Long-time WWE employee Tony Chimel released

PWInsider.com is reporting that up to 15 WWE employees were given the pink slip on Friday, including former ring announcer Tony Chimel.

Chimel had been working for WWE since 1989, doing ring announcing and also helping out in various departments, including merchandising and ring setup. He is best known for his long stint as a Smackdown ring announcer, doing also the first show in 1999. After he stopped ring announcing, Chimel worked behind the scenes for the company as a production manager and helped the ring crew. His departure brings down the curtain on a 31-year career with WWE.

PWInsider adds that most of the employees let go all had duties at the WWE HQ in Stamford, Connecticut. The company recently introduced a policy where any office employee who wants to can telework due to the coronavirus pandemic.