-- It appears WWE Backstage on FS1 isn't completely dead as reporter Jon Alba tweeted that production is being massively scaled back but the show will still air around PPVs and "big shows." He further reports that with the cuts at FS1, approximately 20 people lost their jobs in the boxing and wrestling (WWE) divisions and that at one point, FOX had plans to significantly invest in a WWE division by bringing on additional on-screen talent as well as feature producers. All of that is now shelved.
FS1 will be stripping WWE Backstage back to airing only around PPVs and big shows, but none of the cuts will affect Smackdown's status on Friday nights on Fox, as reported by @Ourand_SBJ. Says around 20 people lost jobs today through boxing and #WWE divisions.
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) June 23, 2020
Prior to #WWE moving to Fox, there was an entire division being put together dedicated solely to the WWE product. There were feature producers being brought on. They were searching for on-air talent. It certainly seemed like a major investment.
Appears today that's mostly over.— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) June 22, 2020
-- FS1 had the following statement regarding the cuts:
Today, we announced programming changes designed to better address the needs of our business. As a result, some positions in our production department have been eliminated.
