Even some WWE creative critics are sympathetic to the creative team due to the fact that they are understaffed and taking on a bigger workload than usual. Raw head writer Brian Gewirtz worked out a deal to help him avoid burnout that allows him to skip most Smackdown tapings events, and Smackdown head writer Michael Hayes took off the week after WrestleMania 24.

However, some of the writers who work under Gewirtz and Hayes have had recent vacation requests denied. Sources feel that the creative team was understaffed when Dave Lagana was fired back in January, and the workload is greater now that Dusty Rhodes has been reassigned to Florida Championship Wrestling.

Powell's POV: Earlier today, I posted the item that Stephanie McMahon-Levesque is less involved in the day-to-day creative proceedings. I don't get the sense that there is any animosity toward Steph for not being as involved as she usually is. Rather, there is frustration over the fact that the team is understaffed.

That Vince McMahon has been known to skip the scheduled Friday meetings and then call Saturday conference calls doesn't make life any easier on the team. Rhodes and Lagana were experienced creative team members, and it's not like their roles can be immediately filled if the company adds new and inexperienced writers to the staff.

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