Cody Runnels was brought up so soon due to the Benoit family tragedy. After the situation occurred Vince met with his creative team and most of the producers said that, "It's your job to get the fans back into the angles instead of dwelling on the tragedies." Runnels was one of WWE's top developmental talents which had a planned push.

Another fall out from the Benoit tragedy is that Vince has banned wrestlers from using any form of choke or strangulation move. Vince feared that the media would use new footage of these holds against the company. Talent and producers now must go to Vince to get special dispensation for any move of that type before they can use them.