Backstage Shake-Up: WWE Reportedly Releases Key Creative Executive and Multiple Staff Members

The winds of change continue to blow through WWE as the company, now firmly under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella, has reportedly undergone another wave of internal staff cuts. According to PWInsider Elite, between 10 to 12 backstage employees were let go on Thursday—though the final number may ultimately be higher.

Among the most high-profile exits is Christine Lubrano, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Creative Writing Operations. Lubrano, who had held the position since early 2021, played a significant behind-the-scenes role in shaping WWE’s creative direction during her tenure. Her departure is being viewed as another major shift in the company’s evolving creative infrastructure post-TKO merger.

In addition to Lubrano, cuts also reportedly hit departments such as photography and creative services. At this time, there’s no indication that any on-screen talent or wrestlers were affected by this latest round of releases.

Lubrano’s background brought a unique flavor to WWE’s creative operations. Prior to her time with the company, she was involved in a variety of comedic television productions, including Baroness Von Sketch Show and Year of the Rabbit, and served as a top executive at IFC Films. She also founded her own production company, Lubrano Media, in 2019.

While there’s no confirmation yet on whether Lubrano’s exit was directly linked to creative decisions around WrestleMania or broader structural changes, her departure is being seen as another piece of the larger puzzle as WWE and TKO continue to streamline and redefine roles behind the curtain.

This marks the first significant round of corporate-level releases since February, when WWE parted ways with a dozen wrestlers, including Sonya Deville, Isla Dawn, and members of The O.C.

As WWE’s corporate reshaping continues, all eyes will be on how these backstage shifts influence what fans see on-screen in the coming months.

TNA Impact Preview 5/1/2025

TNA Impact live tonight on AXS TV at the special start time of 10pm ET from the Bren Events Center in Irvine, CA.

  • Indi Hartwell appears live
  • TNA World Champion Joe Hendry & The Hardys vs. Frankie Kazarian & TNA World Tag Team Champions The Nemeth Brothers
  • TNA X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs. Zachary Wentz
  • Leon Slater vs. KC Navarro
  • Maggie Lee vs. Jody Threat
  • TNA International Champion Steve Maclin will speak
  • John Goblikon from RIGHT NOW podcast appears

ROH TV Preview 5/1/2025

Ring of Honor will present a new episode of ROH TV tonight on Honorclub

  • ROH Women’s TV Championship: Red Velvet (c) vs. La Catalina
  • Mina Shirakawa vs. Leila Grey
  • Spanish Announce Project vs. Frat House
  • MxM Collection & Johnny TV vs. TBD

Former STARDOM Star Likely Headed To AEW

After a standout stint in Japan, Thekla is officially making her way to the United States—and she’s not coming without buzz. The former STARDOM star recently wrapped up her run with the promotion, and according to Fightful Select, she’s had her sights set on relocating to the U.S. for quite some time.

Thekla’s next move hasn’t been made public yet, but that hasn’t stopped speculation from heating up. Both AEW and WWE have reportedly been keeping tabs on her, with WWE sources noting they’ve been watching her closely. Meanwhile, AEW’s interest has reportedly grown since late last year, and insiders now believe she’s likely headed their way.

It’s not just the major leagues either—independent promotions are also in the mix, hoping to capitalize on Thekla’s unique in-ring style and international experience. For now, the mystery remains, but it’s clear that wherever Thekla lands, she won’t be short on opportunities.

Who Is Thekla?
Known as the “Toxic Spider,” Thekla is an Austrian-born wrestler who made a name for herself in Japan, particularly with World Wonder Ring STARDOM. Blending technical prowess with a hard-hitting, unorthodox style, she became a standout in the Donna del Mondo faction and developed a strong fanbase thanks to her charisma and in-ring intensity. Fluent in multiple languages and experienced across the European, Japanese, and now potentially American scenes, Thekla brings an international flair that makes her a unique asset in today’s wrestling landscape.

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/30/2025

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight on TBS and Max from the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

  • All Star 8-Man Tag Team Match: Kenny Omega, Mike Bailey, Mark Briscoe, and Kevin Knight vs. Kazuchika Okada, Ricochet and The Young Bucks
  • AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator: “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Miyu Yamashita
  • Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Semifinal Match: Hangman Adam Page vs. Kyle Fletcher
  • Hurt Syndicate and MJF to appear

Dakota Kai Clears the Air on WWE Absence

Dakota Kai may have been off WWE TV for over a month, but fans worried about an injury can breathe a sigh of relief — she’s perfectly fine.

Kai hasn’t wrestled since the March 27th episode of WWE Main Event, sparking speculation about her status, especially given her history with injuries. However, the Damage CTRL member recently took to Twitter to squash the rumors and reassure her supporters. In a simple but heartfelt post, Kai said:

“I miss wrestling and I miss you guys. Not hurt btw!”

While she didn’t go into specifics about the reason for her absence, Kai’s message confirms that her time away from the ring isn’t medically related. Whether it’s storyline-driven or simply a creative reset, it seems the New Zealand native is just as eager to return as her fans are to see her back in action.

As of now, there’s no official word on when she’ll return to WWE programming. But given the ongoing shake-ups in the women’s division and Damage CTRL’s recent internal drama, her reappearance could come at a pivotal moment.

Could Dakota Kai be lying in wait for a major return angle?

WWE SmackDown Moving Back To A Two-Hour Format, When It’ll Happen

WWE’s bold attempt to extend SmackDown to three hours appears to be nearing its end. According to longtime insider Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the company is expected to return the blue brand to its traditional two-hour format by the end of May, wrapping up a trial run that kicked off back in January. Fellow observer Bryan Alvarez added that June 6th has been floated as a possible final date for the experiment.

The third hour was initially introduced as a way to provide more room for longer matches and expanded storytelling, giving WWE creative a chance to flesh out characters and feuds with more breathing room. However, the response has been a mixed bag. While some fans appreciated the added depth, others felt the pacing suffered, echoing long-standing criticisms of Monday Night Raw’s three-hour structure.

Internally, reactions within WWE have also been divided. While some saw the extended runtime as a valuable creative opportunity, others reportedly felt it diluted the show’s energy and made it harder to maintain consistent quality week to week.

If the return to two hours does happen as expected, it’ll be seen as a move to recapture SmackDown’s tighter, more focused pacing — something that had made it a fan-favorite brand in recent years. With key storylines heating up heading into summer, the timing may be ideal to sharpen the format once again.

Are you in favor of a shorter SmackDown, or were you enjoying the longer weekly shows?

Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff Launch Real American Freestyle Wrestling League

Wrestling fans were thrown for a loop this week when WWE legends Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff teased a major announcement with a cryptic nWo-style video on social media. Given Bischoff’s prominent role in the podcasting world, most assumed the pair were reviving something audio-based, perhaps with frequent collaborator Conrad Thompson. But when the curtain was pulled back, the surprise was something no one saw coming: a brand-new freestyle wrestling league.

On Wednesday morning, Hogan and Bischoff revealed the launch of the Real American Freestyle Wrestling League (RAFWL), a new organization focused on amateur-style freestyle wrestling. Joining them as the all-important “third man” is Izzy Martinez, a renowned freestyle coach who’s trained top UFC talent like Jon Jones and Holly Holm — the latter of whom he coached to her legendary upset victory over Ronda Rousey.

In interviews with both the Associated Press and Forbes, Hogan explained that the idea for RAFWL sparked earlier this year while watching Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Henderson defeat Gable Steveson at the NCAA Championships. That bout, which saw a college standout topple a former WWE star and Olympic gold medalist, inspired Hogan to explore a new vision for the sport. Now, he, Bischoff, and Martinez are aiming to build something big, and they’re already eyeing both Henderson and Steveson for involvement in the league.

RAFWL is set to feature eight men’s weight classes and four women’s divisions, with Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades already confirmed as part of the roster. Hogan has declared Blades the “face” of the women’s division — a bold move signaling their commitment to showcasing high-level female athletes from the jump.

The league’s leadership structure is also coming into focus: Hogan will act as commissioner, while Martinez has been named Chief Operating Officer. Bischoff’s role remains a bit mysterious for now, though Hogan noted he’ll be contributing on the production side, which makes sense given Bischoff’s long history behind the camera.

The first RAFWL event is scheduled for August 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, with additional shows expected to be announced in the coming months. While the transition from sports entertainment to true freestyle wrestling might seem like a curveball, Hogan and Bischoff have never been afraid to disrupt the status quo — and with a proven coach like Martinez steering the ship, this may just be the beginning of something big.

Are Hogan and Bischoff about to shake up wrestling all over again — this time, on the mat instead of the mic? We’ll find out soon enough.

WWE NXT Preview 4/29/2025

WWE NXT live tonight on The CW.

  • WWE NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints (c) vs. Lexis King
  • WWE NXT Tag Team Championship: Hank & Tank (c) vs. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura
  • Tony D’Angelo and Stacks meet face-to-face
  • Women’s World Champion IYO SKY to appear
  • TNA world Champion Joe Hendry has open invitation to appear

WWE Hall of Famer Reveals He Broke Both of His Heels at MLW Battle Riot VII

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam shocked fans recently with a painful revelation: he broke both of his heels during his surprise appearance at MLW Battle Riot VII earlier this month. The injury occurred during the April 5 event in Los Angeles, and RVD opened up about the incident on the latest episode of his One Of A Kind podcast.

RVD entered the chaotic 40-man Battle Riot match as the final surprise entrant at #40, only to be eliminated by eventual winner Matt Riddle. The injury happened in the final moments of the night when Riddle shoved him off the top rope. Van Dam landed on his feet, but not in the way he intended.

“A lot of people don’t know that I got hurt because it was the very last move in the night. But I went up to the top rope and Matt Riddle pushed me off and then I landed on my feet. Normally I kind of like, hug the guardrail and my weight goes into it. This one I must have misjudged it a little bit, and I just landed on my feet...both heels blew. I thought that my ankles were sprained. I crawled out of there. I haven’t been able to walk since. And so I got the x-rays, both heels broke. It’s not something that I’m not used to, I kind of routinely kind of go through this thing, but, man, it definitely made me cancel a lot of plans that I had for the next few months and Wrestlecon and WrestleMania week, I made it through all the obligations.”

Despite the injury, RVD still managed to honor a handful of commitments during WrestleMania week, including WrestleCon appearances. However, he admitted that the break has forced him to cancel several plans moving forward.

RVD, known for his high-risk, high-impact style, has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his legendary career. But breaking both heels in one move is a rare and brutal reminder of the toll pro wrestling can take — even on the most seasoned veterans.