25-Year WWE Veteran No Longer With The Company
Amid the post-WrestleMania 42 talent releases, a 25-year WWE veteran has also confirmed their departure.
On April 24, several wrestlers across different brands of the Stamford promotion were let go, either because their contracts were ending or were close to ending.
Fans were pretty upset about Kairi Sane’s departure, given that she was involved in a long-standing storyline with Asuka and IYO SKY.
During the recent episode of Monday Night Raw, loud chants of “We Want Kairi” were heard when Asuka made her presence felt during the Women’s Intercontinental Championship match between SKY and Becky Lynch.
However, despite the backlash, WWE apparently has no interest in re-signing the Japanese wrestler, according to a report by WrestleVotes.
Like Sane, the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) were also seemingly headed for a split, but instead of completing the angle, the company opted to release them.
Taking to X, Sabin acknowledged their release from the company, but instead of moping, he used the opportunity to promote another project the duo had been working on.
Yup, they released us. Anyways, check out our band GRPPLNG here’s a link to pre order our 4 song EP. Love you all.https://t.co/3neFlnv9eh
— chriSabin (@SuperChrisSabin) April 27, 2026
WWE Veteran Confirms Departure From The Wrestling Promotion
Turns out that last Friday’s release was not limited to WWE wrestlers, but other staff members as well.
Gavin O’Shea, a 25-year backstage veteran with the Stamford promotion, confirmed his exit via post on LinkedIn.
O’Shea had been the Director of TV Production since 2020. In his LinkedIn post, he seemed graceful for the opportunities that helped him learn the ins and outs of the business.
After 25 years, losing my job wasn’t part of the plan. For those memorable 25 years at WWE, I’ve seen, heard and experienced it all. After all, I grew up there, made friends and learned by doing.
He also claimed that his identity was tied to his role in the wrestling promotion, but the sudden exit left him feeling vulnerable.
Like many people, I tied a piece of my identity to what I do every day. So when that suddenly changed, it felt unsettling, humbling… and honestly, a little scary.
In his post, the ex-WWE employee shared how he learnt new things with experience, which also shaped his mindset to look positively into the future.
But here’s what I’m learning in real time:
• Your job is something you do — not who you are • Setbacks can create space for better opportunities • Resilience isn’t a buzzword — it’s a skill you build through moments like this.
He also spoke about weighing the different options available to him post-release, as he ended his post with a thank you note.
I’m taking this time to reflect, reset, and refocus on what I truly want in my next chapter. I’m incredibly grateful for the people I’ve worked with, the lessons I’ve learned, and the support I’ve already received.
If you know of opportunities or just want to connect, I’d love to hear from you.
Onward.
Gavin.