Details on Backstage Reaction to Mark Shapiro Saying TKO Has Full Control Over WWE Creative

Earlier this week, TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro stated in his address to a University of Alabama class that TKO has full control over WWE creative.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), Dave Meltzer addressed the same. He wrote that TKO executives do have the final say over WWE creative. However, they “almost never use it,” and the complaint backstage was that when they did decide to wield their influence, they chose to do that at the “most inopportune time.”

Meltzer further wrote that one person in the know of things claimed that they saw conflict between TKO and WWE coming a year in advance. According to the source, there was a “lot of internal jockeying going on, and it was encouraged by Ari Emanuel and Shapiro.”

After Pat McAfee was revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery caller, reports emerged that the decision to insert the ESPN host into the WrestleMania 42 Night One main event was made by the TKO top brass, specifically Ari Emanuel. Following WrestleMania 42, it was reported that McAfee himself opted to exit the storyline due to immense criticism from fans, WWE talents, and veterans.

Last year, TKO called up The Rock to boost ticket sales for Elimination Chamber. The Rock showed up alongside Travis Scott at the PLE, where John Cena turned heel and joined forces with his former rival. However, only Scott showed up during the WrestleMania 41 Night Two main event between Cena and Cody, leading to immense backlash from fans.