July 20, 2025: WWE executive and on-screen RAW General Manager Adam Pearce recently had a bit of fun at the expense of fans by teasing his departure from the company — only to deliver a classic rickroll.
Pearce posted a dramatic video to his Instagram, starting with a somber tone and carefully chosen words that hinted he had been released by WWE.
“Um, Happy Sunday everybody. Um, not exactly sure how to start this. Got some unfortunate news this morning… on a Sunday,” Pearce began, playing into the gravity of the moment. “I am grateful that I have been afforded the opportunity to release this information before it is disseminated publicly… I guess, bottom line is…”
Just as the tension reached its peak, the video cut to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” revealing that Pearce had orchestrated a rickroll — a popular internet prank.
The video quickly drew laughs and sighs of relief from fans, confirming that Pearce isn’t going anywhere. He remains firmly in his role as WWE’s RAW General Manager, where he continues to oversee weekly programming and build storylines for top talent.
While WWE does make surprise talent releases from time to time, this prank was all in good fun — and Adam Pearce is safe, at least for now.