10 Times WWE Were Shamelessly Exploitative

5. Paige Crosses The Line

Paige Charlotte Controversy
WWE

Though Ric Flair's tear ducts are generally poised to discharge at the slightest provocation, the way WWE provoked him to tears on the 16 November 2015 episode of Monday Night Raw was completely beyond contempt.

During the contract signing ahead of their big battle for the then-Divas' Championship at the upcoming Survivor Series pay-per-view, Paige levelled opponent Charlotte with the broadside that her younger brother Reid - who died of accidental overdose in 2013 - "didn't have much fight in him."

Outrage, inevitably - and justifiably - followed. WWE professed that the line had met with Charlotte's approval, with a company spokesman stating that "“Subject matter this personal is only approved as a result of the strong advocacy of the talent themselves."

However, they hadn't bothered to run the script past Reid's father Ric, a regular presence on WWE TV at the time. Who would ask a bereaved father such a question? Nobody - and if they had, the angle would never have played out. Nor should it have.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.