Backstage Update On Max Dupri's WWE Status

Removing Max Dupri from Maximum Male Models was a Vince McMahon move.

Max Dupri
WWE

Max Dupri was surprisingly removed from his own Maximum Male Models stable in WWE last week, with PWTorch's Wade Keller reporting that Vince McMahon made the decision after the former LA Knight had "rubbed some people the wrong way and wasn't fitting in" backstage.

NXT talent Sofia Cromwell was introduced as Max's sister, Maxxine Dupri, on last week's SmackDown. She will presumably lead ma.cé and mån.sôör going forward.

In a new update, Fightful Select state that a source has indicated that McMahon's retirement as WWE Chairman and CEO was the best thing that could have happened to Dupri. Max still has supporters in the promotion, which means his removal being reversed isn't out of the question now that Vince is no longer head of creative.

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Fightful also report that Dupri was unbooked from Maximum Male Models at the last minute, having previously expressed reservations on an idea that McMahon had taken a big personal interest in. With regards to Max rubbing people the wrong way, a source noted that he'd "ruffled some feathers with a couple of scripts."

Dupri, best known for his work as Eli Drake before joining WWE, has been signed to the market leaders since February 2021.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.