More WWE Staffers Gone, International Office Cuts Made As Well

UPDATE 4: The cuts at WWE among the office staff continues, as several more names are now gone from the company including in the international division. PWInsider reports that there were several “major international office staffers” that were released today. Among them is Jay Rosenstock, WWE’s EVP of International.

According to the site, WWE President Nick Khan will now be personally overseeing the international offices in order to more closely align them with WWE Headquarters.

In addition to that, Adam Kirshner, who had been the manager for Media & Metadata Operations for the last couple of years and served as a producer on the Digital team as they built up the company’s YouTube channel, has announced his exit. PWInsider reports that Kirshner oversaw the back end of WWE’s digital video manager system and was heavily involved in the relaunched WWE Network before it moved over to Peacock in the US.

Kirshner wrote on Twitter:

“As of today I am no longer with WWE. I’ve had a tremendous career and had the honor to build the greatest team. From first ever dotcom intern to a leader I’ve seen and done it all. I am truly looking forward to giving this same 110% and then some where ever I land.”

https://twitter.com/AKirshner123/status/1397246355253366790

UPDATE 3: Another WWE executive has exited as the company continues their round of layoffs. James Wortman, who had been with WWE for 11 years and was their Content Director since February of 2020, announced on Twitter that he was exiting. Wortman wrote in his post:

“This isn’t something I expected to say today or on any day, but I am no longer with WWE after 11 years.

Thank you to all of the friends I’ve made during that time and to the talented people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.

It’s not goodbye, it’s “see you down the road.””

According to his LinkedIn profile, Wortman began as an Associate Multimedia Producer in 2010 and had moved up to Senior Multimedia Producer by February of 2015, where he handled all multimedia content for Raw on WWE.com. He became a Digital Content Producer in March of 2017.

This isn’t something I expected to say today or on any day, but I am no longer with WWE after 11 years.

Thank you to all of the friends I’ve made during that time and to the talented people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.

It’s not goodbye, it’s “see you down the road.” pic.twitter.com/0PdU4VWKFt

— James Wortman (@JamesWortman) May 25, 2021

UPDATE 2: Fightful has added more details on the heavy round of lay offs in WWE, noting that the company is indeed merging the Advanced Media Group and TV departments, which impacts WWE.com, YouTube, editorial, and production departments in WWE.

The report also stated that some “high-ranking people” and “longtime supervisors” are among the cuts.

UPDATE: PWInsider has an update on the WWE staff layoffs that are happening today on the WWE Network, production and digital sides of the company. According to the update, multiple sources have said that a number of the divisions will be folded together under one division that will be overseen by WWE EVP of TV Production, Kevin Dunn.

Per the report, the announcement on the divisions being folded into one is expected to be announced to company staffers later today. With regards to the layoffs, company officials are said to have seen that there were too many redunancies in multiple departments. For example, there two graphics departments: one for the WWE TV production side; and the other for the digital side. It’s believed by the higher-ups that these two departments can be merged into a single division, and the work can be completed with a smaller staff.

Additionally, today’s layoffs are seen as a ripple affect of WWE running during the COVID-19 pandemic, and WWE officials believing they can make due with lower staff numbers. A source noted to PWInsider that WWE has shown the company can “cut to the bone” if need be, and the staff can still “get things done.” The layoffs and apparent streamlining of divisions is seen as the latest example of this practice in 2021.

Also, the report notes that many of the employees are “shellshocked” by today’s news, including staffers who were let go and some who are still employed by WWE, who will now have a greater deal of day-to-day responsibilities moving forward.

ORIGINAL: PWInsider reports that WWE has begin what appears to be a heavy round of staff cuts today with people being let go across various departments, including production and digital. Staff members of WWE’s digital department, including the WWE Nework, has reportedly been hit “extremely hard by these cuts.

Among those leaving the company today are Jaylar Donlan, who previously served as WWE EVP of Advanced Media Group. Donlan had been with WWE for over eight years.

Additionally, the report notes that many others were fired from the company today. Multiple staffers who survived the cuts reportedly expressed both “shock and surprise” at some of the names who are being let go. There is said to be a belief among staffers that certain departments might be folded in together moving forward.

Also, the report noted that more details are likely coming throughout the rest of the day as the story develops. Last week saw many releases from the NXT talent side, including Velveteen Dream and former NXT referee Drake Wuertz.