Major name departs WWE after more than 6 years

WWE is wrapping up another successful year and headed to what appears to be a much bigger 2025. Despite the unprecedented success and major happenings on the horizon, not all news from backstage are welcomed headlines. A senior member of the WWE machine, who is also key to the wrestling and entertainment worlds in general, has revealed why he just resigned from the company.

Jim Smallman had been doing stand-up comedy for around six years when he co-founded PROGRESS Wrestling in 2011. The promotion launched with its inaugural event, Chapter One, on March 25, 2012. After finding significant success with the company, Smallman left at the end of 2019 to focus more on his NXT UK duties.

The part-time voiceover artist and radio presenter began working for WWE in June 2018 as a producer and creative writer for the NXT UK brand, according to LinkedIn. He held that role for two years and four months before moving to Orlando, Florida in September 2020 to work as a senior writer and producer.

Smallman is leaving WWE after six years and seven months. He noted on Instagram that he resigned and finished on Tuesday so he can move back to the UK to be with his family. He gave some interesting stats about his run on WWE's official third brand and gave thanks to his colleagues, including Chief Content Officer Triple H, Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels, and Vice President of Global Talent Development William Regal.

WWE has had a working relationship with PROGRESS and other UK promotions. Smallman gave no indication as to potential related plans back in the UK, but he did end the statement by indicating that he plans to return to WWE in some fashion down the line, and he attached a few exclusive photos.

"Yesterday was my last day as part of the NXT creative team, as I resigned from my position as Senior Writer / Producer in order to move back to the UK and be a better dad to my two children. This was an incredibly difficult decision as I was lucky enough to work with some of the most talented and excellent human beings on the planet, and yesterday was a very emotional day as I said goodbye - for now - to so many great friends. Alas, it is impossible to be a good dad from 4000 miles away, and some personal health issues last year put that into sharp focus.

Jim Smallman continued:

"It’s time to head home and make up for lost time. I wrote 216 episodes of NXT UK, 150 episodes of Level Up, worked on 190 episodes of NXT and I lost count of how many in ring and backstage promos that I wrote and produced. I am forever grateful to Shawn and Hunter for giving me my chance, Johnny and the writing team for being amazing, Mr Regal for putting me forward for everything, Joe for showing me the ropes… and to every gifted talent that I’ve worked with in both Europe and the USA. I wish I could have thanked every single person yesterday but we had a tv show to film! Thank you for tolerating a strange British idiot," Jim Smallman wrote.

Smallman continued and said he was very lucky to have lived his life but even luckier to be headed home to his children. He added that this might be goodbye to NXT creative but not to WWE, as he hopes to see his friends again down the line.

Smallman was seemingly well-liked and respected within WWE. As of this writing, Smallman's departure statement has received congratulatory replies from Natalya, Blair Davenport, Cora Jade, Dakota Kai, Tyler Bate, Lexis King, Drake Maverick, McKenzie Mitchell, and Dante Chen, among many others.