We received a question regarding why every Impact Wrestling referee opted out of the company. The word that has made the rounds is that the company offered a number of them a payday greatly reduced from what they usually received, which started the domino effect when the Hebners requested releases instead. There was talk that Jack Doan was reached out to work the PPV as a referee, but we haven't confirmed he's actually going to do so. It's expected all the refs will be locals.
In the wake of what happened with the referees, there has been some concern among wrestlers that they will be asked to renegotiate deals to take lesser money at some point over the course of this week's tapings. Everyone is aware of how deep the cost-cutting is, with talents who aren't needed for the PPV not even being brought in until whatever taping date they are needed. There are some talents who are working just a few taping dates before being sent home, which likely means, at least in the case of top talents, a lot of material filmed out of sequence.
The company is also down a lot of the backstage crew. No one in Canada has told me they've seen Bob Ryder and it appears he's doing his duties from Nashville. Jolene George, the company's seamstress, was scheduled for this week and then at the last minute was told the company was not bringing her in. The company didn't bring in at least part of the production team that handled pre-tapes. There were also several company staffers who were not able to get into Canada we are told, including the person who drives the merchandise to the shows.
Devon Nicholson's Great North Wrestling went on their Facebook page asking that any fans interesting in helping to set up the building come by this morning. Nicholson is expected to work the tapings this week.
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