WWE: Promotions & Raises Reinstated for WWE Staff, Sonya Deville Update, Indie Talent Bookings Cut

WWE Reinstates Promotions and Pay Raises for Their Staff

WWE officials reportedly held a “all hands on deck” meeting with their employees on Thursday, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that the major news to come out of this meeting was WWE’s employees being informed that the company would be reinstating promotions and pay raises going forward.

Johnson also reported that a big part of WWE’s workforce was also informed that they would be receiving pay raises over the course of the next several weeks.

WWE had enacted a freeze on promotions and pay raises earlier this year for all of their employees that was claimed by the company to be needed due to financial issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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WWE Reportedly Working on Plans for Sonya Deville’s In-Ring Return

WWE reportedly is currently working on plans for Sonya Deville’s return to the ring, according to Fightful Select.

Prior to Tamia being announced as the final entrant for the upcoming Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder match, it was reported that there had been a strong push within the company to have Deville be one of the competitors from the SmackDown side for that match. At one point, WWE reportedly had Deville’s name penciled in for the match.

It was reported that Deville has been training for her return to the ring for the past few months and the current expectation within the company is that she will be making her return soon.

It was also reported that WWE officials had plans for Deville to make her in-ring return by WrestleMania 37 but kept delaying their plans for her return for reasons currently unknown.

Since her return to the company this past January, Deville has mainly worked as an on-screen authority figure for the RAW and SmackDown brands.

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WWE Reportedly Cutting Back on Indie Talent Used for Upcoming TV Shows

WWE reportedly recently scaled back their plans on the usage of local indie talents for their upcoming RAW and SmackDown television tapings in front of fans, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that WWE had recently contacted a number of local indie talent informing them that their upcoming scheduled television bookings for the company have been dropped. Johnson reported that in some cases, WWE will be using no more than just two extras for work at television tapings.

Johnson speculated that the reason for WWE’s change in plans likely is due to cost-cutting measures due to the rising costs associated with weekly live touring for shows.