Sources close to WrestleUTA have confirmed that Scott Stevens has officially taken the reins as the new General Manager of the UTA. While the announcement was made on-screen with Stevens stepping into the role during the fallout from WrestleUTA: 25, behind the curtain, there’s far more to the story than meets the eye.

Multiple backstage sources tell me that Stevens was not the original choice for the position.

"The plan wasn’t always Stevens," one source stated. "There were heavy conversations about putting Madman Szalinski into that role—first as a player in the Chris Ross vs. Eric Dane Jr. match at 25, then transitioning him into the authority figure position.”

Szalinski, a cult favorite among longtime UTA faithful, had been quietly in negotiations with the company in the months leading up to WrestleUTA: 25. Those talks reportedly reached a critical point just before the pay-per-view, which is believed to be the reason Szalinski was pulled from the advertised Legends Battle Royal. At the time, it was widely speculated that his new deal was directly tied to the General Manager position.

But something shifted.

Insiders say creative discussions stalled during finalizing stages of Szalinski’s deal, leading to Stevens — a respected veteran with deep roots in the company — stepping in as a safer, more immediate option. Stevens, known as both a former in-ring competitor and backstage presence, has reportedly been lobbying for a larger creative role for months and was described as “prepared to take the ball and run with it” when the opportunity was offered.

“Scott’s dependable,” one backstage staffer shared. “He knows how the machine works, and there’s trust there. It may not have been Plan A, but he’s now Plan Now.”

As for Szalinski?

While his name has not been removed from internal rosters, there is no official word on what role — if any — the enigmatic veteran will play going forward. Multiple sources have confirmed that Szalinski is under contract, but any plans for him remain locked behind closed doors.

“There’s a feeling that creative is still figuring out how to use him,” said one producer. “He’s a wildcard. You don’t just slot a guy like Madman into a script—you build around him.”

For now, the focus is on Stevens, who steps into a GM role at a turbulent time. With Iron City Wrestling talent making waves, title shake-ups ongoing, and talent frustrations reportedly bubbling behind the scenes, all eyes will be on how Stevens navigates the chaos.

One thing’s for certain — whether it’s by design or by default, the Scott Stevens Era has begun.

Stay tuned to for more backstage developments as they unfold.