Posted in: Sports, TV, WWE | Tagged: Kevin Dunn, wrestling

Camera Shake Artist Kevin Dunn is No Longer Part of WWE

Kevin Dunn has left WWE, ending 40+ years of visionary yet shaky TV production. Will the reign of bizarre AR graphics end as well? Stay tuned!

Published Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:07:06 -0600

by El Presidente

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Greetings, comrades! It is I, your illustrious El Presidente, hero of the people and whisperer of sweet nothings to the eardrums of the mighty. I am coming to you live from a lavish yacht where we are tossing confiscated capitalist wealth into the sea… for, uh, redistribution purposes. But let us cast our vision far north of my sun-kissed equatorial paradise, to the land of bodyslams and piledrivers – the WWE – and now former Executive Producer & Chief, Global Television Distribution, Kevin Dunn.

The official logo of TKO, the product of the merger between WWE and UFC

Ah, the World Wrestling Entertainment, a treasure trove of Americana, and a field where I, in my infinite wisdom and supreme athletic prowess, could have easily reigned as a lucha libre legend… if not pursuing the noble path of el presidente, of course. But today's grappling news is not of my hypothetical championship reigns. It is about the departure of the WWE's behind-the-scenes heavyweight, Kevin Dunn.

After four decades – sí, comrades, forty glorious, camera-shaking years – the prodigious architect of WWE's television image, one Kevin Dunn, has bid adios to the squared circle. PWInsider, those crafty luchadores of the press world, broke the stunning news over the weekend. And today, they've published a heartfelt letter from WWE President Nick Khan, a farewell ode to the maestro of the medium shot himself.

Well, Dunn has been the unseen hand, guiding the lens from the days when the territories were more divided than my cabinet after I introduce a new policy on snack rations. From closed-circuit spectacles to the glossiest Pay-Per-Views, Dunn's touch was unmistakable.

But let's break kayfabe for a moment, mis amigos. We must acknowledge the true artistry of Dunn's tenure. Who else could make a suplex feel like an earthquake with his signature shaky camera work? What would televised wrestling be without 87 quick camera cuts during a single stomp sequence? And who could forget his impeccable timing, cutting away from AJ Styles' debut at the Royal Rumble just to catch Roman Reigns picking his teeth in the ring? Such a visionary.

Despite the grandeur of his production, whispers from the back alleys speak of less creative freedom since WWE and UFC's corporate tango. Perhaps like me, after particularly daring maneuvers against the American CIA, Dunn seeks to branch out from the familiar territory. To take the reins of his future, unshackled from the chains of corporate synergy. A tip of my military cap to you, señor Dunn. May your next venture have as little creative interference as my regime has from international watchdogs.

Now, don your party masks and indulge me as I dream. With Dunn's exit, might we witness the death rattle of the horrific Augmented Reality graphics that assail our eyes during wrestler entrances? I have seen less obscenities in a CIA Black Site! But knowing WWE, comrades, they may simply replace Dunn with an AI, programmed to replicate his most dizzying visual feats. Are you not entertained?

It remains to be seen if Dunn's parting will herald a new creative era or if the WWE will simply assign a new helmsman to steer this colossal ship through the choppy seas of ratings wars and network decisions. Will the product change with his goodbye? Will the action be more stable, or will it stay as shaky as Uncle Fidel's mojito hand after his third Cuba Libre?

As for me, I'll continue to monitor the situation from my secret headquarters, located beneath the golden sands of an undisclosed but totally glamorous beach. I must now depart to oversee the redistribution of wealth (Do I hear Rolex Submariner, amigos? To the depths with you!). Until next time, keep your masks on, your hearts open, and your media production even closer. ¡Viva la lucha!

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