WWE Raw And Smackdown Backstage News And Producers For May 8-12
Producers for Raw
– Cody Rhodes promo: Michael Hayes
– World Title Tournament: Seth Rollins vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Damian Priest: Jason Jordan
– Otis vs. Mustafa Ali: Kenny Dykstra
– World Title Tournament: Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor vs. Miz
– Dana Brooke vs. Rhea Ripley: Petey Wiliams
– Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. Imperium: Adam Pearce
– Nikki Cross vs. Zoey Stark: Molly Holly
– Trish Stratus promo, Becky Lynch return: Petey Williams
– Xavier Woods vs. Dominik Mysterio: Shane Helms
– World Title Tournament semifinals: Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins: Jamie Noble
Backstage News
– We’re told that Fanatics and WWE’s integration is being fully felt from the merchandising perspective of things in WWE.
– WWE heavily piped in audio during the Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes segment. Several within WWE echoed the online reaction saying it wasn’t needed.
– Brock Lesnar was disguised with two other rather large stagehands to get him ringside for the spot. They pushed a trunk ringside to hide him.
– The two World Heavyweight Title tourney triple threat matches were swapped in order just before WWE Raw.
– There were numerous new stars on the WWE roster that were not brought to the show.
– Becky Lynch was cut before she could get on the mic. However, we’re told that it wasn’t supposed to be a substantial part of the promo. Fightful was told this program was continuing for quite a while and there’s plenty of time to get that in.
– Molly Holly produced the Roxanne Perez vs. Emma Main Event taping match
– Kenny Dykstra produced the Akira Tozawa vs Nathan Frazer Main Event taping match
– Raw was the highest grossing Jacksonville event in WWE history.
Producers for Smackdown
– World Heavyweight Title Tournament: Edge vs. AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio: Michael Hayes
– World Heavyweight Title Tournament: Sheamus vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Theory: Abyss
– Cameron Grimes vs. Baron Corbin: Adam Pearce
– Roman Reigns promo: Michael Hayes
– Women’s Tag Titles: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez vs. Damage CTRL: TJ Wilson
– Bianca Belair and Asuka segment: Shawn Davairi
– World Heavyweight Title Tournament Semifinals: AJ Styles vs. Lashley: Jason Jordan
Backstage News:
– We’re told that WWE’s new method of going live on social media a couple of minutes before the show was to serve as an active reminder that the show was starting.
– Bianca Belair vs. IYO SKY and Street Profits vs. Usos were post-show dark matches with Jason Jordan producing. Asuka was scheduled for as Bianca’s opponent originally
– LWO vs. OC was a pre-show dark match, produced by Shawn Daivari.
– The Smackdown episode in Knoxville was the highest grossing WWE event in the history of the market, per internal live events reports.
– Regarding a Twitter account posting Vince McMahon not being at Smackdown as a scoop, he’s rarely if ever at Smackdown.
– For those asking, the decision to have AJ Styles move to the finals of the tournament were in order before Edge’s promo about the title and potential retirement. There was no audible due to Bobby Lashley’s cut.
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