Additional information has emerged regarding Patrick Dooley’s recent exit from WWE, with the decision reportedly coming from the highest levels of TKO Group Holdings.

Dave Meltzer provided further details in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, following reports earlier this week that Dooley quietly departed WWE during July.

Dooley had been with WWE since 2018 and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Global Strategy & Creative Operations. During his time with the company, he became a significant figure behind the scenes and was described as being particularly close to WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque.

According to Meltzer, Dooley effectively operated as one of Levesque's most important figures when it came to matters outside of WWE's creative process.

While the circumstances surrounding his departure remain largely unclear, Meltzer reports that the decision was made above the WWE level, with Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro identified as the level within TKO where the call originated.

The move also reportedly caught people within WWE by surprise.

Meltzer wrote:

“Dooley had a close relationship with Levesque, particularly on all non-creative matters. He came to the company in 2018 at Director of Global Strategy and was a key part of the acquisition of AAA and getting AAA its FOX Latin America television deal. The only thing we know is that this decision came from the top, as in the Emanuel/Shapiro level and that those in WWE were surprised.”

Dooley's involvement in WWE's acquisition of AAA and the promotion's FOX Latin America television agreement underlines the role he had taken on within the wider business operation.

For now, there has been no publicly disclosed explanation for why Dooley departed, leaving questions surrounding the unexpected behind-the-scenes change and what it could mean for WWE's corporate structure moving forward.