10 Times WWE Didn’t Learn Their Lesson

7. Bill DeMott's Rehiring

Seth Rollins
WWE

Bill DeMott was synonymous with the Deep South failure; more drill sergeant than wrestling trainer, his methods were so baffling that Kenny Omega was moved to state that he felt more like a mixed martial-artist than a pro wrestler in Georgia.

The ethics behind his approach are questionable. Chris Jericho welcomed DeMott as a guest on his Talk Is Jericho podcast, on which he defended the disgraced Head Trainer to the hilt. Those who complained, he felt, were ignorant and unappreciative. DeMott wasn't a sadist - he was simply preparing those in his charge for the very real and very painful world of wrestling. Legions of detractors - among them, Jim Cornette and Mike 'Nova' Bucci - condemned the approach, deeming it as unnecessary as it was dangerous.

What can't be disputed are the numbers. Unlike OVW, which produced a cavalcade of stars who did experience - and those who should've experienced - large-scale success, no talent who spent the majority of time in Deep South became an established headliner in WWE.

And yet, Triple H rehired DeMott to head up FCW and then NXT in 2011. The same complaints which dogged him in Georgia followed him to Orlando. The picture painted of DeMott was re-rendered; punishing errors by cracking a yardstick over the backs of trainees and allegedly enabling sexual harassment under his watch, DeMott was forced to resign in 2015, lest he create an even bigger PR nightmare for his employers.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!