By Nelson Santana
April 21, 2020
COVID-19 has impacted all sports, including the scripted world of professional wrestling.
Wrestlers and all WWE staff are risking their lives by filming televised shows.
Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon’s wife sits on pro-Trump Super PAC and is the former Administrator of the Small Business Administration under the Trump administration.
Governor Ron DeSantis’ state of Florida has benefited from the Super PAC, chaired by Linda.
The WWE Performance Center is based in Orlando, Florida.
Greedy billionaire monopolizes professional wrestling industry.
WWE is pushing false narrative.
WWE owner does not care about his athletes: he supplied steroids to wrestlers and many were injured during the failed “Brawl for All” tournament.
WWE employees and contractual workers, including a referee that has been with the company since 1989 have been released.
WWE wrestlers are not employees, but instead they are independent contractors.
Released staff are part of larger structural issues.
With an excess of wrestlers, WWE hoards wrestlers it does not need and pays them well in order to keep them away from their competitors.
Donald Trump, a complacent enabler, is close friends with Vince McMahon.
“As you might have heard, I am no longer with WWE,” those were the words of Levis Valenzuela Jr., also known as No Way José.
The world of sports, much like everyday life for everyone, has adversely been impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. Compounded by the coronavirus, the industry’s premiere wrestling organization in the United States has been profoundly afflicted by one man’s monopolization of professional wrestling.
On Wednesday, April 15, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) published a list of employees and contractors released amid the coronavirus pandemic (it is important to note that WWE wrestlers are considered independent contractors, making them exempt from workplace safety and discrimination lawsuits, for instance, and they are deprived of benefits such as paid annual leave). Both in-ring talent and behind-the-scenes employees were let go by the billion-dollar company. Several employees were furloughed, meaning they have not been fired yet they will not be paid for the time being and can return to the company once WWE decides to pay them.
“Most appalling about the releases is that many of the individuals who are no longer employed by WWE put their lives at risk by entertaining millions of fans around the world.”
Established superstars—WWE has banned the word “wrestler”—such as Kurt Angle and Rusev were among the released talent. Lesser known wrestlers such as Deonna Purrazzo and Aleksandar Jaksic were also released. Even long-time referee and staple of the WWE, Mike Chioda, was let go. Chioda had been with the company since the late 1980s, refereeing numerous classic matches.
According to a statement WWE published on BusinessWire, “Due to COVID-19 and current government mandated impacts on WWE and the media business generally, the Company went through an extensive evaluation of its operations over the past several weeks. This analysis resulted in the implementation of various short-term cost reductions and cash flow improvement actions…”
“Because the WWE hoarded so many talented wrestlers they did not need, coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic, many former WWE contractors and employees are no longer with the company and unable to provide for their family. ”
Donald Trump and Republican Backing
A personal friend of Donald Trump, WWE owner Vince McMahon found ways to keep his business open despite medical professionals’ advice to suspend the television shows. Earlier this week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deemed WWE an essential business. Vince’s wife, Linda McMahon, played a key role, which we explain below.
In a clear move to help his billionaire friends, Donald Trump formed a sports committee with 14 sports leaders to advise him on how to “reopen” the United States. Some sports owners and commissioners were named to the commission including Rob Manfred (commissioner of Major League Baseball), Roger Goddell (commissioner of the National Football League), Adam Silver (commissioner of the National Basketball Association), Robert Kraft (New England Patriots owner), and Mark Cuban (Dallas Mavericks owner). Several other people, including Vince McMahon, sit on the commission.
“There’s a lot of people I’m not going to get the chance to say goodbye to that I really loved and cared about - that made me a better person.”
Trump’s relationship with McMahon extends to the eighties. Trump sponsored Wrestlemania IV and V, with Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City hosting the fourth installment of the yearly extravaganza. Trump has participated in several WWE storylines over the years. Wrestlemania 23 saw Trump and McMahon represent wrestlers Bobby Lashley and Umaga, respectively, in the “Battle of the Billionaires” with the stipulation that the winner would shave the loser’s head. Lashley won the bout and Trump helped Lashley and Stone Cold Steve Austin shave McMahon’s head.
Perhaps most telling from the Trump-McMahon relationship is that Linda McMahon, Vince’s wife, served as the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. Trump nominated Linda McMahon to this government post on December 7, 2016 and she was confirmed by the United State Senate by a vote of 81-19 on February 14, 2017
In 2019, Linda McMahon stepped down from her position as Administrator of the Small Business Administration to join America First Action as its chairwoman, a pro-Trump Super PAC. America First Action purchased $26.6 million in advertisement for Trump, the majority going to Florida. WWE’s development facility, the WWE Performance Center, is located in Orlando, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis’ state. One hand washes the other.
“In 2019, Linda McMahon stepped down from her position as Administrator of the Small Business Administration to join America First Action as its chairwoman, a pro-Trump Super PAC.”
Inhumane and Insensitive
In actuality and contrary to the false narrative WWE is pushing in their statement, the publicly traded company is among the most profitable at this time. The WWE has television deals with the USA and Fox networks. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus and government mandate to shelter-at-home in mid-March, most businesses have closed. Unfortunately, even after nation-wide recommendations from the government calling for non-essential businesses to close, the WWE has continued to put at risk the lives of their employees and contractors by continuing its operations, filming their weekly shows—Monday Night Raw (Monday), NXT Live (Wednesday), and Smackdown Live (Friday) without a live audience. As of this writing, there were 823,081 total COVID-19 cases and 45,062 deaths in the United States, with more than a quarter of all reported cases concentrated in New York.
Reportedly, the WWE has given their performers the option of working or staying at home. For the first time ever, this year’s Wrestlemania—the most anticipated wrestling event of the year—took place without a live crowd, in similar fashion as the weekly televised shows that air on the USA and Fox networks, respectively.
The WWE’s biggest star, Roman Reigns, opted to not wrestle at this year’s Wrestlemania 36 and stated he will not wrestle until the pandemic ceases. Reigns, real name Joseph “Joe” Anoa‘I, has lived with leukemia since 2007 and is currently in remission.
Most appalling about the releases is that many of the individuals who are no longer employed by WWE put their lives at risk by entertaining millions of fans around the world. Dominican wrestler No Way José and Sarah Logan, for instance, last wrestled on Monday, April 13 on Raw and were released two days later, a heartless act on the part of WWE chairman Vince McMahon and his people. The news rattled several wrestlers, many of whom posted heartbreaking emotional messages on their social media accounts. No Way José, whose real name is Levis Valenzuela Jr. posted the following video:
Valenzuela thanked fans, including those who booed or cheered him, and those who saw him as being silly. He thanked WWE for the opportunity and all the people with whom he worked.
Drake Maverick, another heartbroken wrestler with tears in his eyes, noted in his message that, “There’s a lot of people I’m not going to get the chance to say goodbye to that I really loved and cared about - that made me a better person.”
Billionaire’s Greed
When corporations that employ hundreds or thousands of people suddenly come across a financial hiccup, the aftermath can be devastating not only to the owner(s) and top administrators within the organization, but also to anyone who depends financially on the business. Similar to other promoters in the industry, Vincent Kennedy McMahon spent years luring wrestlers from other promotions, securing them by paying them higher salaries as opposed to competing promotions. McMahon also had a tendency to purchase other wrestling promotions. His greatest moment came the day he put his most feared competitor—World Championship Wrestling (WCW)—out of business in the spring of 2001. After the paltry purchase of $2 million dollars, WWE had access to an enviable pool of professional wrestlers that included Booker T, Scott Steiner, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Goldberg, although due to the nature of the contracts, wrestlers joined WWE at different points.
In Essence, WWE’s hoarding of talent to prevent the coming of a second WCW has led to this current situation where many wrestlers currently employed by the WWE have signed a hefty contract, making more money than they would elsewhere. Having the business acumen that he does, McMahon would rather pay a wrestler a lot more money than they may be worth in order to prevent them from working at a competitor’s promotion. Therefore, the superstar or wrestler that inked the sweet deal with WWE and who may lack in charisma or star power, or who may be talented but underutilized or not used at all, eventually loses so much value they may no longer be an attractive addition to any promotion. Inadvertently, many wrestlers sign with the WWE, putting financial security over being valued as a wrestler at another promotion. At the moment, because the WWE hoarded so many talented wrestlers they did not need, coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic, many former WWE contractors and employees are no longer with the company and unable to provide for their family.
On another note, conventional entrepreneurial wisdom would place part, if not all, of the blame on the wrestlers—including those who receive a paycheck to stay at home and not wrestle—as they made the choice to receive a larger salary by signing with WWE as opposed to another wrestling promotion where they may have become a bigger star but with a much smaller salary. A counter argument, however, is that such wrestlers would not be in this position had WWE not monopolized the industry. In truth, WWE monopolized the industry because its fiercest competitor—WCW behind Ted Turner’s bank account—may have attempted the same feat—a fact that sometimes is forgotten.
Corporate Greed Beyond WWE
Similar to Trump, McMahon is a reckless man-child who loves touting his money with little concern for the well-being of others. In 1999, McMahon unveiled the XFL, a football league McMahon touted as an “extreme” and better version of the National Football League (NFL). The business venture failed in its debut season in 2001 and was canceled once more a few weeks ago when the stubborn McMahon relaunched the league in 2020, losing more than $300 million. Among the many issues with the XFL that one will find is the total disregard for human life as the XFL prioritizes capital over the health of its players. XFL players are prone to injuries due to silliness one will not find in the NFL, a league that has been in existence for nearly 100 years, hence the NFL has implemented rules and guidelines to safeguard—to a certain extent at least—the health of its players. The XFL’s salary tier structure is bonkers and inhumane (players can get paid as little as $50,000 a year, to risk their life to injury). The Team 9 concept is not completely bonkers but a concept nonetheless that none of the major professional sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) would approve. Vince McMahon views athletes as replaceable objects and simply does not care for their well-being.
“The XFL’s salary tier structure is bonkers and inhumane ”
The Company Man Seth Rollins’ Failed Hypocritical Attempt at Unity
Although some wrestlers still with WWE have sent messages of solidarity to their fired colleagues that seem genuine, one wrestler’s message has not been well-received. Company man Seth Rollins’ “call for unity” amid the firings completely backfired. During an Instagram Live video, Rollins said:
It is just a difficult day for all of us. My heart is broken for the guys and girls who I’m really close with that had it the worst today. And that goes for talent you guys love on-screen but also everyone backstage too, off-screen, who may not get the social media fanfare that some of the talent is getting.
He continued:
The one thing I am seeing that is a little upsetting to me is all the negativity and the hostility toward WWE. This is a difficult day for everyone, for all of us, and I think if ever there was a moment for us to unify, for us to kind of band together and to try to do the best we can to keep this business alive the best we know how, this is that moment. And I think pointing fingers or saying, ‘You should’ve done this, you should’ve done that,’ is, I don’t know…it just doesn’t feel like the time or the place for it. I think this is a day for compassion and for empathy and for understanding, and to try to support each other, to pick each other up. And that’s for everybody, that’s not just for the guys and girls who were let go.
Rollins has a history of putting his foot in his mouth in his attempts to “defend” the WWE via social media. In a snafu that took place earlier this year, Rollins was accused of being a racist by posting an image of what he deemed “witches” but that others saw as the KKK, to promote his friend’s product—tremendous lack of judgment.
Conclusion
Vince McMahon is an ingenious but shrewd businessman, but more than anything else he is an evil man who found success by monopolizing professional wrestling at the cost of other people’s bodies.
In 1993, McMahon was charged with obtaining anabolic steroids to enhance the physiques of his wrestlers. Several wrestlers have gone on record, stating that McMahon supplied them with steroids. One positive outcome was that smaller wrestlers like Bret “Hitman” Hart and Shawn Michaels came to prominence during this time, occupying the top spots held previously by their larger-than-life contemporaries like Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior.
In 1998, WWE held the Brawl for All boxing tournament where wrestlers competed with one another in legitimate boxing bouts. Several wrestlers sustained injuries that shortened their careers. Hawk and Steven Blackman—victorious in their bouts—dropped out of the tournament due to injuries. After the tournament, Savio Vega left WWE while tournament favorite Dr. Death Steve Williams was knocked out and damaged his hamstring. Legitimate mixed martial artist Ken Shamrock was not allowed to participate, while newcomer Mark Henry was discouraged and did not compete. In an extremely careless move for attention and money by WWE, the tournament’s winner, Bart Gunn, was pitted against professional boxer Butterbean at Wrestlemania XV. Butterbean claimed that his children believed their father killed Gunn. Butterbean also stated that McMahon put the untrained Gunn in the match with the trained Butterbean as punishment for Gunn knocking out Brawl for All Tournament favorite, Dr. Death Steven Williams.
The reality is that the current situation with the WWE is merely a microcosm of what is occurring in corporate America. Billionaires are not looking out for the safety of their employees, but rather they are looking for ways to ensure their respective empires continue to profit. WWE continues to prove why it is a unique business venture.
WWE’s message of people released:
WWE has come to terms on the release of Kurt Angle, Rusev (Miroslav Barnyashev), Drake Maverick (James Curtin), Zack Ryder (Matthew Cardona), Curt Hawkins (Brian Myers), Karl Anderson (Chad Allegra), Luke Gallows (Drew Hankinson), Heath Slater (Heath Miller), Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz), Rowan (Joseph Ruud), Sarah Logan (Sarah Rowe), No Way Jose (Levis Valenzuela), Mike Chioda, Mike Kanellis (Mike Bennett), Maria Kanellis, EC3 (Michael Hutter), Aiden English (Matthew Rehwoldt), Lio Rush (Lionel Green), Primo (Edwin Colon) and Epico (Orlando Colon Nieves). We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.