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Brian Gewirtz, a veteran head writer of WWE, has made an indelible mark on the wrestling and entertainment industries. With more than two decades of experience to call upon, he has collaborated with some of the biggest stars. His portfolio includes writing for superstars, involvement in Seven Bucks Productions, and publishing his own book. Possessing a wealth of wisdom and influence, Gewirtz is widely recognized as one of wrestling's most important creative figures.
Brian Gewirtz's Uncle Wrote For 'The Simpsons'
According to Gewirtz in a 2022 Wrestlezone interview with Dominic DeAngelo, his enthusiasm for writing and wrestling dates back to his childhood. As a kid, he watched shows with friends and joined royal rumble pools, going on to attend three WrestleManias.
His uncle Howard Gewirtz was a major inspiration, who developed a successful career in television writing ("The Larry Sanders Show," "Wings," "Taxi," "The Simpsons" being some of his credits). This inspired Brian to begin putting pen to paper and exploring the craft himself — which paid off when he landed a gig as writer for WWE in 1999.
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Being WWE's Head Writer Had Its Ups and Downs For Brian Gewitz
Gewirtz started with the company during a tumultuous time. The only two writers at the time had just left the company to go insult everyone's intelligence over at WCW. WWE was adopting a more edgy, adult-oriented product that resonated with fans.
Eventually, he became the head writer, overseeing an entire team and responsible for the creative direction of the company's storylines. He had to develop compelling storylines and characters that would engage the audience and keep them tuning in week after week. It was challenging. The creative team would often work 12–15 hours a day, seven days a week, to develop fresh storylines and ideas.
Brian Gewirtz Was The First Writer In WWE To Be Tried In Wrestlers Court
Gewirtz was the first writer to ever be brought to "Wrestlers Court" in front of the locker room. According to the charges and testimony, he allegedly accepted an action figure from Edge in exchange for more TV time for Edge and Christian. It was also alleged that Gewirtz dissed other talents.
The trio was found guilty by The Undertaker, and Gewirtz had to write a two-thousand-word essay on why he respects the wrestling business. He was also ordered to take the wrestlers that he dissed out for drinks. The trio appears to have appeased the court, although no official court documents have been released because they don't exist in "Wrestlers Court." It seems like they all learned their lessons.
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Brian Gewirtz Is Responsible For Many Memorable WWE Segments And Moments
Throughout Brian's impressive 16-year stint with WWE, he became acclaimed for his exceptional writing and narrative capabilities. His peers included some of the most prominent superstars to ever grace the ring, such as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, John Cena, and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Additionally, it was Brian who helped define and shape Edge and Christian's characters, and even influenced their signature Five-Second Pose. Over the course of his career, he often kept fans on their toes with his creative storylines.
In 1999, Brian had a hand in producing one of the most iconic segments of all time: the "This Is Your Life" segment involving The Rock and Mick Foley on Monday Night Raw. This segment pulled an 8.4 rating, and was the highest-rated segment on Raw at that point in time. It's effectively credited as being one of the foundations for their later success; Gewirtz's influence was also considerable in ensuring its legacy. Another memorable storyline Gewirtz worked on was an intense mid-2000s feud between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. While Jericho fixated on Michaels, they engaged in numerous matches and promo exchanges; looking back, Gewirtz has cited this rivalry as one of his favorite projects to work on:
“For me, the Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels long-term storyline that we did in the mid-2000s was one of my favorites because it was something that, from a personal ego standpoint, nobody thought I would be able to do it because, ‘He’s the guy with the five-second poses. What’s he doing a serious storyline with Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho that spans multiple pay-per-views and involves Shawn’s wife?"
- Brian Gewirtz, The Kurt Angle Show #77
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Brian Gewirtz Left WWE In 2015 To Work For The Rock
After over 15 years with WWE, Gewirtz left the company in 2015 and joined Seven Bucks Productions, a company founded by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his ex-wife, Dany Garcia. Gewirtz was excited to join the company and work on projects different from what he had been doing with WWE. He has also contributed to a few lines on AEW in recent years and was publicly happy to see what Triple H was doing with creative control of WWE.
In the years since his time with WWE, Gewirtz has built upon a successful body of work including his book, which offers an entertaining look into his experiences working for WWE and serves as a testament to his talent in crafting compelling storylines and unforgettable moments. His expertise and dedication to growing the industry have resulted in enduring contributions still felt today.
