NWA Reportedly Expected to Make Cuts to Roster & Staff This January

As noted before, WWE recently signed a new television deal with The CW for their NXT television series starting in October of 2024. The National Wrestling Alliance was believed to have also signed a TV deal with The CW that was in jeopardy following a cocaine spot incident at an NWA event this past October.

Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman reported that his sources stated that the NWA is currently expected to make cuts to their roster and production staff by January of 2024.

One source spoken to reportedly stated that NWA owner Billy Corgan will make cuts “at every corner” in regards to NWA’s roster and various areas in its production staff. One example given by this same source reportedly involved the hair and make-up department’s budget is expected to be cut roughly in half as part of the expected cuts.

Hausman reported that those spoken to reportedly also stated that NWA officials currently are planning for a “bare-bones crew” to be used for this weekend’s set of NWA Powerrr tapings in regards to mainly only contracted talent being used. Hausman reported that the exceptions for non-contracted talent for this weekend’s tapings are Violent J, Mike Knox, Kratos, and two wrestlers who portray a mystery masked tag team. In regards to Violent J, he reportedly flies himself in and works for free at NWA events.

In regards to the upcoming new set of tapings in January of 2024, Hausman reported that NWA officials have already planned and booked for this upcoming tapings to use mainly contracted talent. Hausman also reported that talent cuts are likely to take place after this new set of tapings. Hausman also reported that it is currently not known how many talents will be cut or not re-signed to new deals but all contracted talent are currently under their review and their benefits to the company were being weighed. In regards to non-contracted talent, Hausman reported that those without a contract can not actually be cut since they are working without a formal deal but they likely will not be brought in for future bookings.

In regards to other cost-saving measures planned, Hausman reported that most NWA talent will no longer be able to fly in the day before shows in order to cut down on hotel costs. The company reportedly has been footing the bill for extra hotel days costs prior to these changes made. NWA talent booked for shows reportedly will still have their hotel stays fully paid for on the night of a show and for multiple nights for tapings that go longer than one day. Besides covering hotel costs, the NWA reportedly also had covered flight costs for their talent. In regards to comparisons with WWE and AEW, Hausman reported that WWE only covers flight costs while AEW covers flight and hotel costs for their talents for shows.

In regards to the main reason for the planned cuts, Hausman reported that those spoken to reportedly stated that this was due to financial-related issues currently affecting the company. Corgan reportedly has been funding everything out of pocket for the NWA for years and there had been “little to no sponsorship money coming in” to the company. Corgan reportedly has already spent millions of dollars on NWA’s Powerrr series and new NWA reality series.