Ex-WWE writer believes Vince McMahon would not treat New Day as TKO.
The TKO management has been criticised by fans recently amid reports of them asking talents to take as much as 50% pay cut while touting record profits. This move has been linked to The New Day’s departure from the company, ending the group’s decade-plus run with the promotion.
Though they are not the only recent WWE release, as the company has also let go the entire Wyatt Sicks faction as well as names such as Kairi Sane and Aleister Black as part of their post-WrestleMania talent cuts.
Former WWE writer Chris Dunn gave his thoughts on the topic during a recent appearance on Public Enemies Podcast. He compared the recent releases to the previous regime run by Vince McMahon, saying that under the former WWE chairman, there were talents who would never be treated like this:
“Vince was making these cuts too. There was always spring cleaning, think the difference is, like, Vince never would have asked anyone to take a pay cut. He would have either fired the person or they would have been somebody like the New Day, who he considered a national treasure — wouldn’t job out when he was trying to embarrass Road Dogg — and keep them forever because they should stay.”
We Can’t Have New Day Lose: Chris Dunn
Expanding on his comments about Road Dogg, Chris Dunn recalled the 2018 Survivor Series PPV that saw Raw and SmackDown brands facing off in various matches. He explained that McMahon decided to make SmackDown lose all matches to embarrass Road Dogg, who was the head writer of the show at the time. Though he made an exception for The New Day by putting them on the pre-show instead:
“Vince, in a meeting, decided SmackDown was going to lose every match on Survivor Series. And then we got to, I think the New Day match came up when New Day was on SmackDown. So it was like, we can’t have New Day lose, let’s put them on kickoff.”
Dunn explained that the New Day win did not count for their brand as they were on the pre-show. Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon opened next Monday’s episode, celebrating a clean sweep over the rival brand after winning all matches on the main card.