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There's so much effort that goes behind each and every WWE match that we see on our screen every week. We all give a lot of credit to the WWE Superstars performing in the ring for an amazing match, and they sure deserve all of it, but there are also some unsung heroes behind all these matches - WWE producers.
WWE producers are in many ways the link that joins the WWE Superstars and the creative team. They help the Superstars plan the matches (yes, the matches are scripted, sorry Kayfabe!), the spots, and even help with promos and storylines, and so much more. Most of these producers are usually former wrestlers who have several years of experience in the industry, having been through it themselves.
So getting to the point, let's take a look at five current backstage producers for WWE, three of whom are former WWE Superstars and the other two are former TNA wrestlers. Be sure to comment down and let us know your thoughts on the same.
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#3 Former WWE Superstar who works as a backstage producer for WWE: Mark Henry
WWE Hall of Famer, Mark Henry (Real Name: Mark Jerrold Henry) has been one of the most dominating Superstars in WWE history. Known for his incredible strength and power, Mark Henry made his WWE/WWF debut in 1996.
In his over two-decade-long career, Mark Henry became one of the most popular Superstars of the company. He is a former World Heavyweight Champion and also a former WWE European Champion. After WrestleMania 33, Mark Henry transitioned into a backstage producer role.
In a recent interview with Muscle & Fitness, Mark Henry described his current role with WWE as follows -
“I work with our talent development. I want to be a part of having my fingerprints on the future of pro wrestling. I’m able to talk to all the younger wrestlers now and give them the life lessons and the travel lessons that I’ve learned. And so far, so good. I’ve not had one person reject what I am trying to teach. That speaks volumes for who we pick as talents.
I think the important thing is to tell wrestlers to enjoy the [WWE] journey, and that it is important for the fans to have a connection with the talent”
Mark Henry keeps making appearances and cameos for WWE whenever the company requires. He continues to be a loving personality and is admired by the WWE Universe.
#2 Former TNA wrestler who works as a backstage producer for WWE: Joseph Parks/Abyss
Former TNA wrestler and IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Famer Abyss (Real Name: Christopher Joseph Parks) has been one of the biggest names responsible for the immense success of TNA. He was with the company from 2002 to 2019, before signing with WWE, where he works as a backstage producer.
During a video released by WWE after hiring him, Chris Parks revealed that it was his dream to join WWE and work with the best.
"Being here at the WWE, it's a lifelong dream come true. Something I dreamed of for my entire 24 year in-ring wresting career, and ending up with the best. And now I'm with the best, I'm with WWE."
The character of Abyss and his split personality brother is one of the most successful ones in TNA and WWE fans have wanted to see Abyss in a WWE ring ever since he signed with the company. Recently, on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown, he appeared as Joseph Park - the Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles' statistician. It is to be seen whether this leads to the in-ring debut of Abyss in WWE.
#2 Former WWE Superstar who works as a backstage producer for WWE: D-Von Dudley
One of the few Superstars to be in both the TNA and WWE Hall of Fame, D-Von Dudley (Real Name: Devon Hughes) has had a great career in professional wrestling. Widely famous as being part of the legendary tag-team The Dudley Boyz alongside Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von now works as a backstage producer for WWE.
D-Von recently announced his retirement from in-ring competition and said that he's happy with being a producer and will be open for non-wrestling appearances for WWE.
"Even though I was a little frustrated about not continuing to wrestle for that one more year that I wanted, I’m extremely happy now being a producer and not wrestling. I have officially hung it up, I’m done. Except for different appearances that they may want me to do on the show, but no more wrestling. No more fighting for the titles. None of that anymore. I’m done. I’m officially done. I’ve had my fifteen minutes of fame and it was a good ride. It really was. The old-timers used to tell me don’t blink, because when you do it’s over. It goes that fast. And it did feel like it went really, really fast."
Starting his wrestling career in 1992, D-Von would be proud of his 28-year-long journey, which saw him become very successful. Be it in WWE, ECW, NJPW, or IMPACT Wrestling, D-Von and the Dudley Boyz made a name for themselves everywhere, winning several tag-team championships.
#1 Former TNA wrestler who works as a backstage producer for WWE: Sonjay Dutt
Casual WWE fans might not be aware of him, but Sonjay Dutt (Real Name: Retesh Bhalla) was a big name in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling. Making his TNA debut in 2003, Sonjay Dutt is a former one-time IMPACT X-Division champion. In January 2019, the Indian-American pro-wrestler signed with WWE as a producer, alongside Abyss (mentioned earlier in the article).
Speaking to WWE during a video after his hiring, Sonjay Dutt mentioned how he was seeing old friends and colleagues in WWE.
"Three weeks ago was my first day and I get here, and everywhere I turn I'm seeing old friends, I'm seeing old colleagues, people I've known and come up through the wrestling industry with."
"For about the last two or three years I've immersed myself in cultivating new talent, finding new talent, and kind of exploring their positives and improving their negatives. In front of the camera and behind the camera. And to bring that skill set to WWE, that's amazing to me."
Apart from TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, Sonjay Dutt has also worked for several other promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, where he was inducted into the CZW Hall of Fame in 2019.
#1 Former WWE Superstar who works as a backstage producer for WWE: Tyson Kidd
Former WWE Superstar and a huge fan-favorite Tyson Kidd (Real Name: Theodore James "TJ" Wilson) signed with WWE in 2006. He won the Tag Team titles in WWE thrice, the most recent one with Cesaro in 2015 - a team that had so much potential.
Unfortunately, Tyson Kidd's promising in-ring career was cut short after he suffered a dangerous spinal cord injury during a dark match on RAW in June 2015 while taking Samoa Joe's Muscle Buster finisher. In 2017, WWE hired him as a producer. Speaking to Cody Rhodes, Tyson Kidd recently revealed his transition to being a WWE producer.
"So the transition was fairly smooth to be honest. It was smooth in terms of I like helping people. I liked helping talent with their matches prior to my injury. Obviously, now as a producer it becomes more a larger responsibility than just me as a talent giving advice. What I didn't know was I didn't know how fulfilling it could actually be"
"I was told by the boss that now you'll be like me, vicariously living through the talent, and I thought those were just words. And I've now come to realize that it's very real. The fulfillment and the feeling is very real. When we lay something out and the talent goes out there, I'm part of the creative process of helping putting things together maybe putting things in different places. When they go out there and execute it even better than I have it imagined in my head, it is just a great feeling."
Tyson Kidd is married to WWE Superstar and former Divas and WWE SmackDown Women's Champion, Natalya. The couple is featured heavily on Total Divas. Natalya recently posted a video of Tyson Kidd running the ropes, sparking speculations of his return to the ring. It is to be seen whether that happens or not!
Did a WWE Hall of Famer predict John Cena's heelish ways long ago? More details HERE.
