WWE News & Rumor Roundup - Top stars not on talking terms, Big name wanted to be Brock Lesnar's 'little sister', Several members of Stephanie McMahon’s team released (November 12th, 2021)

#4 Beth Phoenix pitched an idea to WWE to become Brock Lesnar's on-screen sister

Beth Phoenix took to Twitter to reveal that she initially pitched the idea to WWE of becoming Brock Lesnar's little sister.

Here's what the WWE Hall of Famer tweeted out about the proposed storyline:

Fun Fact: At one of my first gigs as a @WWE extra I pitched a detailed storyline to Michael Hayes to be brought in as Brock Lesnar's sister. I had ZERO CHILL.

Beth Phoenix joined WWE's developmental system in 2004, which was incidentally the year when Brock Lesnar left WWE.

Phoenix is currently busy with her commentary duties on NXT, and she last appeared in the ring as part of the 2020 Women's Royal Rumble match. As for Brock Lesnar, the former Universal Champion is out of action due to a storyline suspension, but the Beast Incarnate has vowed to make a stunning return on an upcoming episode of SmackDown.

---

#3 Several members of Stephanie McMahon's staff have been released from WWE

The recent budget cuts didn't just affect talent, as WWE made several releases behind the scenes.

In this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that most of the people from Stephanie McMahon's branding department had been let go.

One of the more surprising WWE exits is that of Laura Petrocelli, wife of veteran writer Ed Koskey and a respected figure backstage in WWE.

Meltzer also noted that WWE could soon merge the branding and marketing teams, which explains why WWE might have released almost every member of Stephanie McMahon's team.

Here's what was reported in the Newsletter:

"Most of Stephanie McMahon's staff in branding was let go, including Laura Petrocelli, who was said to be universally respected within the company and is the wife of longtime writer Ed Koskey. While not official, the belief seems to be with so many cuts in her department that the Branding department will merge into the Marketing department. This also seems to explain all the recent publicity pushes by WWE to promote Stephanie McMahon as the point person in marketing rather than as Chief Brand Officer," revealed Dave Meltzer.

Despite raking in impressive figures in the third financial quarter, WWE will reportedly continue to have budget cuts, and more talent releases are also expected to happen.