An interesting report emerged this week noting that Vince McMahon is unhappy with the in-ring work of several of WWE’s larger wrestlers.
According to the Wrestling Observer, “Vince McMahon threw a fit about the working ability of certain guys on the main roster, mad in particular about some of the big guys.”
He reportedly sent a batch of talent to return to the WWE Performance Center for training. The wrestlers in question include former NXT Champion Keith Lee, Otis, Dabbo Kato, Omos and Mace from RETRIBUTION.
The main roster talent sent back to the Performance Center will be working with PC coaches Adam Pearce and Drew Gulak.
Fightful Select has provided new details on the situation, including the backstage reaction to this shakeup. It was pointed out that many people were “baffled” that Keith Lee made it on that list because he’s considered to be one of the better workers in the company. Some tried to make sense of it by assuming he was lumped in with the rest of the “big men” despite being more than a capable worker.
Regarding Otis, he is still well-liked by the WWE Chairman. However, there have been some spots over the last few months that have caught the attention of those in management and there’s a feeling that he could work safer.
Vince McMahon reportedly is not pleased with the work rate of several wrestlers on the main roster. In particular, Vince is not pleased with the work of some of the company’s bigger-sized wrestlers. According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, he has ordered some wrestlers to undergo additional training.
“Vince McMahon threw a fit about the working ability of certain guys on the main roster, mad in particular about some of the big guys,” wrote Dave Meltzer.
The report would continue to say that Vince has ordered some wrestlers to take two classes per week at the Performance Center. Adam Pearce and Drew Gulak are serving as instructors for the classes.
“He’s ordered some of the guys back to the Performance Center with two classes per week with Adam Pearce and Drew Gulak as instructors.”
The report did not specifically mention who has been ordered to undergo additional training.
UPDATE:
In an update to this story, PW Insider is reporting that the names sent for additional training to the PC include Otis, Keith Lee, Dabbo Kato, Dio Maddin and AJ Styles’ bodyguard Omos.
WWE does have specific training programs for bigger guys at the Performance Center for developmental recruits. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash have both spoken previously about work they have done at the PC with larger prospects.
“It was great, I was in Orlando for about 8 or 9 days, cause I went in early. I spoke to Triple H in the past about who’s training the big guys,” Hall said about the training program while on Sean Waltman’s podcast last year.
“So we had a mini big guy summit, I got to watch films with the bigger guys, have one-on-ones with some of them, get in the ring and talk about their different move sets and what they got and stuff.”
AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently discussed his retirement plans on the Grilling Jr podcast. JR had made it clear recently that AEW will likely be his ‘last gig’ in professional wrestling.
Jim Ross doubled down on those comments on his podcast this week. “I got a lot of comments online about a remark where I mentioned that; as far as I’m concerned? At this point in my life? AEW is my last gig, and I met that.”
Jim Ross on Tony Khan
JR would then compare working for All Elite Wrestling to WWE, saying that not everything is solely based on the owner’s whim. “I love working for Tony Khan, he’s a whole different ballgame. People just don’t understand, that the culture of WWE? It is what it is. It is all Vince [McMahon] related and oriented. When you get on the Vince’s good list? It’s a wonderful thing. If you’re not? It’s not so great.”
“Tony Khan’s about the same every time you see him” Jim Ross continued. “And he’s still a fan. He still loves the business, he loves talking about the business, telling stories and asking questions. He has an innate knowledge of things that went on before he was even born. So it’s really a fun experience.”
JR would finish by once again saying that this will indeed be his last job in pro wrestling. “I think at my age? I need to be realistic. As long as my work holds up to acceptable levels, hopefully better than that, but at least acceptable levels? I don’t see any reason to go anywhere else.”
Can you see Jim Ross ever returning to WWE or NJPW? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE, TNA, WCW and NWA personality Jim Cornette recently discussed Vince McMahon and his recent WWE television appearances. Mr McMahon was recently seen on the Survivor Series PPV, introducing The Undertaker for his Final Farewell in the company.
Many fans and critics have noted McMahon’s advanced age and look during his recent appearances. Cornette himself would also comment on McMahon’s physical stature as he reaches his mid to late 70s.
Jim Cornette on Vince McMahon
“He looks like an old man” Cornette would begin on the Drive Thru podcast. “The one guy that…everybody that knew him? We thought he would never age. The one guy that they’ve [the fans] seen with all that vim and vigour on television, even if you’ve never met him, or seen him in person.”
Jim Cornette would then question why WWE still has McMahon being presented in the ‘same’ way he has been for the past 20+ years on television. “I think it’s just at this point? To have him stand in the ring and do the same type of delivery? Or deliver the message the same kind of way? It might be…it’s a bummer now [to watch]!”
“Maybe he should be in a boardroom setting” Cornette would continue. “I mean make use of the most famous wrestling personality they still have in the company. Make use of him! Just don’t have him doing the same kind of sh*t he used to do, because then you’re comparing it to 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago. Anybody’s gonna lose something [after that long].”
Do you agree with Jim Cornette? Do you think that Vince McMahon needs to stop appearing on WWE programming? Let us know in the comments
Check out the video of Vince McMahon from just 4 years ago to see the difference!
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently discussed Vince McMahon and by extension WWE’s communication as a company.
The Big Guy would compare WWE’s communication with talent with that of a professional sports team like that in the NFL. Ryback would make the point that when you aren’t performing well in a ‘real’ sport you’re pulled aside by your coaches and your path to success is laid out in front of you.
Ryback on WWE Communication
“They [WWE] don’t communicate” Ryback would begin on the Shooting Blanks Wrestling podcast. “That stems from Vince, because Vince doesn’t know how to communicate. Vince only knows how to lie. That’s done on purpose, to control things and to create that fear mentality.”
“They breed that fear and it gets passed down all the way to developmental” The Big Guy continued. “I’ve lived it, it’s something that needs to be better. It doesn’t need to exist, you know? In traditional sports? You know if you’re not performing.”
Ryback would finish by using the aforementioned football analogy. “If you’re a starting running back you know you’re going to be told exactly what you need to be doing. ‘Look, we need you need to start performing you need to do this, this and this. And then if you don’t? We’re going to take you out of this.'”
“They don’t do this in depth, and this is speaking for WWE solely” The Big Guy continued. “And it’s frustrating because it doesn’t need to be that way. It’s all just a lack of communication.”
This is not the first time that Ryback has made disparaging comments regarding WWE and or Vince McMahon. It likely also won’t be the last.
Do you think that we’ll see Ryback in the likes of AEW or NJPW? Let us know in the comments
WWE came up with the idea for its ThunderDome set up over the summer and has been running shows from the Amway Center since August.
The set up gives company officials the ability to use piped-in crowd noise. Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that this is something that WWE has been doing a lot lately.
Per the report, using recorded crowd noise has been used for every match as of late. It was noted that WWE has always wanted complete control of the crowd noise.
The reason for this is due to it making it appear as if every Superstar they want to get over is over with the fans. On the flip side, those who the company doesn’t want over then they won’t have crowd noise. As a result, this makes it easier to control the narratives.
Although WWE has control over the crowd noise, they still have to deal with visual reactions from fans in the virtual crowd. People still have the chance to give thumbs up or thumbs down among other reactions that are visible.
Starting December 11th, WWE be moving its ThunderDome setup to Tropicana Field
WWE had to make various changes to its business due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that includes the attendance of Vince McMahon at shows.
Fightful Select reported today that the WWE Chairman was “stowed away in his office” on most days when they were at the WWE Performance Center. When they signed a deal with the Amway Center and created the ThunderDome, things changed.
Per the report, McMahon is likely to be sitting in the Gorilla Position a lot more now at SmackDown shows. This wasn’t something that he had been doing while at the Performance Center.
Before the pandemic, McMahon would attend more SmackDown shows compared to RAW events. However, he did cut back on his travel schedule several months ago.
Kevin Owens was the person to bring awareness to the WWE Chairman several months ago that people working TV tapings had relaxed on wearing masks and social distancing. This and in addition to positive COVID tests, WWE was forced to do actual COVID testing.
WWE will be moving from the Amway Center to the Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay starting on December 11th where they’ll be staying for several months until baseball season starts.
WrestleMania 22 featured a number of interesting matches such as John Cena vs. Triple H and JBL vs. Chris Benoit and one of these bouts could have been Bret Hart vs. none other than Vince McMahon.
Former WWE writer and MLW founder Court Bauer was the recent guest on Talk Is Jericho where he talked about the boss in detail with Y2J.
During the interview, he revealed the nixed idea for a match between the chairman Vince McMahon and The Hitman Bret Hart at the grand event:
“There was a time where we had just closed a deal with Bret to do the DVD Anthology series. And it was big deal, and Bret was, at that moment in time, very small window of time, very much into the idea of doing a match with Vince at WrestleMania in Chicago, WrestleMania 22.”
Bauer continued to reveal more details about the planned angle and he explained that since Bret Hart couldn’t wrestle regularly, the idea was to include wrestlers like Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Harry Smith into the storyline.
This would have allowed the company to continue the angle at house shows and weekly television while also protecting Bret Hart as a special attraction.
The idea was unfortunately nixed later on and now one can only wonder what it would have been like if Bret Hart had made his in ring return for the company at the time.
WWE is often criticized for scripting the promos and matches of the superstars and during a recent interview, Chris Jericho revealed why Vince McMahon started doing this.
Y2J was recently joined by Court Bauer on his Talk Is Jericho podcast where the two discussed the evolution of wrestling from the attitude era to this day in detail.
During the interview, Chris revealed that Vince McMahon originally started incorporating writers into wrestling because he wanted to beat Friends:
“The reason why writers became a thing was when we started SmackDown, which was right after I got there, August ‘99; Vince made it his motto that SmackDown was going to be bigger than ‘Friends’.
‘We’re going to beat ‘Friends’ on Thursday’, and his reasoning and idea and strategy was well ‘Friends’ has writers” recalled Chris Jericho, “Then we need writers too.”
Bauer then discussed how WWE is a hybrid system where they take aspects of TV, sports and show biz and combine them all to create the ‘WWE gumbo’.
Apart from this, Chris Jericho also talked about this transition and recalled how there were no writers when he first arrived in WWE and confronted the Rock during their famous segment on his debut.
WWE has found closer to a lawsuit regarding their business relationship with the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia.
WWE announced the news in an SEC filing, which states a settlement of $39 million will be paid to City Of Warren Police and Fire Retirement System, stockholders who made a complaint earlier this year.
Basically, the lawsuit alleged that WWE executives artificially inflated stock prices, sold shares, and failed to disclose failed negotiations regarding a new broadcast deal in Saudi Arabia.
“The Term Sheet was reached in connection with a voluntary mediation which involved the Plaintiffs and their counsel, the Company and its counsel, and the Company’s insurance carriers. Aside from the Term Sheet, there will be other standard and customary terms of class action settlements in the stipulation of settlement. The settlement is subject to notice to the class and preliminary and final approval by the Court.
The Company believes that resolving the matter is the right business decision and that it is prudent to end the protracted and uncertain class action process.”
The defendants listed in the lawsuit were WWE, Vince McMahon, and former WWE Co-Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson. WWE expects the settlement to be paid by their insurance carriers.
WWE announced Zelina Vega’s release Friday afternoon, just minutes after she tweeted her support for unionization. Her abrupt departure from the company and the subsequent fallout have been one of the top stories we’ve been tracking over the past week.
Vega issued a heartfelt message thanking WWE for the experience, as well as several key people who believed in her and helped her achieve the success that she did. She would later describe the past week as “literal hell.”
A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter states that Vega was unceremoniously escorted out of the building at Friday’s SmackDown taping after Vince McMahon refused to meet with her:
“According to one person in the company with knowledge of the situation, she was told about it by Mark Carrano, asked to talk to Vince McMahon and Carrano told her that he doesn’t want to talk to you and [she] was escorted out of the building.”
WWE has publicly confirmed that Zelina Vega was released because she breached her contract. Vega is a popular online streamer. In addition to her very lucrative presence on Twitch, she also recently launched an account on OnlyFans, where people can subscribe for $30/month to receive exclusive videos and photos of “cosplays, lingerie, swimsuits and more.”
News of Zelina Vega’s clash with WWE has caught the attention of politician Andrew Yang, as well as the prominent Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) labor union. Her fallout with WWE has brought renewed attention to WWE’s questionable classification of talent as independent contractors.
WWE released several wrestlers back in April and since that time, continues to release employees. The company just fired a number of people who worked in the live event department of the company.
Due to the financial hit of the coronavirus and WWE needing to keep profits up, the company decided to do mass talent and staff cuts. It has to be noted that WWE is making more money than ever thanks to huge money deals from FOX and the USA Network.
Among the wrestlers released back in April includes the likes of Miro, The Good Brothers, Serena Deeb, No Way Jose, EC3, and others. Many of the released wrestlers have found new homes in Impact Wrestling, ROH, and AEW.
Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that some of the released talents that eventually went to work elsewhere were offered to return for less money.
There is no word on who was offered lower-money contracts, but it was reported by Fightful that one of the names WWE is interested in bringing back is No Way Jose.
All the way back to June it was reported that WWE had been contacting wrestlers about possibly returning to the company.
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently discussed Matt Riddle and his new ‘name’ in WWE. It was recently confirmed that the former UFC star will now just be going under the name ‘Riddle.’
This move was reportedly made as Vince McMahon was concerned about Riddle’s past allegations of sexual abuse coming to light, especially on the likes of a Google search. Ryback would state how certain talents with just one name, himself included, actually benefited from the move in WWE.
“I mean the the names you just named (co-host Raj Giri named Goldberg, Rusev, Elias, Cesaro et al) they all had have had nice careers in WWE” Ryback began on the show.
Ryback on ‘Riddle’
Ryback elaborated further, saying “[or] now they are being used consistently. It would make sense that if they’re doing that [for Riddle]? There’s a reason WHY they’re doing it. Typically they wouldn’t just do that to someone they’re leaving catering every week, if that makes sense.”
The Big Guy would actually agree with WWE’s reasoning for the move. Typically, name changes in WWE (like Ali losing the Mustafa part of his moniker) aren’t universally welcomed. “I understand that from a business standpoint. And from the Googling standpoint? That makes as much sense as anything I’ve heard in a long time from them [WWE].”
Ryback would finish by pointing out one flaw with WWE’s perceived plan, in that if Riddle were to become popular enough the search results would still contain a litany of reports of the legal issues. “With that kind of stuff? If he becomes popular enough? Even if you just Google ‘Riddle?’ The first thing that’s gonna pop up is everything MATT Riddle.”
Do you agree with Ryback? Do you think that this could be another sign that WWE are looking to strap the rocket to Matt Riddle? Let us know in the comments
Stories about Vince McMahon have been told for years and the latest one comes from a former WWE writer.
Jon Rineman told a story during participation in a Reddit AMA. It started when he was asked for any light-hearted stories he may have of the WWE Chairman.
The story is about how McMahon wanted to donate a hospital wing as repayment for a storyline angle that would’ve cost some big money.
“As far as a crazy Vince story: we had an idea where someone was going to attack somebody in a hospital. And then I had an idea for it that Vince liked, then Heyman had a bunch of ideas Vince liked. So, Vince thinks about it and says: “We’re really gonna f**k up this hospital. How much would it cost to rebuild?” He stops, thinks a second, then says, matter-of-factly, “Hmm. I might have to donate a wing to a hospital. How much does that cost?” So, our writer’s assistant started looking up how much it cost to donate a wing to a hospital.
The angle was nixed later on in a meeting due to another idea that came up.
“Which one is the one without buying the hospital wing? Do that one.” Then he stopped and said, “I should donate a wing somewhere though…” and it got quiet while he thought. Then he took out his pencil and I saw him write “Hospital.”
Some of the more famous stories about McMahon come from the likes of Jim Cornette, Bruce Prichard, Jim Ross, and Bret Hart.
Stephanie McMahon gave the latest update on the upcoming documentary on the life of WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.
WWE and Netflix have reached a “groundbreaking deal” for this documentary that will be produced by Bill Simmons and directed by Chris Smith, who directed the Netflix documentary on Fyre Fest.
WWE President Nick Khan shared the news during last Thursday’s quarterly financial call. At the time, he didn’t provide a ton of details but touted how it’s one of the most expensive docuseries the streaming giant has ever done.
Stephanie stated that the docuseries on her father will be four episodes. She revealed this detail while talking to Barstool Sports CEO Erika Nardini on her podcast that dropped Monday.
The WWE’s Chief Brand Officer didn’t provide a release date on the project, but did state that while she was excited about it, she was a little nervous because it’s still her father.
It should be noted that this docuseries won’t be the only look at the WWE Chairman’s life. For those who may not know, Abraham Riesman via Simon & Schuster imprint Atria is slated to release a biography in 2022.
WWE transformed the Amway Center back in August ahead of SummerSlam to turn it into the ThunderDome. No fans are allowed into the arena and additional COVID-19 safety and cleaning procedures in place. The Amway Center will make about $450,000 from the residency
The Famous Group, the company behind WWE’s ThunderDome concept, won the Digital Fan Experience Award at the 2020 Sportel Awards. The company did a behind the scenes video of how they monitor the virtual fans.
Banned from the ThunderDome
It’s been documented that WWE has dealt with various instances of inappropriate content displayed during broadcasts. So much so that they had to issue a statement after a video showing a KKK rally was shown during an episode of RAW.
The middle part of the video shows a list of images of faces and logos banned from being shown during the broadcast. Among the banned images:
WWE and Netflix have reached a “groundbreaking deal” to produce & release a new multi-part documentary on the life WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon.
WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan revealed the new project during Thursday’s Q3 2020 earnings call with investors. Khan said the deal is groundbreaking because this will be one of the highest-budgeted documentaries in the history of Netflix.
The title and release date for the McMahon doc have not been released as of this writing, but Bill Simmons will serve as Executive Producer. Chris Smith, who directed the Netflix documentary on Fyre Fest, will produce the film, along with WWE Studios.
The upcoming McMahon documentary from WWE Studios and Netflix is not the “Pandemonium” biopic that has been rumored since 2017, which actor Bradley Cooper was expected to be a part of at one point. It looks like that project has been canceled.
Former WWE/WCW/TNA writer and outspoken pro wrestling personality Vince Russo recently commented on an episode of Jim Ross’ Grilling JR podcast.
JR and co-host Conrad Thompson were discussing an episode of RAW from 2005 where JR was fired on-air by Vince McMahon. The next week Steve Austin, a noted real life friend of JR’s, would attack members of the McMahon family, including Linda McMahon, Vince’s wife.
During the podcast JR would state that Linda didn’t actually want to take a Stunner from Austin. As is apparently ‘usually’ the case, Vince McMahon wanted it to happen, so it happened. Russo would jump on that comment and lambast McMahon and the culture that he creates seemingly in WWE.
Wrestling ‘Lifers’
“The [wrestling] lifers? This is normal to them” Vince Russo began on the 8 Days a Week podcast. “I was reading clips of a JR interview today, and JR was basically saying about the last time he got fired by Vince McMahon in the ring. It was like a shoot, he really got fired.”
“And he’s [then] talking about like the next night” Russo would continue. “Austin Stunners the entire McMahon family. And he [JR] was saying how Linda was ‘very very hesitant to do that.’ But that’s what Vince wanted, bro!?”
Vince Russo would then describe the situation as ‘warped,’ with Vince McMahon seemingly ‘forcing’ his own wife to do something physically on his program. “Do you know how freaking warped it is? That you…your wife is uncomfortable with it, bro!”
“Okay!? She’s uncomfortable” Russo would continue. “You’re forcing your wife to take a Stunner, and your wife is taking the Stunner because ‘that’s what Vince’ wants. Do you know how freaking warped that is!?”
Do you agree with Vince Russo? Let us know in the comments
Bryan Alvarez talked during today’s Wrestling Observer Live about the statement issued by WWE about local officials looking to investigate venues in the Orlando area that could be COVID-19 hotspots.
As noted, the WWE Performance Center and the Amway Center aka the WWE ThunderDome were among the places listed as potential hotspots.
Alvarez read the statement, which noted “Aventus Labs have administered more than 10,000 PCR tests to WWE performers, employees, production staff and crew resulting in only 1.5 percent positive cases as compared to the current national average of more than 5%.”
Alvarez stated that while no official numbers are known due to WWE not releasing them, he had heard around 38 for the big outbreak and then additional people testing positive during another outbreak. The second outbreak was in the double digits.
He stated that after this outbreak, there were a lot of people who disappeared. He noted that some of those who did disappear were due to contract tracing disappearances. This means that they didn’t have the virus, but had been around people who did have it.
He pointed out how WWE’s own statement noted there were essentially 150 positive tests. He added that he knows for a fact that there have been people in WWE who tested positive and the people who lived with them that ended up getting COVID-19, but not counting in WWE tests.
Alvarez stated that there is a crazy number of people that have contracted coronavirus as a result of WWE TV tapings.
WWE Hall of Famer and AEW Commentator Jim Ross recently discussed WWE RAW from 2005 on the Grilling JR podcast.
This week’s episode of the show was a watch-along of RAW from 10/10/05. That episode was eventful for JR as an on-screen character as he was ‘fired’ on television. As is usually the case, Jim Ross would discuss players and events from the timeframe, including former WWE COO Triple H.
Jim Ross on Triple H
“Triple H, he has a great heel too. Great deal, he was…he felt it. He lived it, You know?” Jim Ross began on the podcast. “He really was an extension of his own personality, or what he perceived his personality to be. He did a good job. I never had too many issues with him.”
JR would then add an interesting little tidbit into the conversation. The Man in The Black Hat would admit that he found negotiations with Triple H difficult once ‘The Game’ moved into a position higher than JR in the company.
“When he became an administrator? We didn’t have…we didn’t have a lot of successful negotiations. I was kind of always disappointed in that a little bit because I was…I always went to bat for him and got him the contract that he wanted.”
JR has mentioned in the past how he had to be the liaison between talent and management in the then WWF. JR was the Head of Talent Relations at the time Triple H was becoming a major player in the company (1999 onwards), and Jim Ross said that he helped get him a huge deal. “That was important to him, to have the same million dollar downside guarantee that all the other guys had.”
Not Reciprocating
Co-host of the podcast Conrad Thompson would then ask “are you saying that when those roles reversed and then he was sort of moving up the food chain, he wasn’t willing to reciprocate for you?”
JR then finished by admitting that he felt Triple H was just ‘following Vince McMahon’s lead.’ Alluding to how the industry had changed to a more corporate style in the years since JR stopped working in talent relations.
“Well, I’m just saying that…I think he just took Vince’s lead. ‘JR’s just an announcer.’ And then they found out over the years that to the audience [that wasn’t the case].”
One of the first questions that came up was his removal as the Executive Director of WWE RAW. The change happened earlier this year as Heyman had been overseeing the creative for the RAW brand until Vince McMahon decided to make a change and Heyman was pulled from that role.
“I served at the pleasure of the Chairman Vince McMahon and there came a day I was no longer at the pleasure of the Chairman Vince McMahon. When I took the role of Executive Director, I made an agreement with Vince McMahon, I want this job as long as every morning Vince McMahon woke up, he said thank God or whatever deity he subscribes to Paul Heyman is looking after the store on Raw. And the day that Vince McMahon didn’t wake up and feel that way, I didn’t want the job anymore.”
He stated that he’s been in a similar role where McMahon wasn’t happy with him and it was a miserable existence. He said he didn’t want that.
“Apparently on that day on that given time and given moment, Vince didn’t wake up that morning thanking whatever deity he subscribes to that Paul Heyman was in charge of Raw. We left with a smile, a handshake, and a hug. Absolutely no harsh feelings and actually better feelings about each other because of the way that it ended because it’s ended miserably before.”
Heyman said that proof of his exit is a positive thing as it came down to McMahon’s comments on an earnings call shortly after the move was made. He recalled McMahon stating that he thought Heyman did a great job instead of saying something like they needed someone with a new vision.
“My run in terms of serving at the pleasure of the chairman was up and then this opportunity presented itself both for me, for Roman and for WWE and we all jumped on it.”
After a few months of Heyman being on the sidelines, he was paired with Roman Reigns.
Ryback decided to go on social media and give his true feelings about Triple H and Vince McMahon.
The former WWE star made it clear in his various responses to fans that he is a fan of pro wrestling, but isn’t fond of WWE. Coming from someone who actually worked at the company, he would know how things work behind the scenes.
At one point, he went after the WWE Chairman and CEO. In fact, he thinks the world, not just the pro wrestling business, will be a better place when McMahon passes away. He did note that this opinion isn’t him having a death wish for McMahon.
“It was ALWAYS the talent. He just created a platform as a human circus that he modified from his father. The guy is a piece of shit, can’t stress this enough. World will be a better place when he passes. This isn’t wishing death, but stating an opinion I believe to be true.”
Ryback also went after Triple H, who currently oversees NXT, as “The Game” is likely the person to take over the company when McMahon does pass away.
“Pussy Paul is not the savior to anything. He will go down with the ship.”
Ryback had a successful run in the WWE that ended once he decided to depart from the company in 2016. He has since focused on his podcast and YouTube channel. You can see his tweets here:
I love wrestling, just don’t care for WWE. Fans need to stop putting the brand above the performers. You’ve all been brainwashed to think Vince is some sort of genius. The guy is as corrupt as a lot of other greedy businesses profiting for bad and need to wake the fuck up. https://t.co/1Vi3NwpsRI
Changing the business model entirely to create the biggest stars on the planet and profit off that rather than running a business that is trying to make the logo the main star for maximum profits. The fans and all involved will win and they would actually increase profits https://t.co/TCZuMkNPyz
100% it will be added into everything I’m doing. I feel better than I have in a long time. A little more work to do and I am not doing anything until full crowds are back. I would never throw away what I’ve gone through to silence. I’m an energy based wrestler and need energy. https://t.co/iEBMTW9SoX
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently discussed WWE laying off the majority of their Live Events department recently. The Big Guy revealed why he believes the company did so on the Shooting Blanks Wrestling Report this week.
Ryback would state that whilst on the surface WWE have had to remove Live Events due to the COVID-19 pandemic? In reality they had to cut down on dates because of the more attractive offering that All Elite Wrestling has in place.
Ryback on WWE Live Events
“We talked about this before with AEW” Ryback began on the podcast. “Either they’re gonna force WWE to change some of their business tactics, their model and improve. Or WWE is going to just keep slowly burning, because more and more talent are going to leave for this better place with money.”
“The money is just as good or close to as good and [you’re] working one day a week” Ryback continued. “I think they’re [the talent] smart enough to realize [that] because they don’t care about the talent? It’s just the way that it is. They look at this as an opportunity, they can change the business model, because of the circumstances of society in the world. But in reality? they’re changing because they have to change in order to keep talent happier.”
“With the competition, AEW, on the rise? It’s great thing for the wrestlers regardless. But they’ve never stopped Live Events, never” Ryback continued. “Since Vince Jr has taken over? They have never stopped live events, and they never would [if they could avoid it]. He [Vince McMahon] finds a way to make money regardless. Again with AEW and things changing? I think they see this is as…they have to adjust. That’s in order to keep talent happy and from losing more.”
Do you agree with Ryback? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar Ryback recently discussed Vince McMahon and WWE ‘barring’ Superstars from using third party sites as a revenue stream. You can check out what the full show at The Ryback Show podcast or via Patreon.
WWE’s recent crackdown on third party streaming platforms has been gaining a lot of traction, even in the mainstream. WWE has always been quick to refer to their ‘independent contractor’ status of their Superstars; however this recent move to choke Superstar’s earning potential on external services has called this into question once again.
Ryback on WWE Third Party ‘Ban’
“What they’re [WWE] doing? Obviously revenue is the name of the game” Ryback began on the podcast. “They have wh*red out these human bodies. We’ve talked about this before, they make money off of you all these other backend ways that you usually don’t get reciprocated for. Or, not reciprocated for nearly as well as you should be. Especially compared to other sporting agencies, entertainment agencies and things of that nature.”
Ryback would then discuss his beliefs as to why WWE would be looking to keep such a ‘stranglehold’ on the performers. “What they are doing? They don’t want mega stars. They don’t want people making a certain level of money where they’re comfortable leaving. Vince wants to keep every talent, male or female, working for them as long as humanly possible. As a business? Okay that’s fine. You want somebody working there as long as possible. The problem is? It’s all a** backwards how they treat people.”
“They do it by not paying them what they’re worth” Ryback continued. “First of all on the contracts, through the [actual] wrestling, and then on these other agencies [Cameo, Twitch etc] as they’re growing.”
Ryback would finish by mentioning Vince McMahon’s claims that the reason for the ‘crackdown’ is that it is potentially “hurting” the WWE brand. “They’re going to take control. Everything Vince put out is all bullsh*t as far as ‘damaging the brand.’ This is all money. So what he was trying to do? People are now making a lot of money doing these other things. And he’s [McMahon] trying to find a way to control it.”
Do you agree with Ryback here? Let us know in the comments
Former WWE Superstar and newly signed AEW performer Miro recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio. The ‘Bulgarian Brute’ discussed a number of topics during his time on the show; including the promotion of his outside projects within AEW’s programming.
Miro on AEW Promoting His Content
“Being with the company that actually promotes my stuff? They promote my YouTube channel, they promote Twitch, my social media. They wanted to do that because this is the way of the future. There are all these other dinosaurs [that won’t allow that]. We don’t need that, we don’t need that.”
Miro was of course referring to WWE and the recent policy that was put in place regarding third party sites. Twitch, Cameo and YouTube were particuarly being looked at by WWE as ‘harming potential’ for revenue.
WWE’s recent crackdown on third party streaming platforms has been gaining a lot of traction, even in the mainstream. WWE has always been quick to refer to their ‘independent contractor’ status of their Superstars; however this recent move to choke Superstar’s earning potential on external services has called this into question once again.
Andrew Yang
Former Presidential candidate Andrew Yang recently discussed why he called out WWE for their practices in light of the third party ‘ban.’
“I actually got a message from someone who is part of the WWE, pointing out to me the story about how WWE was saying, ‘Hey, don’t go on Cameo or Twitch.’” Yang would stated. “And it infuriated me because I know that the WWE has been trying to play it both ways for years, where they’re saying on one hand, ‘Can’t do anything without our say so. We own you, but you’re an independent contractor and we have nothing to do with your health, retirement, any of the benefits you’d get that would accrue to an employee.’ (h/t to 411mania.com for this transcription).
It was recently reported that WWE had made certain changes to the policy. These were mainly focused on Superstars not using their trademarked WWE character name for their third party use. This becomes a bit more murky when you factor in the amount of performers who use their real name when streaming or on Cameo.
Chris Jericho says he wrote the controversial line in Miro’s promo
