Tag: wwe producers

Report: Curtis Axel, Ariya Daivari get WWE producer tryout

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two new names reportedly started as WWE producers on a tryout basis starting with tonight’s SmackDown.

Fightful Select reported tonight that Joe Hennig, also known as Curtis Axel, and Ariya Daivari were both backstage working as producers. Hennig reportedly was involved in helping produce the Sasha Banks vs. Liv Morgan match under Tyson Kidd, while Daivari helped produce the Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn match under Abyss.

Both are former WWE wrestlers that were released in the last two years. Hennig, son of Curt Hennig, is a former Intercontinental Champion that was cut back in April of 2020. He has not wrestled since being released from the company. Prior to being released, he was part of a tag team known as The B-Team with Bo Dallas.

Daivari, who signed with WWE in 2016 and mainly wrestled on NXT and 205 Live, was released back in July of last year. He has made appearances for AEW and New Japan Strong since being released.

Rob Conway reportedly worked as producer at WWE NXT taping

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Rob Conway was at tonight’s WWE NXT taping serving as a producer, according to a report. 

PWInsider reports that Conway was backstage at today’s NXT 2.0 and NXT: Level Up taping. The report states that it is not clear whether or not Conway has been hired as a producer, is going through a trial period, or simply temporarily filling a role. 

Insider also reported last week that Conway was serving a guest stint as a coach and trainer at the WWE Performance Center. 

Conway has done at least one guest stint as a coach and trainer at the Performance Center in the past. 

As a member of La Resistance with Sylvain Grenier, Conway held the WWE World Tag Team Championship on three separate occasions between 2003 and 2005. He made his main roster WWE debut in 2003 after wrestling in the OVW and Memphis developmental territories, and was ultimately released by the company in May 2007.

WWE hires Petey Williams full-time as a producer

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE has hired Petey Williams full-time in a producer role.

Williams signed a contract this week. He had been working in the producer capacity on a trial basis since the October 29, 2021 SmackDown show. Fightful Select was first with the report.

A former Impact Wrestling talent, Williams appeared in the ring for that promotion as recently as their October 14, 2021 episode. Williams popularized the Canadian Destroyer move during his in-ring career, but may be best remembered for his run as Scott Steiner’s sidekick in TNA in 2007 and 2008.

WWE also recently tried out Jimmy Yang in a producer’s capacity, but opted not to move forward with him.

Williams’ hiring comes on the heels of another mass layoff by WWE. They gutted their Performance Center staff on Wednesday, releasing William Regal, Road Dogg, Timothy Thatcher, Danny Burch, Hideki Suzuki, Allison Danger, Dave Kapoor, Scott Armstrong, George Carroll, and Ryan Katz.

WWE producers reportedly ‘hit hard’ by COVID-19

Posted on by Bryan Rose

According to a new report, WWE producers have been hit hard by COVID-19 heading into tonight’s episode of Raw.

PWInsider is reporting that while a typical Raw taping would have around a dozen or so producers, the company is down to “about half of that”, adding to the workload producers are typically given. The situation is also tough because in addition to tonight’s Raw in Detroit, Michigan, there is also a SmackDown house show in Orlando, Florida, and thus additional producers that are usually available can’t be brought in.

WWE has been hit hard in the last week by COVID protocols, causing last night’s house show in Madison Square Garden to be changed dramatically. What originally was supposed to be Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins vs. Big E in a steel cage match for the WWE Championship was switched to a cage match between Kevin Owens and Edge, who was originally not scheduled to be on the show.

A Raw Women’s Championship match between Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair also was scheduled but never took place, as neither woman appeared on the card.

Petey Williams receiving WWE producer tryout

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Impact Wrestling veteran Petey Williams is getting a WWE producer tryout, according to multiple sources. 

Williams is backstage at today’s SmackDown tapings, reports PWInsider. Fightful reports that the tryout for WIlliams has been in the works for several weeks. 

Williams, 40, has appeared in Impact Wrestling as in-ring talent as recently as the October 14 episode of Impact TV. Arguably Williams’ most memorable run in Impact/TNA came as a sidekick to Scott Steiner in 2007 and 2008. 

In the ring, Williams is generally credited with popularizing the Canadian Destroyer move, if not outright inventing it. He has held the Impact/TNA X Division Championship on two occasions. 

Williams joins Jimmy Yang as former wrestlers getting tryouts in the producer role, sometimes referred to as an agent or road agent position. WWE currently employs Michael Hayes, Jason Jordan, Tyson Kidd, Adam Pearce, D-Von Dudley, Pat Buck, Chris Park, Molly Holly and Shane Helms in the same role. 

Daivari, Molly Holly reportedly join WWE full time as producers

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Shawn Daivari and Molly Holly are now reportedly working as full time producers for WWE.

PWInsider was the first to report the two being in full time. This follows reports from earlier this year that both were brought in on a trial basis. Holly had mentioned in a recent podcast appearance that she had been brought on on a trial basis and wasn’t sure if it was something that she wanted to do full time.

Daivari had been a producer for WWE previously, but was cut from his role when the COVID-19 pandemic started. He has also recently made appearances for Impact Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and the NWA in recent months as a wrestler.

It had also been reported recently that Pat Buck, another WWE producer, has taken over the duties of former WWE referee Drake Wuertz, booking extras for WWE events. Wuertz was part of a recent wave of cuts that have occurred both on the main roster and on NXT in recent months