Black Friday came a day early for WWE fans and insiders as the wrestling giant entered its TKO era. Unfortunately, these initials have taken on a dual meaning over the past two weeks, spelling a tough period for WWE staff and wrestlers alike.
Just a week after a massive wave of releases was overshadowed by The Rock’s triumphant return to SmackDown, WWE’s TKO/Endeavor Era swung its cost-cutting cleavers once again, impacting the talent roster significantly. Among the notable names released on this somber Thursday was Dolph Ziggler, marking the end of an illustrious near-20-year journey with the company for this former world champion. The latest round of roster cuts also reportedly included Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Top Dolla, Emma, Riddick Moss, and Mustafa Ali, who confirmed his departure on Twitter.
Mustafa Ali, in his tweet, stated, “I am [no] longer working with WWE. I look forward to the future. Thank you.”
Shelton Benjamin, who had a storied history with WWE, also announced his release. Benjamin originally signed with WWE in 2000 before departing in 2010, only to make a celebrated return in 2017. He shared, “I have been released from my WWE contract. I thank @WWE staff, talent, and of course the fans for Everything. Something ends, something new Begins. Looking forward to my next Chapter.”
The September 21, 2023 WWE Releases
- Mustafa Ali
- Rick Boogs
- Aliyah
- Top Dolla of Hit Row
- Tegan Nox
- Emma
- Riddick Moss
- Elias
- Shelton Benjamin
- Dolph Ziggler
- Dana Brooke
- Mansoor
- Mace
- Quincy Elliot
- Dabba-Kato
- Yulisa Leon
In addition to these cost-cutting measures, WWE is poised to boost its profits further through an upcoming TV deal with NBCUniversal. CNBC and the Wall Street Journal reported that WWE’s Friday Night SmackDown will return to USA Network in October 2024 as part of a lucrative five-year deal valued at a staggering $287 million per year. This new agreement represents a substantial 40% increase compared to WWE’s previous TV deal to air SmackDown on Fox, which was worth $205 million annually. While this is indeed a substantial sum, it falls short of the ambitious 150% increase projected by WWE CEO Nick Khan.
WWE’s cost-cutting measures have been a recurring theme, especially during the pandemic and leading up to WWE’s sale. With the merger announcement, it unfortunately signaled more cost-cutting to come as Endeavor seeks to manage its $3.2 billion debt from acquiring UFC. As reported by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, TKO was aiming to cut costs by $50 million to $100 million to enhance profitability.
Fans have naturally speculated about potential moves to AEW (All Elite Wrestling) for the recently released stars. However, AEW may be dealing with a talent exodus of its own, with many high-profile contracts expected to expire. AEW recently secured multi-year deals with The Elite, indicating that these key members have committed to the company for a significant period.
As the TKO era reshapes WWE’s landscape and the wrestling world at large, the future remains uncertain, and fans are left to wonder what’s next for the industry’s top talent.
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