Backstage Reaction & Update on WWE Using AI Tools for Creative Purposes

As noted before, WWE hired Cyrus Kowsari this past September to be their new senior director of creative strategy. This hire was part of WWE’s plans to transition into using artificial intelligence for both creative storytelling and production. WWE’s plans for using AI tools was later clarified to not involve it being used to write storylines and book their shows.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that several WWE higher-ups were very unhappy with how the AI story blew up last week. Meltzer reported that none of those spoken to within WWE denied the facts but they tried to change the subject saying it was for things other than scripting shows. Meltzer also reported that despite those claims, WWE officials currently do have the idea to also use AI tools for scripting shows.

Meltzer reported that WWE’s current idea is that AI will be doing the job of a writer’s assistant but this is for the present and not the actual plan for the future. Meltzer reported that WWE is currently using AI to study their creative process and Cyrus Kowsari is also studying the creative process.

In regards to the reaction within WWE over them using AI for shows, Meltzer reported that many people within WWE became nervous about the future of their jobs after a recent production meeting that involved one executive in a joking tone saying that AI would not be taking any jobs except for one person and named this person. Meltzer also reported that general trust level within WWE has been down ever since the way WWE officials had lied to everyone about Seth Rollins’ knee injury causing nobody to trust anything about injuries being said in the company. Another reason reportedly is due to the current feeling within WWE that TKO executives have no loyalty at all to anyone.

In regards to potential job losses, Meltzer reported that most of the writers in WWE learn the wrestling business from the ground up by starting as assistants and learn the version of company history and creative lessons the company tells. One person spoken to reportedly stated that even if AI eliminates some entry level positions, that would mean fewer new writers being trained for the company.

One person spoken to reportedly stated that they believe the only thing holding back AI from being used more in WWE’s creative right now is that the ideas have been “so bad.” This same person reportedly stated that the information to craft storylines given to AU are from the company’s past, which means the history of Vince McMahon’s creative. Meltzer reported that this means that stuff that worked in its time, would not work today due to the very different talent and very different fans for shows. Meltzer also reported that those within WWE currently do expect this process to improve and that more and more input will help train the AI Writers Assistant to become more effective.