WWE’s ID program just ticked off the wrong indie promoter, and PRODUCE Wrestling is making it very clear they are not here to be used as WWE’s backup calendar.
Marcus Mathers and Chazz “Starboy” Hall were both pulled from PRODUCE’s July 16 event in Jersey City, New Jersey, because of WWE obligations. PRODUCE did not just shrug it off either. The promotion said anyone who cancels a booking for another independent contractor gig that is not a full-time contract will have their future PRODUCE bookings terminated.
That got people talking online, and promoter Adam Abdalla came out swinging. He took to Twitter and said this was not about dragging the wrestlers themselves. It was about calling out what he believes WWE ID was sold as compared to what it is actually doing.
“Just a note on yesterday: The point of my announcements was not to name and shame talent. It was to highlight the fact they were promised the equivalent of a grant program and were conned into doing scabwork. This should be widely understood.”
Abdalla also made it clear PRODUCE is not trying to be the quiet little indie promotion that just eats the loss and keeps smiling. He said the company exists for its fanbase, but also to call out systems that devalue talent.
“PRODUCE exists to serve our fanbase, but as an idea, also as an institutional critique that shines a light on practices that are designed to devalue the talent. I’ll take 1000 bullets personally if it brings sunlight to things that will make folks think twice about screwing talent or the fans. This will always be the tone. If you want passive viewing, youve got plenty of options.”
WWE launched ID, short for Independent Development, in 2024 as a way to give select indie wrestlers resources and a possible road to NXT. Abdalla’s issue is obvious: if talent are being pulled from indie shows for WWE obligations without full-time WWE contracts, then indie promoters are the ones left holding the bag.
Now PRODUCE is putting its foot down. If a wrestler cancels on them for another independent contractor situation instead of an actual full-time deal, the promotion says that wrestler should not expect to come back.
This whole thing is a reminder that WWE’s indie pipeline may look like a golden ticket to some wrestlers, but not every promoter is going to clap while their card gets picked apart.
Do you think PRODUCE Wrestling is right to take a hard stance against WWE ID, or is this just the price indie wrestlers pay when WWE comes calling? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know.
