Tag: wwe head of talent relations

Report: Bruce Prichard named interim WWE Head of Talent Relations

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Bruce Prichard has been named interim Head of Talent Relations of WWE, as John Laurinaitis has been placed on administrative leave.

PWInsider reported tonight that WWE issued a memo to talent that Prichard is the new Head of Talent Relations going forward. According to the memo, “pending the conclusion of [WWE’s] Board of Directors’ internal investigation”, Laurinaitis has been placed on administrative leave. The memo additionally promised that Prichard would provide a “seamless transition.”

PWInsider also reported earlier tonight that Laurinaitis was not backstage for tonight’s Raw.

Laurinaitis, along with Vince McMahon, are under investigation by the WWE Board of Directors over a $3 million dollar hush money agreement to a former employee who allegedly had a sexual relationship with both men. McMahon voluntarily stepped down as CEO and Chairman of WWE on Friday while the investigation takes place. Stephane McMahon has been named interim CEO and Chairwoman.

Prichard, who has worked with WWE off and on since the 1980s, returned to the company in 2019 as a Senior Vice President. Additionally, he is the Executive Producer of both Raw and SmackDown.

John Laurinaitis back leading WWE talent relations department

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Additional notes by Bryan Rose

The WWE has not yet announced this, but John Laurinaitis has been put back in the position of Head of Talent Relations, reporting to WWE Executive Vice President of Operations Brad Blum.

Laurinaitis replaced Jim Ross as head of talent relations in 2004, when Ross stepped down from his executive roles within the company. Laurinaitis remained in that position until 2012, when he resigned. He has since returned to working as a producer/road agent, the role he entered WWE with in 2001 when WCW went out of business. 

The talent relations department is being split into talent management and talent branding. The latter of which will be the idea of a talent agency looking to book WWE talent for appearances, television commercials, movies, and other third party engagements.

Laurinatis’ new role will be General Manager, Talent, which he starts immediately. 

Aside from his backstage role, Laurinaits was an on-air personality from 2011-12, and has made sporadic appearances on WWE television since then.