AEW is apparently going through some changes, and that called for a big firing this week, one that left many in shock. Kevin Sullivan was fired from his position with Tony Khan’s company, and some are critical of this decision.
We previously reported that Kevin Sullivan was fired from AEW. Not to be confused with the wrestler Kevin Sullivan, AEW’s Sullivan joined AEW in October 2019, making him one of the organization’s most seasoned backstage figures. Prior to his time at AEW, he had an extensive background in the wrestling industry, having served as Vice President of Production and an executive producer during his tenure with IMPACT Wrestling.
Kevin Sullivan Departs AEW
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that Kevin Sullivan, who has been with AEW since they started the company, was fired in a surprising fashion. Nobody saw it coming, as Michael Mansury simply told Sullivan that they’re going in a new direction for 2024. Meltzer wrote:
“The story going around was Mansury told Sullivan that morning that they were moving in another direction in 2024.
Sullivan had no idea it was coming and was given no real explanation as to why, just that it was a Mansury decision.
People in the division didn’t even know that Mansury was Sullivan’s boss, noting that among those who worked in production that was never made clear.
The story in production is that nobody else was expected to be cut, but it was a team created by Sullivan so they are his guys.”
Tony Khan reportedly faced criticism within AEW due to a recent firing that surprised many in the company. Kevin Sullivan held the position of Vice President of Post Production, and his termination left people within AEW feeling shocked by the decision. Some wondered why Tony Khan didn’t step in and stop this from happening as well.
Kevin Sullivan had been with AEW since its early days, earning respect behind the scenes. He also had played a pivotal role in building the post-production team, primarily based in Nashville.
It appears that AEW is going to go in a different direction production-wise in 2024. They no longer needed Kevin Sullivan around to fulfill his duties. At this time, Sullivan’s firing is the only one that is expected, but he did leave a team of his curated guys behind in AEW.
What’s your take on AEW going in a different direction with production in 2024? How will that change things for fans watching at home? Let us know what you think by engaging on social media!
– There is no truth to the rumor that Vince McMahon is interested in purchasing a UK soccer team.
– WWE has re-named their weekly YouTube series “Backstage Fallout” to brand-specific names. From this point forward, the post-RAW and SmackDown shows will simply be called “RAW Fallout” and “SmackDown Fallout.”
– WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin praised the match between John Cena and Cesaro from Monday’s RAW. “The Rattlesnake” tweeted the following:
– WWE has added the latest edition of their SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” series to their official YouTube channel. This week’s show, which features The Miz, can be viewed below:
WWE has added the latest edition of their “Backstage Fallout” series to YouTube. The video, which can be seen above, features the following description: “Titus O’Neil and Summer Rae talk about what happened on this week’s SmackDown.”
– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown and Main Event tapings take place from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. Christian will make his return on Friday’s SmackDown.
Top names advertised to appear include Triple H, Daniel Bryan, C.M. Punk, Big Show, The Shield, The Wyatt Family and Damien Sandow, .
The advertised dark match main event is CM Punk vs. The Shield in a 3-on-1 handicap match.
Check back later tonight for our live results of the tapings.
– Here’s the latest Backstage Fallout video from Monday’s RAW:
“The Miz, Dolph Ziggler and the stars of Total Divas discuss their night on Raw.”
– Tickets for the Jim Ross “Ringside: An Evening With Jim Ross” events on April 3rd at the House Of Blues in New Orleans, Louisiana officially went on sale to the public today. Those interested in purchasing tickets can do so at Ticketmaster.com.
– WWE has added the latest edition of their SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” series to YouTube. The video, which you can see below, is accompanied by the following description: “Bad News Barrett and The Miz talk about what happened on SmackDown.”
WWE has added the latest edition of their “Backstage Fallout” series on YouTube. The RAW “Backstage Fallout” video for this week, which can be viewed above, is accompanied by the following description: “Batista and Alberto Del Rio talk about their encounter on Raw.”
– Following Randy Orton’s attack on John Cena’s father on RAW, WWE.com has published a playlist looking back at “ViciousVicious Attacks On Superstars’ Family Members.”
– Wrestling legend Bobby Eaton was still hospitalized with complications from diabetes as of Wednesday, according to f4wonline.com.
– Here’s the latest WWE Backstage Fallout video from Friday’s SmackDown:
The Funkadactyls and Rey Mysterio discuss what happened on this week’s SmackDown.
WWE has added the latest edition of their “Backstage Fallout” series, highlighting backstage action from this week’s WWE SmackDown television broadcast, to their official YouTube channel.
The latest SmackDown Backstage Fallout, which you can watch below, is accompanied by the following brief description:
On Fire in Philly – Backstage Fallout – January 10, 2014
“Xavier Woods and Summer Rae react to this week’s events at SmackDown.”
– The official WWE website has added a video playlist with several WWE legends and WWE Superstars talking about Monday’s Old School RAW special. You can check it out at WWE.com.
– Speaking of Old School RAW, here is the “Backstage Fallout” video for this week’s Old School RAW:
WWE has added the latest edition of their “SmackDown Backstage Fallout” series to their official YouTube channel.
“WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton sends a warning to the rest of the WWE locker room. The Prime Time Players celebrate a huge win over Ryback & Curtis Axel.”
– Apparently WWE came up with the idea of having Batista return on the January 20th edition of WWE RAW early last week. The idea behind it is an attempt to try and spike the RAW rating for that night. If true, apparently the advertising issues with local arena websites had no impact on WWE’s plans to have him return on RAW on January 20th.
– The following is the RAW Backstage Fallout video for this week:
The December 7th edition of the SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” video has been added to the official YouTube channel of WWE.
This week’s “Backstage Fallout” for SmackDown features the duo of Ryback and Curtis Axel gloating about their non-title victory over the current WWE Tag-Team Champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes.
Additionally, the show features current WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston talking about his upcoming title defense against Damien Sandow at the WWE TLC pay-per-view.
You can watch this week’s SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” below:
– WWE has added the latest edition of their “Backstage Fallout” series following Monday’s live WWE RAW show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The video, which can be seen below, is accompanied by the following description: “Tons of Funk, Xavier Woods, R-Truth and The Miz react to this week’s Raw.”
– WWE officials are once again interested in having Rey Mysterio face Sin Cara at WrestleMania XXX, with hopes of breaking the world record for the most people wearing a mask in one area.
Though Sin Cara has not appeared on WWE programming since August, his merchandise is reporting selling very well.
– This week on “Backstage Fallout” for SmackDown, WWE cameras catch up with Zeb Colter following his unpleasant incident on the show. Plus, find out how Titus O’Neil is feeling.
The “Backstage Fallout” video for this week’s Survivor Series “go-home” edition of WWE SmackDown has been added to the official YouTube channel of WWE.
This week’s SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” features WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio reacting to his first in-ring return match on WWE television. Mysterio talks about returning to the ring with The Usos to take on The Shield. He also talks about the match scheduled for this Sunday’s WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view.
Also on this week’s “Backstage Fallout” is The Real Americans talking about not winning the WWE Tag-Team Championships from Goldust and Cody Rhodes, as well as Zeb Colter taking over for Renee Young to end the show.
You can watch this week’s “Backstage Fallout” video for SmackDown below:
– Recently released WWE NXT star Kassius Ohno, who is once again working under the ring-name “Chris Hero,” will be challenging Johnny Gargano for the Open The Freedom Gate Championship at Sunday’s Dragon Gate USA “Freedom Fight” iPPV. For more information, including details on how to order, visit WNWLive.com.
– WWE has added the RAW “Backstage Fallout” video for this week on their official YouTube channel. This week’s “Backstage Fallout” features Renee Young interviewing “Corporate” Kane, Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox to clarify who is in control of RAW.
You can watch this week’s RAW “Backstage Fallout” video below:
– The Friday, November 8th edition of WWE SmackDown drew a final social media score of 65,508, according to Trendrr.tv. The 65k final number marks the highest score the show has delivered in over a month.
– Speaking of this SmackDown, WWE has added the official “Backstage Fallout” video for this week’s show to their YouTube channel. This week’s SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” features CM Punk talking about his beef with The Wyatt Family, as well as Vickie Guerrero talking about her decision-making taking charge of the show.
You can watch the “Backstage Fallout” for this week’s SmackDown below:
-WWE Superstar Tyson Kidd recently posted a new tweet on his official Twitter account talking about his WWE television return on RAW on Monday night in Greenville, South Carolina. Kidd wrote the following:
Tonight surely answered the 'when are you coming back?' tweets I've been receiving for the past 11 months. Couldn't have been better
#RAW
-WWE has added the “Backstage Fallout” video for this week’s edition of WWE RAW to their official YouTube channel. This week’s RAW “Backstage Fallout” video features The Miz complaining about the fans not voting for him to face Randy Orton on RAW, as well as Kaitlyn, Zack Ryder and The Prime Time Players talking about the Big Show situation.
Check out this week’s RAW “Backstage Fallout” video below:
-Despite the return of John Cena to SmackDown, Friday’s edition of the show remained below-average in social media activity. The social media score for this week’s edition of SmackDown came in at 58,197, according to Trendrr.tv. The score marks an increase of nine percent from last week’s Hell In A Cell “go-home” show, but is still well below the yearly average of 71k.
-Speaking of this week’s SmackDown, WWE has added the latest edition of the SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” to their official YouTube channel. This week’s SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” video features the cast of WWE Total Divas bragging about how they beat Team A.J. Lee, as well as The Uso’s and Big E. Langston forming a new alliance of sorts.
You can watch this week’s SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” video below:
Monday’s post-Hell In A Cell edition of WWE RAW drew a social media score of 283,796, according to Trendrr.tv. The 283k final number marks a healthy increase of 68.5 percent from last week’s show. Additionally, RAW ranked number one on cable television for Monday night, the first time the show has done so in the past six weeks.
Speaking o Monday’s RAW, the “Backstage Fallout” video has been added to the official WWE YouTube channel. You can watch this week’s RAW “Backstage Fallout” video below:
Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown drew a social media score of 53,331, according to Trendrr.tv. That number marks an eight percent decrease from last week’s score of 58,220. It was one of the lowest SmackDown social media scores of the year.
Speaking of SmackDown, this week’s “Backstage Fallout” has been added to the official WWE YouTube channel. SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” for this week features The Uso’s talking about their victory heading into Sunday’s WWE Hell In A Cell pay-per-view, as well as Great Khali vowing to get revenge on Fandango after consoling Natalya.
Watch this week’s edition of SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” below:
– This Sunday at WWE Hell in a Cell, the WWE Tag Team Championship will be on the line as Cody Rhodes and Goldust defend their titles against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, as well as Jey and Jimmy Uso, in a Triple Threat Match. In this “Backstage Fallout” video for Raw, The Shield and the brother duo vow to regain the gold. Plus, AJ Lee appears almost speechless after losing her match against Brie Bella.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd4g9dZi2u8
– This week’s WWE Classics On Demand updates are as follows: WWE Payback (June 16 2013), WWF at Madison Square Garden (December 29, 1991, featuring “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith vs. Berzerker, Sgt. Slaughter vs. Col. Mustafa and General Adnan, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine vs. Hercules, The Nasty Boys vs. The Bushwhackers, Skinner vs. Jim Powers, Chris Walker vs. the Brooklyn Brawler, Virgil vs. Repo Man, WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart vs. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase, Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair), WWWF Championship Wrestling (January 28, 1978), ECW Hardcore TV (November 6, 1998), WWF Prime Time Wrestling (December 11, 1989).
– In addition to Xavier Woods, fellow WWE NXT wrestler Tyler Breeze was backstage at Monday’s Raw in Memphis, Tennessee. He competed on WWE live events over the weekend in matches against Justin Gabriel.
The Friday, October 18th edition of WWE SmackDown drew another below-average social media score of 58,220, according to Trendrr.tv.
The SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” video for this week has been added to the official WWE YouTube channel, and features a storyline interview with SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero. Guerrero talks about how she was under heavy pressure with her bosses watching her performance this week. Also on this week’s “Backstage Fallout” is footage of Josh Mathews going home after being taken out by World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio.
You can watch the SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” video below: