John Laurinaitis has returned as head of talent relations

John Laurinaitis has been restored as the head of WWE talent relations effective immediately.

Initially reported by The Wrestling Observer, John Laurinaitis, known in the ring as Johnny Ace, has accepted the role of head of Talent Relations for WWE, effective immediately. Laurinaitis is returning to a position that he previously held from 2004 to 2012 at which point it was taken over by Mark Carrano.

After stepping down as the EVP of Talent Relations, Laurinaitis moved to working backstage as a producer as well as making sporadic appearances on WWE television, Most recently during the 2020 Money In The Bank Corporate Ladder match.

The department that was headed by Carrano will now be split into two subsequent departments: Talent Management and Talent Branding. The latter of which will serve as a talent agency for in-ring talent to expand into other avenues, such as television, movies, or commercials. The former will operate similarly to the current Talent Relations department but with less responsibility. It is currently unclear if Laurinaitis will have a hand in the company’s creative direction or if the new department structure will prevent it.

There has been no official word on if Carrano has left the company or will be moving to a new role in the updated department structure.

Many fans have expressed concerns about and are skeptical of Laurinaitis’s involvement as an EVP with the company due to alleged comments that were made in the past to female members of the roster. It is hard to argue that the WWE that he last had a leadership role in is the same company as it is today. The Women’s Revolution worked and female superstars have more than made their mark as an integral and important part of the roster.

At press time the WWE has not yet confirmed Laurinaitis’s new role with the company.