Bruce Prichard is expected to step down as WWE’s Executive Director of Creative Writing and Talent after WrestleMania 43, according to PWInsider’s Mike Johnson.
Johnson reported that multiple sources confirmed the plan. Prichard, 63, is expected to remain connected to WWE as a consultant, but he would no longer hold his current creative duties and would no longer be based in Stamford.
Nothing is locked in yet. One source pointed to WrestleMania as the end of Prichard’s run in the role, while another cautioned that the timeline could still change. There is no word on who would succeed him.
WrestleMania 43 is headed to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April 2027, the first WrestleMania held outside North America. WWE has not officially announced exact dates or a venue, which puts Prichard’s expected exit roughly five to six months out.
What Prichard’s Exit Would Change
Paul “Triple H” Levesque runs WWE creative as Chief Content Officer, but Prichard has been the senior figure beneath him. Prichard returned to WWE full-time in 2019 and has led the consolidated Raw and SmackDown writing teams since June 2020. He has also reportedly overseen TV tapings when Levesque was away.
Earlier this year, PWInsider broke down the current structure: Levesque drives the show, Prichard and Ed Koskey weigh in on creative and handle the distribution of information across the company, and Ryan Ward handles creative pitches to Levesque. Losing Prichard from that group would remove the longest-tenured voice in the room, one who goes back to the Vince McMahon era.
The report also lands on the same day Conrad Thompson revealed that Vince Russo held talks with WWE President Nick Khan about a creative return this summer. That idea went nowhere, but Thompson wrote that WWE TV has become formulaic and that he was glad the company was at least thinking about shaking things up.
A Difficult Year Away From The Booking Room
Prichard has spent much of 2026 dealing with health issues. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in June that Prichard had been away from WWE since WrestleMania 42 in April because of back problems, and that he was expected back soon.
This month, Thompson said on 83 Weeks that Prichard needs neck surgery for a 1991 injury suffered when the Ultimate Warrior attacked him during his Brother Love days. The injury went undiagnosed for decades. JBL has filled in alongside Thompson on the Something to Wrestle podcast during Prichard’s absence.
The Business of NITRO *New Episode* 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff
The reports on Prichard’s expected exit did not cite a reason for the change.
Prichard has also been a target for critics of the current product. In September, Jim Ross pushed back on Bret Hart’s shots at WWE creative and Prichard, and the second season of WWE Unreal showed Prichard doubting two NXT stars were ready for the main roster.
