Normally I’d start an article with a bit of frivolity, a piece possibly about history or even a short bit making fun of the game (or topic) at hand. The issue is, the topic isn’t all that fun to talk about. Yes, I’m going to talk about 2K and wrestling games; However, with the ongoing pandemic, you may very well know why I’m about to talk about the games.

Since release, 2K’s WWE 2K20 has been marred with completely disastrous circumstances, so much that Sony began issuing refunds. Refunds came about some time between the release of the game and the first major update, yet still, many of the issues persisted following the break up from former developer Yuke’s. Since the release of 2K20, many fans of the series have called for the head of both 2K as a publisher and now sole developer Visual Concepts. People are even suggesting that the developer take a year to develop the next game and “fix” the mess they have made.

Now, former SmackDown Vs. Raw 2009, 2010, and 2011 writer Justin Leeper, is reporting a rumor of a year off for the games. According to a source Leeper has at 2K, the publisher has canceled the 2K21 release that would be scheduled for later this year. However, 2K is planning on using an outsourced game to take the place of the property that hadn’t halted even when former publisher, THQ, went bankrupt back in 2013. Leeper didn’t go into details on the type of game that would replace 2K’s regular series, nonetheless, that never stops the internet from the usual piece of speculation.

Some have suggested that the games in question would be of all things, a mobile phone game. Others have proposed a more arcade-style game like 2011’s WWE All Stars or 2009’s Legends of WrestleMania. Like most, I harken back to the days of the SVR games of 2006-2008, and this is where I know I’d like to see the games return in some small manner. However, given the time and the outsourcing measure it would be safe to assume the size will be more akin to that of CHIKARA: Action Arcade Wrestling.

“I have heard from reliable sources and I truly believe that WWE 2K21 has been canceled. There will be no game this year,” said Leeper. Going on to state, “I have heard also there is another WWE game coming this year. That 2K is publishing a different kind of WWE game from a different kind of game developer that’s not Visual Concepts.” Though when 2K22, the next possible release by 2K and Visual Concepts, it might leave some upset: “When, let’s say 2K22, finally does come out, a bit of a bummer is I’ve been told it will not be on next-gen. It will still be on your PS4, your Xbox One, probably PC.”

However, that’s not the only bad news for WWE. In the last few days, WWE has released a total of more than 25 staff, on-screen talent, backstage producers/agents, performance center trainers, and a writer. The shocking announcements came as a drip-feed following WWE’s CEO and chairman Vince McMahon stating the company would begin cutback measures as a result of the ongoing pandemic. So let’s get down to those that were announced:

• Drake Maverick (James Curtin)
• Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers)
• Karl Anderson (Chad Allegra)
• Luke Gallows (Drew Hankinson)
• Heath Slater (Heath Miller)
• Aiden English (Matthew Rehwoldt)
• Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz)
• EC3 (Michael Hutter)
• Lio Rush (Lionel Green)
• Kurt Angle

The first announced was Drake Maverick, formerly known as “Rockstar Spud,” he would also release a heartbreaking video with his statement. He would state that WWE is allowing him to continue in the tournament he is presently taking part in, though to keep “kayfabe” (in the fiction storyline alive), he raised the stakes on his last three matches with the company. Knowing this is only a small part of what’s happening across the country and across the world, it is a tough watch to see him talk about this.

My immediate thoughts.@WWE @WWENXT #WWE #NXT @TripleH @ShawnMichaels #Cruiserweight pic.twitter.com/Afw58V7eo1

— Drake Maverick (@WWEMaverick) April 15, 2020

Alongside Maverick was the Gold medalist and WWE Hall of Famer, Kurt Angle. Following his retirement last year, Angle moved to a producer role. Andersons and Gallows, former IWGP tag champions and Bullet Club members, only came to the company (with Gallows returning) in 2016. Slater has been a 16-year veteran of the company, playing roles on the main roster since 2010 as part of the first iteration of NXT. English, like Angle, had transitioned to a non-wrestling role within the company. Rush and Young had gone from the “developmental” NXT to the main roster and back, following troubles either creatively or constructively with the company.

• Sarah Logan (Sarah Rowe)
• Mike Chioda
• Primo (Edwin Colon) 
• Epico (Orlando Colon Nieves)
• Rowan (Joseph Ruud)
• Mike Kanellis (Mike Bennett)
• Maria Kanellis
• Zack Ryder (Matthew Cardona)

Logan, formally “Crazy Mary Dobson,” just wrestled for the company last Monday. Chioda, following a 31-year long career as a referee, counted the pin on the first Monday Night RAW when the 1-2-3 Kid pinned Razor Ramon, Michaels Vs Austin, Rock Vs Hogan, Rock Vs Cena, and the spontaneous triple-threat of WrestleMania 31 between Lesner, Reigns, and Rollins. Maria Kanellis returned from her run in the Divas’ era, this time bringing her husband Mike following a stint managing him on the independent scene. Zack Ryder had been with the company since 2005, setting out a standard in 2009-2010 creating a YouTube channel and furthering himself within the company. Ryder would set the ground for the Wrestler-led gaming channel “UpUpDownDown.”

• No Way Jose (Levis Valenzuela)
• Rusev (Miroslav Barnyashev)
• Deonna Purrazzo 
• Aleksandar Jaksic

Much like Logan, No Way Jose has been on recent shows while others have been under lockdown. Purrazzo said, “The people closest to me know this is something I’ve been struggling with wanting for the better part of the last year,” suggesting a desire to leave beforehand. Aleksander Jaksic is one of a few to be let go that hasn’t been on WWE TV. Jaksic was on the NXT live circuit, developing character, showing to producers and trainers his abilities to eventually be on TV. Jaksic, like a few others on the circuit, have since been let go. 

However, the most shocking of the early list is Rusev, one of the biggest stars in recent years. Between championship bouts and WrestleMania matches with John Cena, “Rusev Day,” and the obvious evil Russian story that’s typical in wrestling, it is a surprise. With a career that’s been up and down, fans have been behind him for most of it, viewing him as a possible star in the coming years. Now many hope he becomes a star of the future elsewhere.

Since these early releases, a further several wrestlers have been released from the NXT roster. Over the weekend, it was reported by long-time wrestling correspondent Dave Meltzer, that the “Main Roster” (SmackDown and RAW) are off-limits since the initial releases. The NXT roster, both on-screen and those on the live-circuits, can expect further releases.

• MJ Jenkins 
• Taynara Conti (Taynara Melo de Carvalho)
• Tino Sabbatelli (Sabatino Piscitelli) 
• Nick Ogarelli (Nick Comoroto)
• Cezar Bononi
• Mars Wang (Xiaolong Wang)
• Dorian Mak (Dan Matha)

Since 2018, MJ Jenkins has been apart of the NXT roster taking part in the 2018 and 2019 Mae Young Classic. Conti, the Brazillian martial artist with a black belt in Judo and Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, joined in 2017 to complete in the 2017 and 2018 Classic. The former college football and NFL player, Tino Sabbatelli took part in the behind-the-scenes series, Breaking Grounds, and intermittently appeared on TV. Ogarelli joined the company early last year, never making a splash on TV.

Bononi would join in late 2015, making sporadic appearances on TV since mid-2017. Mars Wang made his debut back in 2018, working on the NXT house show circuit. Dorian Mak, formally Dan Matha, joined forces with Riddick Moss and occasional appearances on TV. As of the time of writing, this is the complete list of wrestlers (and one producer) that have been released.

Along with mass releases from the company that are believed to continue, a contingent of producers backstage were also furloughed. While Angle was released, it is believed he is the only one of the producers to get this release from the company.

• Lance Storm
• Mike Rotunda
• Shane (Hurricane) Helms
• Scott Armstrong
• Pat Buck
• Sarah Stock
• Shawn Davari
• Billy Kidman
• Dave “Fit” Finlay

For years now, Storm has trained Tyler Breeze, Peyton Royce, Rachael Ellering, Tenille Dashwood (Emma), and Dominick Mysterio (Dominic Gutiérrez) for his work with his dad, Rey, last year. Storm’s wrestling academy closed late last year due to his producer role. The day before Rotunda was furloughed he appeared on WWE’s The Bump, the former IRS (Irwin R. Schyster), who has been a producer with the company for a while, made sporadic appearances on TV. Helms began his role backstage in January of 2019, following his early 2000s run which was followed by his occasional appearances with the company.

Armstrong joined the company as a referee in 2006 following a stint of wrestling in WCW, Smokey Mountain Wrestling, and later TNA. He would transition to a backstage role around 2016. Pat Buck, a known name on the indie circuit, only joined the company in August of last year as a producer. Stock would be best known for her work in TNA as Sarita, she started with WWE as a guest trainer back in 2015. Davari is be best known for his role in the mid-2000s as an Iranian-American who saw prejudice following the 9/11 attacks. Davari was featured in a story of him leading masked men in attacks of other wrestlers, until the 7/7 attacks where WWE pulled the story and Davari in 2005.

Kidman joined the company following the collapse and buyout of WCW in 2001 as part of the cruiser-weight division fighting with Helms, then notably shifting to tag team action. After leaving the company for a short run in the indies, Kidman would return to train wrestlers at FCW (now NXT) while making occasional appearances, and shifting into the producer role in 2011.

The final of the furloughed producers is “Fit” Finlay, credited as the force that has taken the women’s division within WWE from Divas to headlining WrestleMania. Following the WCW buyout, Finlay would go on to train future champions and be credited for the turnaround of the women’s division. While never reaching the top brass as a wrestler, he only caught the US championship once while being an active wrestler. He later retired in 2012 while out of the company.

Along with producers, WWE would also put three trainers on furlough leave.

• Ace Steel (Chris Guy)
• Serena Deeb
• Kendo Kashin (Tokimitsu Ishizawa)

Ace Steel, previously appeared on WWE TV in 2007 as the now-president in a match against Scottish wrestler Kiley Mclean as a Rosie O’Donnell stand-in. Steel returned to the company in November of 2019. Serena Deeb also featured on TV, most notably as the woman to shave her head for CM Punk’s cult in 2010 before returning for the 2017 Mae Young Classic. Deeb became a trainer at WWE’s training facility in 2018. Kashin made a career in Japanese promotions New Japan, All Japan, and Pride. He promoted Fighting Tiger Mask, Kurt Angle, and Masayuki Naruse, to name a few in his career. Kashin joined WWE last August.

Since the initial releases on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, PWInsider reported on Saturday that several Performance Center trainees were released. Mohamed Fahim, Marcos Gomes, Faisal Kurdi, Edgar Lopez, Hussain Aldaga, and Yifeng are the names reported to be released from the training facility at this moment.

Also on Saturday, Dave Meltzer reported that Kassius Ohno, NXT on-screen wrestler and behind-the-scenes coach, had also been part of the week’s circumstances. However, there has been no word if he was a release or a furlough. Since then Ohno has changed his Twitter bio to feature, “WWE Alumni.”

I have worked for #WWE for 9 years. I was furloughed today but people have been suffering everywhere for way longer. Let’s help each other and work to come back stronger. ♥️💔♥️ Also, a #disinfectedhug for everyone!

— Jerry Soto (@JerrySotoWWE) April 15, 2020

During the week, NXT announcer Jerry Soto also announced his furlough from the company. He noted on Twitter that he has worked for the company for nine years and he knows the struggle everyone is going through. He also called for everyone to come together and get each other through this tough time.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp has since discussed the announcement that NXT talent that has been released will be paid for 30-days. Following this, they will be allowed to move on and do as they please. This is a difference from WWE’s usual period provided to the main roster talent, giving them 90-days of a no-compete clause to their contract.

Along with this, WWE released writer Andrea Listenberger. Listenerger joined the company last year, writing for the FOX-backed SmackDown Live since December. She is most notably known for writing the Otis and Mandy storyline that’s been a major part of SmackDown in recent months. In the announcement of her release, Listenberger signed off with “#OtisAndMandyForever.” Many have responded with commentary of how much they loved her work with the company. 

Lots of people getting let go at #WWE today and regrettably, I am one of them. But I'm proud of the work I've been able to do since starting in Dec., and glad that the storyline I worked on resonated with so many people. That's what writing is about for me. #OtisandMandyForever

— Andrea Listenberger (@andrea_ml) April 15, 2020

I’ve been vocal, here and elsewhere online, about the game I opened this article with. I think 2K should accept that the game, the developer, and even the publishing of the game didn’t work out. Love it or hate it, a loud majority find 2K20 a problematic game, much like 2K15 was when it was bogged down in the mud of a yearly release though to a more extreme extent. I can only hope Visual Concepts pull it together for their second game of their solo development next time around.

As for the releases, there’s a lot that has been said and a lot that could be said. Many have turned to those released with a gif of Cody Rhodes (figurehead of AEW) cocking his ear, this isn’t what they need or want right now. To outright blame WWE and attack them for the decision is also a stretch. I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, though it is what they did. Many have for months now called for the release of wrestlers left, right, and center, as WWE holds/held the contacts of 500 or so wrestlers. Yet now the company is meant to hold on to people? It’s a horrible situation, but it’s not one that Vince McMahon is taking lightly; His announcement of the cutbacks lasted only five minutes.

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