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WWE fans have witnessed numerous changes in the past year, with production taking a noticeable shift. Vince McMahon’s departure from WWE brought about a significant transformation in the way the company operates. Following WWE’s merger with UFC under the Endeavor umbrella, the company moved forward, but Kevin Dunn’s exit marked a major turning point in the production department.
With Endeavor looking to reduce WWE’s operational costs, Kevin Dunn left the company. It’s widely believed that Dunn, a long-standing “Vince McMahon guy,” departed because he felt disrespected under the new regime, which has notably reduced McMahon’s role as Executive Chairman. Stepping into Dunn’s shoes, Lee Fitting, who previously worked with ESPN, took over the role. Since then, fans have noticed an array of new camera angles and walking shots that were never used during Dunn’s tenure. The rapid, jump-cut style of camera switching during matches is also a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, UFC President Dana White is preparing for UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas on September 14. The Sphere, a cutting-edge entertainment venue with 580,000 square feet of LED displays, offers an unparalleled immersive experience. The venue has previously hosted performances by U2, Phish, and Dead & Company, as well as the NHL Draft, but UFC 306 will be the first live sporting event to take place inside the arena.
In a recent interview with Johnny Resendiz, Dana White was asked whether UFC would experiment with similar camera angles and production techniques, much like WWE has been doing recently.
“Don’t you find that weird that we got involved in WWE not too long ago and now they’re experimenting with that? [Laughs]. Our production team has a lot of influence over what’s going on.”
WWE’s production overhaul began in early 2024 after Kevin Dunn’s departure, with Lee Fitting taking over as Head of Media and Production and finding a lot of success. Since then, fans have observed a marked evolution in WWE’s presentation, sparking mixed reactions across the board.
We will have to see how things continue changing for WWE. With their recent boom in business, it stands to reason that there is little room to complain at this point.
WWE will move SmackDown to The USA Network this week. The USA Network will also remain the home of WWE RAW until 2025, when they move to Netflix and start that blockbuster deal.
What’s your opinion on WWE’s new production style? Do you think the company is moving in the right direction? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
September 9, 2024 1:15 pm
