Long-time and trusted WWE producer Pat Buckridge has left the company, citing that he's done all he wanted to do in WWE. He noted he wanted to spend more time with his family and shortly after saying his goodbyes on social media, reports are that he's joined AEW in a similar role.
Pat Buck most recently worked WrestleMania 38 and was a producer on big matches like Roman Reigns versus Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey versus Charlotte Flair. He also worked in WWE’s Talent Relations department. But, shortly after deciding to leave WWE, PWInsider is reporting that Buckridge was backstage at AEW Dynamite this week. It appears Tony Khan has hired him as a producer.
In Buck's statement about leaving he noted, "As a producer/agent, I feel that I have accomplished everything I wanted to do within WWE in the last three years." He thanked a number of the people he worked with in WWE and added, "I look forward to using my new time to return/expand my training schools/promotions, working all over, and sleeping in my own bed more than twice a week." He and his wife welcomed a new child into their family in May of 2021.
While AEW will offer him a lighter travel schedule, it's not clear if he's signed on in a full-time role or will be used more in a consulting capacity. Buck does co-own the Create-A-Pro Wrestling Academy in Long Island, NY and New Jersey with Brian Myers. A number of AEW stars have graduated from that academy, including HOOK, Kris Statlander, and MJF.
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WWE Interviewed New Producers
Buck's departure could have something to do with the fact that former WWE stars Joe Hennig (Curtis Axel) and Ariya Daivari being backstage during a recent SmackDown and trying out as potentially new producers for the company.
