Matt Riddle is not backstage at WWE Raw despite being expected for the show, a week after he had an incident at JFK Airport.
Matt Riddle is not expected on tonight's WWE Raw, Fightful Select is told pic.twitter.com/2pN5VFlPQu
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 18, 2023
PWInsider reports that Matt Riddle had been expected back at tonight's #WWERAW taping, but has not been seen backstage as of 4PM EST. pic.twitter.com/h6UeS3yEjU
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) September 18, 2023
The merging of WWE and UFC to form TKO Group Holdings led to significant names departing WWE in a major layoff spree. However, on-air talents haven’t been released.
It has been noted the merger between UFC and WWE has been completed which ended Vince McMahon’s historic era. Endeavor and WWE made the announcement that the deal has closed leading to the formation of TKO Group Holdings.
PW Insider reports that WWE fired over 100 employees. This went down on the Friday after WWE and UFC’s merger into TKO Holdings Group was finalized. Previously, the outlet reported that they have not heard about any talent being released today. It appears that the layoffs today are only on a corporate level. Over 40 employees, maybe more than 50, lost their job with WWE.
Dana Warrior had been a part of WWE and she had a role in the WWE creative team. She left that role and found a place elsewhere. It has come to light that she has been released.
The cuts were expected for months as people knew there would be departments that both companies already have in place, and it would be more cost-efficient to have those departments join into one.
WWE had everyone work remotely on Friday, and WWE President Nick Khan has called for a mandatory meeting on Tuesday.
