PRODUCE Promoter Accuses WWE of “Conning” ID Talent After Show Pulls

PRODUCE Wrestling promoter Adam Abdalla criticized WWE’s ID program after WWE pulled Marcus Mathers and Chazz “Starboy” Hall from PRODUCE’s July 16 Jersey City show due to WWE obligations. PRODUCE also warned that talent who cancel bookings for other independent gigs that “aren’t a full time contract” will have future PRODUCE dates terminated; Abdalla said his intent was to highlight how wrestlers were “conned into doing scabwork” by promises that resembled a grant program and to call out practices that devalue talent and fans.

WWE launched the ID (Independent Development) program in 2024 to give select indie wrestlers resources and a potential pathway to NXT. Game Changer Wrestling’s Brett Lauderdale explained WWE has Evolve tapings July 17–18 and required ID talent to be in Florida by July 16, but PRODUCE questioned the need to cancel bookings a full day earlier for a short flight and said it received no satisfactory explanation. Abdalla’s post follows other recent instances of WWE pulling ID talent from Big Time Wrestling, Limitless Wrestling, and Dreamwave Wrestling for WWE opportunities.

Originally reported by Wrestling Observer: https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/produce-wrestling-says-wwe-id-conned-talent/.