Just days after WWE pulled off the biggest WrestleMania in its history, the company has quietly cut ties with several longtime employees—including a major executive.
WWE issued a fresh wave of internal layoffs on Wednesday April 30, affecting multiple departments behind the scenes. The most significant name released? Christine Lubrano, who served as Senior Vice President of Creative Writing Operations. Lubrano was instrumental in WWE’s scripted storytelling and had been part of the creative backbone of the company. Her exit comes as part of what insiders are calling another phase of corporate restructuring.
According to PWInsider Elite, the layoffs hit departments such as Creative Services and Photography, along with others. While WWE hasn’t publicly addressed the cuts, internal chatter suggests that between 10 and 12 employees were let go, with the final number still possibly growing.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum, either. The cuts arrive hot on the heels of WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—an event that WWE celebrated as the most successful in its history. According to the company’s post-show press release, WrestleMania drew 124,693 fans over two nights and brought in record-breaking revenue. Onsite merchandise sales were up more than 45% compared to last year, and hospitality packages saw a 75% increase.
Despite that massive financial win, the trimming continues. So far, no talent releases have been reported as part of this round, though WWE has been moving away from large-scale performer cuts in favor of quietly letting contracts expire. In 2024 alone, WWE has opted not to renew deals for several big names, including Sonya Deville and Carmella.
WWE’s parent company TKO Group—formed from the WWE-UFC merger—has already seen layoffs at both corporate and production levels since taking over operations. This latest wave adds to growing concerns that even major success at the box office isn’t enough to prevent cuts behind the curtain.
How do you feel about WWE trimming more of its creative and production staff? Could these changes impact the on-screen product? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.