WWE Rumors: Update On Vince McMahon Making Budget Cuts, Lack Of Bonuses Led To CM Punk's Departure?

After the WWE released 11 Superstars and a writer earlier this month, there has been speculation that more firings and budget cuts could be coming soon while there have also been reports of some issues with the WWE paying bonuses in what could have led to the departure of CM Punk.

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According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, the WWE is expected to cut more staff members and developmental talents between now and the conference call with investors this fall. The company is also currently cutting budgets on some planned projects and put plans to hire more employees and expand some departments within the organization on hold.

The WWE has already worked on cutting out some things in NXT and there is expected to be some talent let go from the developmental system soon much like the 11 Superstars on the main roster that were cut earlier this month.

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The WWE has also cut back on pyro and elaborate entrances for the Superstars and the company is reportedly planning to scale down its road crew and how many trucks will go out for WWE events.

On a related note, Wrestlingheadlines.com reports that one of the stories coming out of the WWE Network launch in February is that there have been no decisions made as to how the talents will be paid for pay-per-view bonuses since the events now air on the WWE Network.

Nothing has been said within the WWE about how the company intends to pay their talents for appearing on special events for the Network as pay-per-view providers continue to back out on airing WWE monthly events due to the fact that the WWE airs them on the network. Four months after the network was launched, there is still a mystery over how the WWE will handle the wages.

Superstars always received bonuses for pay-per-views, but now that the company streams them on the network, the talent isn't certain if bonuses are coming.

Reports indicate that part of the reason Punk left the company in January is likely due to the bonuses not being established now that the pay-per-views are on the WWE Network. Punk left for a myriad of reasons which range from his character being used poorly to him being burned out from travel, but it's said that his salary was another reason for departing.

Punk walked out on the WWE in January prior to a live Monday Night RAW telecast the night after the Royal Rumble and hasn't been seen in a WWE ring since.

McMahon reportedly lost a lot of money due to a lack of WWE Network subscriptions, a lackluster television deal with NBC Universal and the WWE's stock recently taking a plunge, leading to a lot of budget cuts and a mystery surrounding bonuses, and it appears as though more cuts are looming.

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