Bret mentioned Vince by name also
Roaddog resigned as Lead writer on smackdown
Roaddog resigned as Lead writer on smackdown
WWE Hall of Famer Brian James informed WWE yesterday that he was stepping down as the co-lead writer of the Smackdown brand, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources.
James had been heading up the brand with Stephen Guerrieri (aka Steve G.) with James going on the road while Guerrieri would remain working out of WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT. Guerreri has been working in creative since 2012 and has held a lead writer position since 2014.
Sources cited James' increasing frustration with changes made to the Smackdown scripting by Vince McMahon with James finally hitting a "breaking point" at this past Tuesday's Smackdown taping in Brooklyn, NY.
On his Twitter account yesterday, James wrote, "Today I pray that I face the change, that is inevitably coming, head on and with faith and courage. The only constant is change! #HOPE#FAITH #OUDK"
There is no word who may be replacing James in the role, although several WWE sources stated that the way creative is currently driven, the lead writer is more of a formality today vs. a specific voice that drives the show as everything pitched comes through the team for that series to Vince McMahon, is then approved (or shot down) by McMahon, who then tweaks the series all the way to the actual taping - as late as during the taping.
There is no confirmation yet whether James will be transitioning to another position within WWE.
WWE Creative team member Robert Evans was let go by World Wrestling Entertainment over Wrestlemania week, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources.
Several sources have told PWInsider.com that Evans was let go at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony after a speech he had produced featured a mention of Vince McMahon. McMahon has strongly stressed for years that he does not want to be mentioned or praised during the Hall of Fame ceremony, to the point it has become something of a running joke. When McMahon's name was mentioned, sources stated that Evans took the blame as writer and producer of that segment. One source stated the firing took place at the gorilla position as the Hall was ongoing.
According to Stu Carapola’s WWE Hall of Fame coverage, Bret Hart’s induction speech included the story of the first time Vince McMahon reacted to the Hart Foundation and praised their work. There is no confirmation as to whether Evans worked on that specific speech yet.
The DX induction that closed the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony later featured the entire DX contingent mentioning McMahon’s name over and over in a silly way, which may have actually been sparked by McMahon’s reaction to his name being dropped earlier in the evening. After all the name dropping, Bully Gunn quipped that McMahon couldn’t “fire” him.
Evans, 35, wrestled for Ring of Honor, CHIKARA and other promotions under the ring names RD Evans and Archibald Peck after breaking into the business under the late Skandar Akbar. He signed on with WWE Creative in the fall of 2016. We are told Evans was liked by those who worked with him within the company.
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