Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp is reporting that Wuertz’s duties have diminished at NXT over the past several months with the referee serving a suspension earlier in the year. The report notes that Darryl Sharma currently serves as the head official for NXT with Scott Armstrong in charge of timing the matches. D.A. Brewer has taken over the duties of timing matches for 205 Live, which we were told began earlier this year.
Wuertz was not present at several shows in March, which was evident on March 17th with the following post:
3/17/21. @WWENXT on @USA_Network. First time in TV history that the referees were all people of colour. Thank you @WWE @WWENXT Canyon Ceman @TripleH @RealKingRegal @NXTMattBloom @WWEArmstrong & many more for promoting multiculturalism and diversity. pic.twitter.com/iC0vIFHTjA
— Darryl Sharma (@WWEdarrylsharma) March 18, 2021
It is not known the specific reason he was suspended.
Last year, David Bixenspan wrote extensively about the issues surrounding Wuertz with a piece titled WWE appears to have a Drake Wuertz problem.
Wuertz spoke at a Seminole County Board of Commissioners meeting held Tuesday and spoke out against mandated mask-wearing. Wuertz spoke just after 5 pm ET at the meeting and argued against mask wearing stating it makes it easier for sex traffickers to target children and putting vulnerable children at risk stating non-verbal cues are the first signs of distress. Wuertz thanks Commissioner Bill Dallari and called for the resignation of emergency manager Alan Harris.
Here is a portion of Wuertz’s speech at the meeting:
My name is Drake Wuertz, I’m a resident of Altamont Springs. I’m a husband, I’m a father of three, I’m a volunteer in our community and I’m a leader committed to the find the evil of human trafficking and child exploitation. Thank you commissioner (Amy) Lockhart for bringing this issue to a vote, you have a backbone, you have common sense, and your courage will be rewarded. I’m proud to live in Seminole County, I’m proud of the values that our county stands on. However, the draconian measures, the micro-tyranny, and overall harm to our children that this commission has allowed by continuing this mask mandate is inexcusable. When the science has come out suggesting that masks are harmful and ineffective than originally thought you chose to continue forcing citizens to wear them. My family and many others, we simply do not comply. We recognize tyranny and we know when to push back against it. We know our rights do not come from the local government; our rights come from Almighty God. God gave we the people inalienable rights and we entrust you as our elected commissions and our elected officials to protect those rights. I’d also like to remind you all that all five of you’re are Republicans. Real Republicans defend liberty at all levels, you receive the vote to serve the people of Seminole County because you had an “R” next to your name on the ballot. Make no mistake, if you don’t end this nonsense and start trusting your constituents to take personal responsibility by making their own informed decisions you will not get re-elected.
