Former WWE Writer Michael Leonardi Calls Firing Over Promo Rewrite “Ridiculous”

Michael Leonardi, a former WWE writer known for his work in the mid-2000s and a brief return in 2015, recently opened up about his unexpected firing during an appearance on Our Universe Is Mental with Jimmy Jacobs. The reason for his dismissal? A controversial promo rewrite that still haunts him to this day.

The segment in question involved R-Truth, Titus O’Neil, Mark Henry, and Neville. Scheduled for Martin Luther King Day, the original script called for Neville to reference Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech and tie it to his hopes of winning the Royal Rumble. Leonardi decided to tweak the line—a decision that reportedly didn’t sit well with Vince McMahon, leading to his firing.

Reflecting on the incident, Leonardi shared, “I only have one recurring dream, and it’s about going back to WWE. It’s always similar—seeing people I know and feeling that unresolved energy. For so many years, I felt ashamed that I got fired. But recently, I’ve realized I didn’t do anything wrong. I did my job. I protected the business.”

Leonardi, a lifelong wrestling fan who idolized Hulk Hogan and fell in love with storytelling through wrestling, called his time with WWE a dream come true. However, he described his firing as “absolutely ridiculous” and admitted it left a lasting impact on him. “I walked out of Return of the Jedi when I was four years old and said, ‘This is what I want to do—tell stories.’ Working as a writer for WWE was a blessing, and to have it ripped away for reasons that are still hard to comprehend, it leaves unresolved stuff.”

When asked what might bring him closure, Leonardi said it wasn’t about going back but rather seeking acknowledgment. “To me, it’s a conversation, maybe with Hunter [Triple H]. Just someone saying, ‘Mike, you didn’t do anything wrong. You did your job.’ I’ve moved on, but for people to understand, that would mean a lot.”

Leonardi’s story sheds light on the challenges and pressures behind the scenes in WWE, as well as the personal toll it can take when things go awry.