It appears possible that two former WWE in-ring stars might be joining the company as producers. Both Joe Hennig (Curtis Axel) and Ariya Daivari were backstage during SmackDown on Friday night and both were helping produce matches on the show, in what many are labeling a producer tryout.
Speculation that Hennig might be returning to WWE and working behind the scenes is interesting if only because he spent so long there as an on-air talent, -- many of those years in which he wasn't on television all that much -- he's likely made some good friends who feel he could be a valuable addition. He spent 13 years with WWE but was released on April 30, 2020, along with a number of other stars in what was deemed at the time to be budget cuts. He hasn't been around the pro wrestling scene much since then. Fightful Select reports that he worked a tryout for the role of a producer on Friday, helping Tyson Kidd produce the women’s division match that saw Liv Morgan defeat Sasha Banks.
Daivari also participated in a producer’s tryout, and it is speculated he worked with Chris Park to produce Drew McIntyre’s count-out win over Sami Zayn. Ariya has an in as his brother Shawn Daivari, is already working currently as a WWE Producer. Fans may know Ariya best from his run on 205 Live. He, too, was released based on budget cuts. He has been more active than Hennig, having worked for AEW, NJPW, and the NWA since he was released in 2021.
Did Either Get The Job?
It's not clear how WWE viewed their performances during the tryouts and whether either was given a more permanent role moving forward. If either are hired, their names will be added to a long list of some pretty established former talent including D-Von Dudley, Jamie Nobel, Jason Jordan, Shane Helms, Molly Holly, TJ Wilson and others.