Search Results: "producers"

NEWS

The Bella Twins Leaving WWE, Announce Name Change

March 15, 2023

Time to move on. Nikki and Brie Bella announced on their Sirius XM show, The Nikki & Brie Show, that they are officially leaving WWE and will now be known as ‘The Garcia Twins’. They also posted the following video on Twitter: Hi I’m Nikki Garcia, Hi I’m Brie Garcia. And we’re the Garcia Twins. ???? Welcome to our next chapter! ?????????????? pic.twitter.com/w6GQM0P7Zi — Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) March 14, 2023 From People Magazine, who exclusively broke the story: Nikki further explained that dropping their Bella identities was difficult, but the women feel it’s time to embrace a “new chapter” in their lives. “We’re going to be 40 in November,” Nikki explains, adding that they’re both now enjoying life as mothers, entrepreneurs, hosts, and executive producers. When it was time for them to renew their contract with the WWE, Nikki explains that they “just knew it was time to head into this next chapter.” Brie adds she’s “so excited to close the chapter on Brie Bella” and open ..

NEWS

He Nailed It: Vince McMahon Refused To Let Kevin Nash Do Striptease

December 24, 2022

That’s a different way to go. Wrestlers are very talented stars as they have to put in a lot of effort to get as far as they do in their careers. You can see when someone becomes a star in the ring, but many of them have other careers or interests as well. Now a WWE Hall of Famer is telling a story about how he was not allowed to pursue another career, at least in one instance. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: He’s In: Kevin Owens Reveals Current WWE Contract Status And Likely Future During a recent edition of his Kliq This, WWE Hall Of Famer Kevin Nash revealed that he had read for a role in the 1995 movie Striptease. Nash said that he “nailed it” and the producers were interested in using him, but Vince McMahon would not allow him to miss that much time. The role eventually went to Ving Rhames. Nash has dabbled in acting, both before and after his in-ring career ended. Nash is talented in multiple ways. Check out the clip (which includes some other interesting bits), plus some of his better..

NEWS

Welcome Back? Controversial 43 Year Old Former Star Working Backstage At Survivor Series

November 28, 2022

Another hand. There are a lot of people needed to make a wrestling show work and a lot of them are not people you see in front of the camera. In addition to the wrestlers, there are coaches and producers who help put the matches together. WWE has a large group of such producers and this week saw them bring back a name to help things out a bit, though it might not be so well received. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Next Big Thing: Triple H Reveals Brock Lesnar Is Selling Meat According to Fightful Select, Brian Kendrick served as a producer on the SmackDown Women’s Title match between Ronda Rousey and Shotzi at Survivor Series, assisting Jason Jordan. According to PWInsider.com, Kendrick was working on a tryout and has not been hired by WWE. Kendrick was scheduled to make his AEW debut in February but the appearance was pulled after controversial comments involving conspiracy theories made by Kendrick resurfaced before his match. The match was rather watchable. Check out how it went, plu..

NEWS

Verdict Reached In Randy Orton Tattoo Trial, Amount Of Money Awarded

October 3, 2022

And that’s that. WWE has long since become the biggest wrestling company in the world and as a result the company has more money than they know what to do with most of the time. That is quite the accomplishment, but it also means that they have a target on them with others trying to take some of that money from them. Now someone is going to, but it might not be what they had in mind. Back in 2018, tattoo artist Catherine Alexander sued WWE, Take-Two Interactive Software and the developers of the WWE2K video game series. The suit was filed claiming copyright infringement over tattoos that Alexander created for Randy Orton, which appeared in the game. WWE and the game’s producers claimed that the tattoos fell under fair use while Alexander claimed that she never gave permission for the tattoos to be used. According to PWInsider.com, the case came to trial last week and the jury found in favor of Alexander, awarding her $3,750 but no royalties from the game sales. Opinion: It may sound ..

NEWS

AEW Has Two Surprising Names Producing Matches And Coaching

September 23, 2022

a Now we know some of the newer people who are helping put those matches together. According to Fightful Select, both Luther and Serpentico have been working as backstage producers for AEW in recent weeks. Luther produced an unspecified match on this week’s Grand Slam edition of Rampage. It is not clear how long or which matches Serpentico has been producing. The two of them have teamed together as the Chaos Project, mainly working on Dark and Dark: Elevation. Opinion: This is a bit of a surprise but it does make sense to have some fresh minds producing some of the company’s matches. It can help a lot to have someone new get in on the job, if nothing else to take pressure off some of the more established producers. Serpentico and Luther might not be the top stars in AEW but they seem to have some skill in this area so maybe there is something to it. What do you think of the move? Who else would make a good AEW coach? Let us know in the comments below. Please share this story on Face..

NEWS

Feel The Pinch: WWE Budget Cuts Causing Backstage Issues

July 10, 2022

That’s not going to go well. WWE needs a lot of people behind the scenes to make a show work well. While the wrestlers are the focal points of the show, there are several people who work together to make the wrestlers look better. In WWE, these people are called producers, and now it seems that they are going to be doing a good bit more work for the foreseeable future. According to PWInsider.com, budget cuts in WWE have caused the company to not use as many producers. This includes Curtis Axel and Ariya Daivari not being brought in full time after a tryout that began just after WrestleMania 38. The producers had been hoping for more help to be brought in due to the amount of work needed in the job but budget cuts have prevented this from happening. As a result, the WWE producers are described as being “extremely overworked”. Opinion: This is one of those things that keeps happening in WWE and it shouldn’t be a surprise when the situation is not going well backstage. It also can’t be ..

NEWS

WATCH: Former Intercontinental Champion Makes WWE Return In A Different Role

June 1, 2022

Welcome back. There have been a lot of wrestlers throughout WWE’s history but not all of them have been able to make the biggest impact. While several wrestlers have become famous over the company’s history, there are also some who have become more infamous for one reason or another. Someone who is more in the middle made his return to WWE television this week, albeit in a very different role. This week’s edition of WWE Monday Night Raw featured a brawl between Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes as part of the build towards their match inside Hell In A Cell this Sunday. The brawl featured several referees and producers attempting to hold the two apart, including former Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel. This was the first appearance for Axel on WWE TV since he returned to the company as a producer just after WrestleMania 38. You might be able to see him. Check out the brawl between Rollins and Rhodes: [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: This is one of those cool cameo..

NEWS

WWE Backstage Producer Seems To Receive A Promotion

May 15, 2022

It’s an upgrade. There are a lot of people who make a wrestling show work and several of them are not even in the ring. While the wrestlers themselves are the people who put on the matches, there are others who work with them to get everything ready. In WWE, these people are called producers and now another former wrestler has received a promotion backstage. According to Fightful Select, Ariya Daivari worked on his own as a producer at this week’s Main Event taping. Daivari produced the Apollo Crews vs. Akira Tozawa match on his own, marking the first time he has done so. This comes after Daivari and Curtis Axel received tryout as producers in WWE, with Axel working on this week’s SmackDown. There is no word on if the two are now full time producers. Opinion: It is nice to see WWE bringing in some fresh blood to the producers’ ranks, as you are only going to get so far with the same people doing the same matches over and over. Daivari and Axel can offer a fresh perspective on the mat..

NEWS

Good News About Future Of Popular Wrestling Series

May 3, 2022

We’re not done yet. There is so much history to professional wrestling that there is no chance in telling all of its stories. With so many characters, angles and plot twists both in front of and behind the scenes, the stories never really end. Now it seems that we might be getting to hear some more of those stories from one of the more prominent pairs of storytellers in a long time. Last week, VICE TV released its slate of programming for the 2022-23 television season. The slate was missing Dark Side Of The Ring, the professional wrestling documentary series, suggesting that the show might be canceled. However, on Monday, the VICE TV Twitter account sent out a message saying that they were committed to the series, with its producers Evan Husney and Jason Eisener working on new material. There is no word on when or where the new material will appear. We've heard some rumors flying around about Season 4 of Dark Side of the Ring. We are as committed as ever to both the series and t..

NEWS

WWE Hall Of Famer Announces Return To WWE This Summer

April 23, 2022

Welcome back. There are a lot of people who are involved in making a wrestling show work. In addition to having the wrestlers in the ring doing everything they need to do, there are also the people behind the scenes who help put the whole presentation together. It makes sense for those people to have a great background in wrestling and now WWE is getting back one of its Hall of Famer producers. During a recent edition of his Table Talk podcast, WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley announced that he will be returning to his role as a producer on June 15. This comes after Dudley has been away from the ring since having spinal surgery back in February. Dudley has worked for WWE as a producer since 2016. It is not clear which brand he will be working on when he returns. Opinion: It’s always great to see someone getting back to work after missing time due to health issues. Dudley is someone that has the experience and the reputation to make an impact on the WWE roster and he has been around lon..

NEWS

Welcome Back? Two Former WWE Stars Receive Tryout To Return In A Different Role

April 9, 2022

They’re familiar with the product. There are a lot of people who make a WWE show work and a lot of them are not going to be seen in person. The wrestlers are the most important players, but those people need some help to put together what you see in the ring. With the right help, they can make almost anything work, and now WWE is looking at bringing in some new help. According to Fightful Select, former WWE stars Curtis Axel and Ariya Daivari were given tryouts as producers this week at SmackDown. Axel worked with TJ Wilson on the Liv Morgan vs. Sasha Banks match while Daivari worked with Chris Park on Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn. Both Axel and Daivari were released from the company within the last two years. This comes after Pat Buck left his role as a producer after WrestleMania 38, leaving a spot available. Opinion: I’m not sure if Axel and Daivari will work well as producers, but it is a good sign to see WWE bringing in some fresh names to try their hand at the job. That is somet..

NEWS

NBCUniversal Developing A New Scripted Wrestling Series

April 4, 2022

That could be interesting. Professional wrestling is about telling stories and there have been some very interesting ones told over the years. This has made for some fascinating television as you can see how all of the characters come together to make something work. Now we might be seeing a twist on it though, as we could be seeing a show about the business itself. According to Deadline, NBCUniversal is developing a series called Pinned, which will be set in a fictional wrestling promotion. The series will have FOX Sports’ Tom Rinaldi and Vince McMahon as executive producers and is described as: “…an “adrenalized” upstairs-downstairs soap that gives a behind-the-scenes look at a fictional wrestling promotion and the “unforgettable” characters that populate it. Pinned offers a front-row seat into the eccentric wrestling culture and the mayhem that exists between the locker room and the boardroom.” There is no word on when or where the series will air, as NBCUniversal has not tied it..

NEWS

Another Backstage Name Leaves WWE After WrestleMania

April 4, 2022

They’ll need a replacement. There are a lot of people who work together to make a WWE show work. While the wrestlers are the most obvious, they are also going to need some help getting things set up in the first place. That can be easier said than done but WWE has an experienced staff of people backstage helping. However, that staff is now going to be one person short. According to PWInsider.com, WWE producer Pat Buck has finished up with the company after WrestleMania 38. Buck helped produce Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte and Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, which was enough for him to feel that he has accomplished his goals. He is also leaving to spend more time with his family and working at his Create-A-Pro wrestling school and WrestlePro promotion. Opinion: This is something that happens a lot as you see the lineup of producers changing at a somewhat regular rate. At the end of the day, being a WWE producer is not the easiest job in the world as there are a lot of peop..

NEWS

Backstage Update On WWE Producer Being Away From Work

February 11, 2022

That’s a good reason. There are a lot of people who help the wrestlers make a WWE show that much better. While the people in the ring have a lot to do with the strength of a show, the people backstage work rather hard to make a show work. The producers do a lot to make the show work, but one of them has been missing backstage. It turns out that it isn’t for the worst reason. Earlier this month, reports surfaced that several women did not want to work in the women’s Royal Rumble because TJ Wilson, better known as Tyson Kidd, was not working as a producer on the show. This was reportedly due to Wilson being unhappy with how things had been going in the company, but that does not seem to be the case. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Wilson is on good terms with WWE and is taking time off to allow his neck to heal. Wilson’s neck injury caused the end of his in-ring career and led to him being offered the producer job in WWE. Opinion: That is nice to hear, as Wilson seems t..

NEWS

How A Missing WWE Producer Caused Problems At The Royal Rumble

February 4, 2022

You need the right people. There are a lot of people involved in making a WWE show work and several of them are not often seen on camera. In addition to the wrestlers you see in front of you, there are also the people who help put the matches together. WWE has a large group of producers who work with the wrestlers to make the matches as good as they are, but one of them has not been around as much lately. According to Sean Ross Sapp during a Fightful Select podcast, TJ Wilson, better known as Tyson Kidd, has not been backstage at recent WWE events. As a result, several women were not interested in appearing in the women’s Royal Rumble match as Wilson would not be producing it. Wilson is still with WWE, though there are conflicting reports on why he has not been working. One underlying reason seems to be frustration among Wilson and the women he works with over how the women are presented. Fit Finlay was brought in to help with the match instead. Opinion: I’m not sure what is going on..

NEWS

WRESTLING RUMORS: Major Backstage Heat On Shane McMahon

January 31, 2022

That wouldn’t get him very far. There are a lot of people who have to work together to make WWE run as smoothly as it can. That is not easy to do and a lot of what you see on television comes from the minds of the company’s producers. These people help put the show together, though some of them have different priorities. That was on display over the weekend and it did not go well. This weekend’s men’s Royal Rumble match featured the return of Shane McMahon, who entered the match at #28 and eliminated Kevin Owens before making the final three entrants. According to Ringsidenews.com, there is a significant amount of heat backstage on McMahon, who was the lead writer and producer for the match. McMahon was said to have insisted that the match be built around himself and being put over and was “fighting with people to do so.” Some wrestlers, including some who never complain, were said to be loudly complaining about how hard McMahon was pushed in the match. Opinion: This is something tha..

NEWS

WWE References To Released Wrestlers Thought To Go Too Far

November 30, 2021

It didn’t go over well. There are a lot of ways to hype up a match in WWE and some of them are a bit more successful than others. Some of the most effective promos can also be the most controversial, but they certainly get people talking. Sometimes though the controversy goes a bit too far and it rubs people the wrong way. That seems to be the case again this week. Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan had a contract signing during this week’s Monday Night Raw to set up their Women’s Title match. During the exchange, both mentioned some recent WWE releases, with Morgan saying that Lynch’s contract was the reasons her friends were gone. Lynch responded by saying that bigger stars deserve to get paid. In another segment, Edge mentioned John Morrison being released as well. According to Sean Ross Sapp’s post Monday Night Raw show, former WWE wrestlers, former WWE producers and a current WWE star felt that the references were in poor taste. There is no word on if the references will continue. There..

NEWS

More Backstage Changes In WWE With New Full Time Hires

August 18, 2021

The turnover continues. WWE has been undergoing a lot of changes in recent months and there is nothing to suggest that they are over. In addition to the massive roster changes, WWE has been making some adjustments backstage, which can shake things up in a big way. That seems to be the case again, but this time around, things might be a little bit more positive. According to PWInsider.com, both Molly Holly and Shawn Daivari are now working full time for WWE as producers. Holly has been working with WWE on a trial basis since May of this year. Daivari was let go as a producer in 2020 but was brought back earlier this year as WWE announced their return to live events. Daivari is also a regular wrestler outside of WWE, wrestling for both the NWA and Impact Wrestling within the last month. It is not clear if he will be allowed to continue his in-ring career. These are some interesting additions. Check out what they could do in the ring: [This post contains video, click to play] [This p..

NEWS

Furloughed WWE Employee Back At Work At SmackDown

September 26, 2020

Welcome back. There have been all kinds of stories around the wrestling world this year and very few of them have been positive. WWE has been through a lot of trouble of their own and some of it has been brought on themselves. One of the biggest stories that made WWE look a little less flattering was the company releasing dozens of talents within a few days. They also released some backstage workers, but at least one of them is now back. A backstage producer is one of the most important parts of any wrestling shows. They are in charge of making a match play out as planned by talking to the wrestlers and figuring out what they need to do. A good producer can make things a lot better and someone who has figured out the right kind of style for various wrestlers is incredibly valuable. Now one of the recently released WWE producers is back at work. According to PWInsider.com, WWE backstage producer Billy Kidman returned to work for WWE at this week’s SmackDown taping. There is no word on..

NEWS

WWE Releases Three More Names

September 11, 2020

There they go too. Things have been changing in WWE in a big way this year and one of the biggest changes has been the releases that took place back in April. Several wrestlers were suddenly let go and sent into the free agent market, which shook things up throughout the wrestling world. There were other people affected by the changes than just the wrestlers though, as several backstage workers were furloughed. Things got even worse today. There are so many people who are helpful to making a wrestling show work besides just the wrestlers themselves. It can help to have someone involved to serve as something like a coach for the match and to help lay things out for the wrestlers involved. That is where a veteran presence and mind can help, but some of the better backstage WWE minds are now gone. Three backstage WWE names were released on Thursday, with two producers and a scout being released. Producers Mike Rotunda and Sarah Stock were both released, according to PWInsider and Fightf..