PRODUCE Promoter Says WWE ID Talent Were “Conned Into Doing Scabwork”

As noted before, WWE ID and WWE EVOLVE talents Marcus Mathers and Chazz “Starboy” Hall were recently pulled from Orange Crush’s PRODUCE’s Volume 2: Taigastyle event on July 16 in Jersey, New Jersey due to contractual obligation-related issues with WWE. This is the fifth time since June that WWE had pulled their WWE ID talents from indies bookings due to similar issues.

PRODUCE promoter Adam Abdalla recently responded to online criticisms over his company’s handling of the situation, including the warning of if talents cancel their scheduled bookings with the company and are not full-time contracted with another promotion then they will no longer be booked for future shows.

Abdalla stated that his announcements were not meant to name and shame talent and instead to highlight his belief that indies talent have been “conned into doing “scabwork” through the WWE ID program.

“Just a note on yesterday: The point of my announcements was not to name and shame talent. It was to highlight the fact they were promised the equivalent of a grant program and were conned into doing scabwork. This should be widely understood.

PRODUCE exists to serve our fanbase, but as an idea, also as an institutional critique that shines a light on practices that are designed to devalue the talent. I’ll take 1000 bullets personally if it brings sunlight to things that will make folks think twice about screwing talent or the fans. This will always be the tone. If you want passive viewing, youve got plenty of options.”

Game Changer Wrestling owner and promoter Brett Lauderdale responded to the situation stating that both Mathers and Hall were not pulled from PRODUCE’s event due to PRODUCE’s current relationship with AEW for MyAEW. Lauderdale stated that he was told that WWE has a WWE EVOLVE tapings scheduled for July 17-18 and are requiring their WWE ID talent to be in Florida by July 16.

There is zero chance of this being why.

Its because there are evolve tapings on the 17th and 18th which require them to be in Florida on the 16th and many of the ID talent had already taken the produce booking before the evolve tapings were scheduled https://t.co/iJRuWux9VS

— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) July 2, 2026

In response to Lauderdale’s comments, PRODUCE responded questioning why wrestlers would have to be in Florida a full day before the EVILVE tapings when they already had indies bookings scheduled. PRODUCE also stated that they were not given any explanation from WWE for why WWE ID talents were pulled from their upcoming show.

“Why would you be required to cancel bookings 24 hours before tapings that are a 2 hour and 30 minute flight away? If youre on RAW, you arrive the same day. We were given no logic or explanation. Mandatory PC training? Pretaped promos? Those don’t justify f***ing the fans.”

Why would you be required to cancel bookings 24 hours before tapings that are a 2 hour and 30 minute flight away? If youre on RAW, you arrive the same day.

We were given no logic or explanation.

Mandatory PC training? Pretaped promos? Those don't justify fucking the fans.…

— PRODUCE by Orange Crush (@PRODUCENYC) July 2, 2026

Lauderdale responded back stating that the same situation has happened to him with WWE ID talents multiple times including several upcoming scheduled dates GCW has with Mathers himself.

“Sure. I didnt say it was fair or convenient. It’s actually the opposite and its happened to me many times, including several dates I have coming up with Mathers himself.

What I am saying is that Marcus & Starboy having to pull out has nothing to do with the show being on MyAew”

Sure. I didnt say it was fair or convenient. It's actually the opposite and its happened to me many times, including several dates I have coming up with Mathers himself.

What I am saying is that Marcus & Starboy having to pull out has nothing to do with the show being on MyAew

— brett lauderdale (@Lauderdale11) July 2, 2026