WWE Sheds Two Producers Due To "Budget Cuts"

The two ex-WWE wrestlers had been working as producers on a probationary basis.

Curtis Axel Ariya Daivari
WWE

Former WWE wrestlers Ariya Daivari and Curtis Axel are no longer being used by the promotion as producers, with "budget cuts" cited as the reason.

This is according to PWInsider's Mike Johnson. Daivari and Axel had been working as producers on a probationary basis for several months, though both have now fallen victim to WWE's latest round of cost-cutting measures.

WWE had brought Axel in as a producer in April, having released him as a wrestler back in April 2020. The 42-year-old had featured on-air as part of a security team getting between a Seth Rollins/Cody Rhodes brawl on Raw's 30 May episode.

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Daivari, meanwhile, was brought back to the promotion that same month, though he had wrestled outwith WWE during that period, including an AEW date for the company's 11 June Dark tapings.

"Budget cuts" has been the provided reasons for the majority of WWE's personnel departures since the COVID-19 pandemic's 2020 inception. The promotion has shed untold numbers of staff members and executives during this time period, as well as close to 100 wrestlers stretching from NXT regulars and Performance Center hopefuls all the way up to main-eventers and former World Champions.

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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.