WWE Layoffs Over 100 Employees, Dana Warrior Let Go By The Company

After the recent news about Dana Warrior, PWInsider has reported that the layoffs on Friday have come to an end, and more than 100 employees have lost their jobs. It’s important to note that none of the released individuals were wrestlers; there were no plans to release any wrestlers on Friday. Breaking it down further, PWInsider reveals that WWE’s Insights & Analytics team has been reduced from around 20 employees to just three, and the Marketing, Graphic Design, and Live Events department has also been affected. WWE President Nick Khan sent an email to employees in Stamford, Connecticut, informing them of a staff meeting at the new WWE headquarters on Tuesday morning, confirming the conclusion of the layoffs.

Further layoffs have been announced following WWE’s merger with UFC after Endeavor acquired the company, leading to the formation of TKO Group Holdings. Surprisingly, one of the individuals laid off was Dana Warrior, the wife of the late WWE Hall of Famer Ultimate Warrior. She had been working in creative from 2019 to 2022 and was more recently involved with the company’s community outreach department.

PWInsider reported that among those let go on Friday were WWE’s Digital Campaign Manager, Alexa Gotthardt, who announced her departure on LinkedIn. Several members of the company’s marketing department were also affected, including Brand Director Kimberly Kirkegard and Affiliate Marketing Manager Saverio Brighina. A high-ranking official, Andy Levine, WWE Vice President of International and Platform Strategy, was also among those let go. Levine has been with the company since 2018 and held various roles, including overseeing international social and digital strategy and collaborating with other departments such as marketing, programming, content operations, business planning, and more. Other layoffs on Friday included WWE’s Executive Vice President of Development and Digital Jamie Horowitz, Executive Vice President and Head of Marketing Catherine Newman, and Director of Enterprise Master Data and governance Amanda Bloom.

The WWE-TKO merger has been a topic of discussion, especially concerning the substantial bonuses received by top executives, including Nick Khan, Kevin Dunn, Triple H, and Frank Riddick. Khan emerged as the top earner with a reported $15 million, while Triple H received $5 million from the merger, according to sources.

The company seemed to be thriving with rising profits and growth potential. However, recent developments paint a different picture for WWE. Following the merger of WWE and UFC into TKO Holdings Group, a sudden wave of layoffs occurred, creating a challenging day for the company. Reports from PWInsider indicate that over 100 employees from various departments were let go, adding to the uncertainty within WWE.

The merger marked a new era, driven by TKO Holdings Group’s goal to reduce costs significantly, aiming for a reduction between $50 million to $100 million. Achieving this ambitious target required difficult decisions, which have had a substantial impact on the workforce.

This groundbreaking partnership, now operating under the newly established TKO company, aspires to create an unparalleled sports media alliance in the industry. Since the announcement, the internet has been buzzing with discussions about this monumental merger.

Currently, attention is shifting to WWE’s decision to release 100 employees as a cost-cutting measure. Notably, no wrestlers were released, and the layoffs primarily affected other staff members. This move is bound to have consequences, and we are eagerly awaiting WWE’s official statement on the matter.