Bruce Prichard is reportedly set to retire, or at least step back from his current role as WWE executive director of creative writing and talent, following WWE WrestleMania 43, and on Thursday, it was also reported that Hall of Famer, and current creative head of "WWE NXT," Shawn Michaels would take his place. While the initial report from PWInsider claimed Michaels is expected to "essentially" step into Prichard's shoes, Dave Meltzer offered new details on Friday.Meltzer wrote in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that as of Thursday, he was told the plan is to split responsibilities between Ed Koskey and former NXT Champion-turned-backstage producer Robert Roode. Meltzer noted that the decision is likely to change multiple times by April and the end of WrestleMania season, however.The reports of Michaels departing "NXT" for the main roster creative team are entirely "overblown at this point," according to Meltzer, and those within the WWE Performance Center haven't heard anything official. Prichard's role also includes administrative work that Michaels hasn't done before, but Koskey has done for years. Koskey has also reportedly picked up some of Prichard's work already.Michaels joined "NXT" as a writer and producer back in November 2018, when the brand was still run by his D-Generation X stablemate Paul "Triple H" Levesque. He took over "NXT" creative entirely in September 2021 following Levesque's health issues.Meltzer noted that names such as AJ Styles, Bayley, and CM Punk have been thrown around in regards to the future of WWE's developmental system.As for Roode, who has been working as a backstage producer since August 2023, Michael PS Hayes recently told Stephanie McMahon on an episode of "What's Your Story?" that he is training the former TNA star to be his replacement. Hayes said Roode is "really, really good" and he sees "great things for him."
