20 Things You Didn't Know About WrestleMania (1985-1994)

18. WrestleMania 2 - Jesse Ventura Tried To Unionize Just Before WrestleMania 2

The taboo topic of professional wrestlers unionizing in the WWF goes back to just prior to WrestleMania 2. The controversy surrounding the company's treatment of its "independent contractors" was one that Jesse Ventura felt strongly about during the early 80s, and he attempted to lead the rest of the locker room to unionize in March of '86. Prior to WrestleMania 2, which was being simulcasted from New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, Ventura felt that was the appropriate time to act as the roster would have held more leverage then, given the scope of the event and the incredibly bold and risky technological undertaking that was WrestleMania 2. It took years for this to come to Ventura's awareness, but Hulk Hogan (and the lesser influential but WrestleMania 2 main eventer King Kong Bundy) tipped Vince off to Jesse's plan. This killed any chances at a wrestling union and Ventura still harbors ill-will towards Hogan to this very day for ratting him out. Jesse has stated on a number of occasions that his goal was not to hurt Vince McMahon, but to protect the wrestlers for after their in-ring career ends. Unfortunately, the controversial issue remains and the company's handling of their "independent contractors" is relatively similar to the way it was in 1986 despite the obvious gray areas and opportunities for improvement that still exist today.