The promotor of PRODUCE is calling out the WWE.
WWE announced that WWE ID wrestlers Marcus Mathers and Chazz “Starboy” Hall would no longer be appearing at PRODUCE’s Volume 2 Taigastyle event later this month.
In response the indie promotion posted: “Marcus Mathers will no longer be appearing at PRODUCE: Volume 2. We wish Marcus the best of luck on his journey to WWE. A replacement will be named.”
Marcus Mathers will no longer be appearing at PRODUCE: Volume 2.
We wish Marcus the best of luck on his journey to WWE.
A replacement will be named. https://t.co/8aNRdOJQWv
— PRODUCE by Orange Crush (@PRODUCENYC) July 1, 2026
In response to a fan’s criticism of the post, PRODUCE promotor Adam Abdalla wrote:
“No, I love Marcus. I want him to succeed. He’s doing what’s best for him and we’re doing what’s best for us. I have an obligation to our audience to be transparent. I was offered no replacement or compensation. This is how they market their talent to indies,” wrote including a graphic with WWE’s statement.
No, I love Marcus.
I want him to succeed. He’s doing what’s best for him and we’re doing what’s best for us.
I have an obligation to our audience to be transparent.
I was offered no replacement or compensation.
This is how they market their talent to indies. pic.twitter.com/Ay1YWNBtr1
— PRODUCE by Orange Crush (@PRODUCENYC) July 1, 2026
Abdalla then went as far as to say: “If you cancel an existing booking with PRODUCE for another independent contractor gig that isn’t a full time contract, all future bookings will be terminated.”
If you cancel an existing booking with PRODUCE for another independent contractor gig that isn’t a full time contract, all future bookings will be terminated.
— PRODUCE by Orange Crush (@PRODUCENYC) July 1, 2026
Abdalla has since clarified his comments stating: “Just a note on yesterday: The point of my announcements was not to name and shame talent. It was to highlight the fact they were promised the equivalent of a grant program and were conned into doing scabwork. This should be widely understood. PRODUCE exists to serve our fanbase, but as an idea, also as an institutional critique that shines a light on practices that are designed to devalue the talent. I’ll take 1000 bullets personally if it brings sunlight to things that will make folks think twice about screwing talent or the fans. This will always be the tone. If you want passive viewing, youve got plenty of options.”
Just a note on yesterday:
The point of my announcements was not to name and shame talent.
It was to highlight the fact they were promised the equivalent of a grant program and were conned into doing scabwork. This should be widely understood.
PRODUCE exists to serve our…
— ORANGE CRUSH (@orangecrushart) July 2, 2026
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