WWE Carries Out Cuts

WWE carried out cuts on Thursday, May 23, although no wrestlers were released by the company. 

A number of WWE employees at the company's HQ were laid off, with PWInsider reporting that "a few" employees were let go, including some long-standing staff members. The full extent of the layoffs is unknown but the cuts were believed to have affected more than one area of the company. 

Fightful Select reported that one of the names let go was Kristen Prouty, the WWE Senior Vice President of Entertainment Relations. Prouty had been in that role for almost 20 years, having started working for WWE in 2000. She was said to be instrumental in WWE beginning their working relationship with Logan Paul that has seen him the YouTuber establish himself as one of the company's top stars. 

Another employee let go was Tavia Hartley, who served as a talent operations and appearances manager. Hartley had been with the company since 2021. 

It is unknown how closely the cuts were related to the merging of the UFC and WWE live events groups to form the TKO Live Events Strategy Team. Cuts were hinted at in the announcement of the merger under the euphemism of "cost synergies." UFC's Peter Dropick is now the TKO EVP of Event Development and Operations.