Why WWE Will Never Be The Same Again
WWE have had few weeks more defining than this one.
WWE, as we know it, will never be the same again.
Yes, this platitude has been trotted out many times before, for a variety of events ranging from the trivial to the tragic. In only a handful of those scenarios - the death of Chris Benoit being the most glaring example - has the statement has been accurate.
Today is one of those scenarios.
Last night, WWE announced that, due to the financial impact of the ongoing global crisis, a slew of talent and producers were to be let go with immediate effect. Other staff have been furloughed whilst the disruption to events continues.
The P45s were sent several hours after a WWE conference call in which employees were warned about major operational cutbacks.
This same week, the company also revealed they have $500 million in reserve. The cuts look to save them in the region of $4 million a month - most of that sum comprised of delaying the migration to a new Stamford headquarters.
Meanwhile, the rest of the wrestling industry is effectively shut down, meaning talent have few viable options. The manner and timing of WWE's slashes could not have been less sensitive.
The sheer callousness of WWE's savage decision is flabbergasting. It was only this month that talent were asked to risk the safety of both themselves and their family to fly into Florida to record tapings. No Way José - one of the men released - was pictured arriving in the state, replete with face mask, to be squashed by Bobby Lashley. His reward for his professionalism? An essential worker deemed inessential.
WWE have shown upfront - and hardly for the first time - that loyalty is meaningless. Wrestlers literally give their body for the organisation, only to get nothing back the second times get tough. Roman Reigns fought through leukaemia and returned as soon as possible. What did WWE do to protect him when his health was placed under serious risk? Nothing. He bravely took the decision to step away, to protect himself and his family.
The events of this week might have many others in the locker room considering doing just that. It's readily apparent that the 'dream' is a working nightmare. Is the increasingly irrelevant exposure and admittedly handsome financial remuneration really worth the moral turpitude?
Bray Wyatt, one of WrestleMania's star attractions, saw his father Mike Rotunda and pal Erick Rowan suddenly axed yesterday. Shortly after the news broke, he Tweeted a single word: "sick". It was a social media sentiment echoed by many of his colleagues, some direct, some implicit. Charlotte Flair posted a picture of her alongside released trainer Dave Finlay, with a broken heart emoji. Bayley shared a long post expressing her sadness. Dolph Ziggler invited fans to support those let go through independent merchandise channels.
It's clear that WWE's actions have affected their remaining talent, even if they are understandably hesitant to direct criticise their paymasters lest their suffer a similar rebuke. How many of them will be looking up Tony Kahn's number this morning, or otherwise considering their options for when options are once again a thing?
And what have WWE told their fans? The dark heart of the corporation, much as it has been through the despicable Saudi Arabia partnership, has once again been exposed. WWE have no ambitions beyond greed, no matter their tame concessions to the concept of 'family' or 'philanthropy'. They hold their talent in contempt, and their audience doubly so. The mantra echoes Bob Geldof: give us your f*cking money. Except it's a billionaire asking for it, one who only understands the concept of 'more is more'.
Already, social media is filled with people vowing to cancel their WWE Network subscriptions and withhold further financial support for the company. Clearly, with the savings they're making and Scrooge McDuck quantities of gold in the vault, they don't need your $9.99 a month. $4 million amounts to 400,000 subscribers. Will that many of the million or so who have stuck around take this moral stance? Do ethics outstrip the ability to watch In Your House 5 on demand? The early rumblings suggest they do.
Ultimately, it'll take some time for the dust to settle on this situation. For whatever reason, WWE seem virtually immune to their own evil, unjustly stumbling from one success to the next regardless of what karma surely has in store. The global situation means that the industry is effectively in stasis; any talent looking to leave is in no position to do so, and anyone thirsty for new wrestling has no alternative. But there's no question the events of this week will have and indeed already have had a seismic impact on the company's morale, brand loyalty, and reputation. The repercussions of Montreal saw a number of talent bolt for the door in disgust. That was business. This is reality. One can only imagine the internal feeling of bitter resentment is magnified.
The ratings which trickle in this weekend will be telling. They'll be the first indication of whether WWE, $18.5 million super PAC bribe and all, are still considered an 'essential business' by anyone outside Trump's cronies. Seemingly, Vince McMahon's moves are designed to protect his overblown and undeserved television deals. If the universe has a sense of justice - and if the Universe has a sense of justice - his scant disregard for humanity in pursuit of retaining those deals will backfire spectacularly.