As we reported earlier today, NXT referee Drake Wuertz has been fired from WWE. According to reports, one of the first phone calls informing talent that they were being released went to Wuertz. He was informed of his firing around 11AM EST. After he was notified that he no longer had a job, Wuertz immediately started contacting multiple promoters, basically letting them know that he was now a free agent and was looking for work.
As of this writing, WWE has not issued any sort of statement on the releases of Wuertz, Alexander Wolfe, Skyler Story, Ezra Judge, Kavita Devi, Jessamyn Duke, Vanessa Borne, and Jake Clemons (referee).
While WWE told talent they were being released due to “budget cuts”, many on the NXT roster were upset that Wuertz recently took part in a Zoom call (while backstage at the Capitol Wrestling Center in his gear) with the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners about mask mandates. During one of the meetings, he told the Superintendent that he shouldn’t allow for masks for children in school because the dangers of wearing masks “outweighs” the dangers of COVID-19. He also said the Superintendent would be “going against the wishes of God” if the masks were allowed to remain. He continued on, telling the Superintendent that he allows “these precious children to be victims of a tyrannical overreach.”
He also commented on teachers wearing masks, at one point saying, “God’s country, we put the needs of our children first.” He then read a Biblical verse that said it would be better for an adult to die by drowning than “lead a little one to stumble.” He also said that wearing masks in school would help predators who “wish to prey upon our children” and if they require children to wear masks, they are disrespecting the wishes of the parents. He also said that teachers wouldn’t be able to tell the children apart if they wore masks.
Wuertz previously spoke out against those who criticized him, writing on Facebook: “My wife said some folks are apparently writing about our “Radical Views “. *Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery and we seek to eradicate it *Abortion is Murder and needs to be Abolished *Children in my community that are being forced by local government to wear masks for 8 hours a day against their parents wishes is abuse. We have a God-ordained duty to speak up for the ‘least of these’ and petition our magistrates to prevent harm upon children. If this is “Radical” then label me an extremist for Christ. Were not called to fit in with the world. Were called to serve God!…”We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29”
WWE currently requires masks for those working in the company, and it’s believed that Wuertz’s antics turned people against him who previously felt he had the right to his opinion.
Several talents and staff were bothered by Wuertz’s actions and misinformation. One source said it was a “pattern of behavior that is becoming increasingly concerning” and it led to his WWE firing today.
