WWE saw some notable departures in 2023, as the company fired a ton of people after the TKO Group Holdings takeover. Now, Kevin Dunn is leaving the company.
Kevin Dunn’s WWE Departure
PW Insider reports that Kevin Dunn is leaving WWE. Having served as Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, Dunn conveyed his decision to depart to WWE during Christmas week, concluding over three decades of association with the company.
Dunn, who held the post of Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, informed WWE around Christmas week he was exiting after more than three decades with the company. We are told that a big factor in his decision to retire is changes internally post-Endeavor acquisition and that Dunn was “never going to do anything that was dictacted” to him, as opposed to how he personally oversaw production in the past. We are told this was not an issue of creative but two differing versions of how things should be run from a TV production perspective as WWE seeks to cut costs.
Why Kevin Dunn Is Leaving WWE
The decision to retire was influenced significantly by internal changes post-Endeavor acquisition. Kevin Dunn was unwavering in his stance not to comply with dictated directives, contrasting with his previous hands-on approach to production oversight.
It was also reported that Kevin Dunn’s departure was not linked to creative matters but rather divergent views on television production perspectives aimed at cost reduction.
Despite rumors of his departure in recent years, the company never initiated Kevin Dunn’s exit. On the contrary, the WWE Board of Directors urged Dunn to continue when Vince McMahon initially retired in July 2022. While not surprising, Dunn’s exit carries substantial implications, given his profound influence on the vibe, ambiance, and production of WWE’s product over several decades.
Kevin Dunn’s History in WWE
Since 1993, when the Monday Night Raw era started on the USA Network, Kevin Dunn assumed the role of Executive Producer for all WWE programming, shaping the distinctive style of WWE production recognized by casual fans.
Kevin Dunn’s departure marks the end of an era, as he played a pivotal role in ensuring every WWE broadcast or documentary adhered to his approval.
Kevin Dunn served as the official Director for many live broadcasts and, more importantly, held the Line Producer role for all WWE broadcasts from 1993 onward. The Line Producer is a crucial internal figure responsible for budget breakdown, crew hiring, fiscal oversight during filming, and overall planning to ensure optimal use of capital for production.
