Plans to Replace Bruce Prichard Leave Shawn Michaels’ Promotion Uncertain, Report Says
New reporting says Bruce Prichard is expected to retire after WrestleMania 43 and work as a consultant, while WWE plans to divide his duties between Ed Koskey and Bobby Roode — a development that casts doubt on reports Shawn Michaels will take the role.
New reporting indicates Bruce Prichard is expected to step down from his full-time WWE role after WrestleMania 43 and continue with the company as a consultant, and that current plans call for his responsibilities to be divided — a scenario that makes a reported promotion for Shawn Michaels less certain.
PWInsider first reported that Prichard would retire after WrestleMania 43 and remain a consultant. Conrad Thompson previously revealed that Prichard is undergoing surgery for an old injury. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirmed Prichard’s planned retirement and consultant role, and said he had heard Prichard would have back surgery, noting the physical toll of travel at age 63.
Meltzer reported that as of October 29 WWE’s plan is to split Prichard’s duties between Ed Koskey, who is Senior Vice President of Creative Writing and has reportedly already taken many items off Prichard’s desk, and Bobby Roode, a backstage producer who Triple H apparently has long-term plans for. That reported division of responsibilities is expected to change multiple times before April, Meltzer added.
The earlier PWInsider item suggested Shawn Michaels would move into Prichard’s current position. Meltzer characterized that outcome as unlikely in its reported form, noting that such a promotion would require Michaels to travel twice weekly for television and could conflict with his current role overseeing NXT creative. Shawn Michaels currently serves as WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative and oversees NXT creative, a role Meltzer said is valuable to the company.
Meltzer also noted names that surfaced in the wake of the Shawn Michaels story — including CM Punk, Bayley and AJ Styles — as possibilities for future involvement with WWE’s developmental system. All reporting cited here is attributed to PWInsider and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Dave Meltzer), with the earlier surgery disclosure credited to Conrad Thompson.
