Is WWE Preparing To Be Sold?

Could today's talent releases be part of a greater strategy to sell WWE?

Jun 2, 2021 June 2nd, 2021

Following today’s shocking news of a further six WWE releases – seemingly once more down to “budget cuts” – some are speculating that such cutbacks could be an indicator that WWE is preparing itself to be sold.

The six names today let go by Vince McMahon’s organisation are Braun Strowman, Aleister Black, Lana, Ruby Riott, Santana and Buddy Murphy – which follows previous releases this past April and May.

One person thinking that this is part of McMahon’s company readying itself to be put up for sale, is former WWE writer Dave Schilling.

Ummm I think WWE is for sale. https://t.co/bp6yboxsYN
— Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) June 2, 2021

Braun is a legit top guy, a former world champion, and a merchandise mover. Alastair Black was getting a push on TV LAST WEEK. This is very telling.— Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) June 2, 2021

On the other side of the fence, Brandon Thurston, who does some phenomenal work at Wrestlenomics believes that WWE will never be sold during Vince McMahon’s lifetime.

2) I cannot imagine Vince doing anything else. Lay-offs, releases, & restructuring probably has more to do with Nick Khan and Kristina Salen critiquing and reshaping what George Barrios and Michelle Wilson left behind. Every few years WWE has cut employee & talent headcounts.— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) June 2, 2021

If you've followed Vince's career, he's a control freak through-and-through. That tendency increased with time. I tend to believe control is priceless to him. When he's gone, sure WWE might sell and NBCUniversal is the most obvious suitor and really the only one that makes sense.— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) June 2, 2021

Even allowing for that & a substantial number offscreen in developmental or out with injuries, the ratio doesn't make sense. The defense built to guard against AEW (putting NXT head-to-head on cable & warehousing talent) is costly, ineffective & is being somewhat undone.— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) June 2, 2021

As it stands, nobody in the WWE food chain has given a clear indication that there any plans whatsoever for WWE to be sold, but such releases are only going to continue to fuel the fires of speculation.

If you remember, it was only last year that WWE fired over 100 employees as part of purported budget cuts, despite bringing in record revenue numbers. And in 2021 so far, today is now the third batch of talent releases this year.

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.

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