Gavin O’Shea, who has served as Director of TV Production at WWE since 2020, has announced that he is no longer with the company after 25 years. O’Shea shared the news in a post on his LinkedIn page, opening up about the impact of the layoff and what he plans to do next.
According to his LinkedIn profile, O’Shea joined WWE in 2001 as a Production Manager after a brief internship at NBC’s Today show, having graduated from the University of Connecticut that same year with a degree in communications. He worked his way up the production ranks over the next two and a half decades, most recently holding the Director of TV Production title for the past five years and helping shape the look and feel of WWE’s televised programming.
O’Shea opened his post by making clear that the end of his run with WWE was not something he saw coming. “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.”
“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.”
“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.”
O’Shea closed the post by thanking those he had worked with at WWE and signaling that he is open to new opportunities.
“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.”
O’Shea’s exit comes in the wake of the April 24 round of WWE releases, which included a wave of on-screen talent cuts and behind-the-scenes changes following WrestleMania 42. That round of releases included Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and members of The Wyatt Sicks. More recently, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of The New Day, along with JC Mateo and Tonga Loa, have also been reported as gone from the company. With a 25-year tenure on the production side, O’Shea is among the longer-serving WWE staff members to leave during this current round of cuts.
WWE has been in a period of significant turnover on both the roster and the production side since WrestleMania 42 wrapped in mid-April, with adjustments under TKO continuing in the weeks since.
