do this now because AEW isn’t making a lot of new money and there is no indie running anywhere. Other than looking really shitty and shoot interviews none of this will hurt them in the near future, because there is nowhere for these people to show up to a shocked crowd reaction. Vince is good friends with Trump, so he might have gotten some long term inside information that makes him think that things will not be changing for quite awhile.
Who has deeper pockets though? Vince or Tony?
I hope, pray, and am willing to bet that this situation won't last forever though. Who can sit, wait, and flat out outlast the other?
One notable difference is that WWE is publicly traded, so Vince has to answer to investors, etc. Tony just has to answer to daddy. :-) And daddy's probably more concerned with whether there'll be an NFL season to deal with.
When I was an independent contractor, if the hiring party told me that I wasn't getting paid any more (Isn't that the main thing of "furlough"?), I'm pretty sure that'd mean to me "termination of contract". Including things like non-compete clauses, etc. But then, WWE contracts seem to beasts all in their own right -- for all I know, they have a "furlough" clause built in already!!
Thread ahead: Body of WWE Shad Gaspard washes up on Venice Beach Next thread: Anyone watching 'The Dark Side of the Ring'? Previous thread: Drew Gulak Released by WWE
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