Orange Crush, the promoter behind the PRODUCE: Volume 2 show, publicly criticized WWE's ID program after two announced wrestlers were removed from the event.
Chazz “Starboy” Hall and Marcus Mathers were pulled from the upcoming pay-per-view, which is scheduled to stream on MyAEW. The wrestlers had been announced for the show before their removal.
Orange Crush addressed the decision in a tweet on July 1, stating the announcements were meant to highlight how talent were “promised the equivalent of a grant program and were conned into doing scabwork.” The promoter added that PRODUCE exists “as an institutional critique that shines a light on practices that are designed to devalue the talent.”
Wrestling Observer Radio host Bryan Alvarez said the pattern suggests WWE does not want ID talent appearing on promotions that air on MyAEW. Similar removals have occurred at other MyAEW-linked events, including Big Time Wrestling and Limitless Wrestling.
The WWE ID program, launched in October 2024, aims to provide independent wrestlers a pathway to WWE.
