John Hennigan Thinks WWE Will Release Talents Following UFC Merger

The recent purchase of WWE by Endeavor is set to shake the pro-wrestling and combat sports worlds to their foundations, with WWE merging with the UFC following the acquisition under a new parent company in a deal that is expected to go through later this year. 

Such a move will come with obvious corporate restructuring, with recent reports suggesting that WWE will be making ‘aggressive cuts’ to office staff. However, former WWE star John Hennigan (John Morrison) believes that roster cuts will also take place following the merger’s expected completion later this year, saying the following to Ariel Helwani on MMA Hour:

"I think there's a hiring freeze right now. I think they're going to end up letting a bunch of guys go. I think salaries are going to get cut. I'm really glad AEW is around to balance that out a little bit, because if they weren't, there would be no leverage, and nowhere else to go, and WWE and UFC would be this weird monopoly that just wrings the money out of the livelihood of the fighters and wrestlers and I always think that sucks," Morrison said.

Numerous reports have indicated that WWE are indeed in the midst of a talent hiring freeze, with expected moves for Jay White and Nick Aldis not materialising, with White joining AEW and Aldis re-joining IMPACT instead.

H/T: Fightful