While there are many WWE Superstars who are iconic and fondly remembered by fans, there are just as many who don’t quite make the same impact in-ring.
Oftentimes, these wrestlers find roles backstage as producers or writers, including Drake Maverick, Kenny Dykstra, Shane Helms, and Bobby Roode.
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While this isn’t nearly as glamorous as becoming a world champion, these roles are a testament to the immense talent and wrestling knowledge these people have.
Such is the case with Curtis Axel, who briefly served as a WWE producer before suddenly leaving the company.
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In a recent appearance on Monte and The Pharaoh (per Ringside News), Axel spoke about his short time as a producer for WWE in 2022, revealing that former WWE Superstar Jason Jordan brought him in.
“Several people, maybe a couple, but yeah, when I did that, it was interesting. I think I got brought in by Jason Jordan—the head producer,” Axel said.
Still, Axel’s time in the role was short-lived, lasting only three months. However, it wasn’t Axel who ended his time with the company.
“I didn’t part,” Axel said. “The allegations with Vince and Johnny happened, so I was only part-time at the time. They said to me, ‘Hey, we can’t afford, just chill back home,’ and it just never got brought back up.”
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The son of “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, Axel made his professional wrestling debut on July 13, 2007, with World League Wrestling in a team with Ted Dibiase Jr.
Axel soon joined WWE and began wrestling in its Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territory, partly under the name Michael McGillicutty. He was also apart of NXT when it was a reality competition.
On Oct. 3, 2010, Axel debuted on the main roster and was revealed to be a part of The Nexus alongside Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, David Otunga, Husky Harris (later known as Bray Wyatt), and John Cena (briefly).
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After a leadership change and the disbanding of The Nexus, Axel was repackaged from Michael McGillicutty to Curtis Axel, a name honoring his father, Curt Hennig, and his grandfather, Larry “The Axe” Hennig.
Axel was paired with Paul Heyman and soon won the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
For the rest of his career, Axel would be a part of multiple tag teams and stables, including The Social Outcasts (with Slater, Adam Rose, and Bo Dallas) and The Miztourage/The B-Team (with Dallas).
On April 30, 2020, Axel was released because of budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 13 years with the WWE, Axel had won the WWE Intercontinental Championship, the WWE Tag Team Championship with David Otunga, and the Raw Tag Team Championship with Bo Dallas.
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