PRODUCE Wrestling promoter Adam Abdalla has accused the WWE ID program of misleading wrestlers and hurting independent promotions.
Taking to X, Abdalla clarified that his criticism was not directed at the wrestlers themselves, but at how the situation was handled. He argued that WWE ID talent were promised something closer to a grant program, only to find themselves restricted by obligations they did not anticipate.
“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.
“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, you’ve got plenty of options.”
PRODUCE Wrestling Promoter Questions WWE ID Booking Decisions
Abdalla also pushed back on suggestions that the cancellations were simply the result of scheduling conflicts.
GCW promoter Bret Lauderdale responded to a fan who claimed the cancellations were related to PRODUCE airing on myAEW, arguing instead that the issue stemmed from EVOLVE tapings being scheduled after the independent bookings had already been made.
“There is zero chance of this being why.
“Its because there are EVOLVE tapings on the 17th and 18th which require them to be in Florida on the 16th and many of the ID talent had already taken the PRODUCE booking before the EVOLVE tapings were scheduled.”
Abdalla disputed that explanation, questioning why the affected wrestlers needed to cancel bookings so far in advance.
“Why would you be required to cancel bookings 24 hours before tapings that are a 2 hour and 30 minute flight away? If youre on RAW, you arrive the same day.
“We were given no logic or explanation.
“Mandatory PC training? Pretaped promos? Those don’t justify fucking the fans.”
This is not the first time WWE ID scheduling has affected independent promotions. Last month, several WWE ID talents, including Laynie Luck, Sloane Jacobs, Veronica Haven, and Anya Rune, were pulled from Dreamwave Wrestling’s All Star Weekend due to WWE contractual obligations. The late changes forced Dreamwave Wrestling to adjust multiple advertised matches just weeks before the event.
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