5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (April 14)
3. The Endemic WWE Bullying Culture Is Under Threat
News that JBL's harassment of Mauro Ranallo has exacerbated his documented mental health issues has lit up the internet this week - and the notorious bully is currently submerged in a total sh*tstorm of long-overdue comeuppance.
JBL was booed out of the building on this week's SmackDown and was subjected to sustained chants of "Fire JBL!". And, much like the scandal which engulfed Bill Demott in 2015, that sh*t is spraying from all sides. Justin Roberts recently released a book in which the ugly underbelly of WWE (helpfully represented onscreen) was exposed. Roberts once had his passport stolen - a criminal offence - in just once instance of a years-long reign of terror to which he was subjected.
As reported in this week's Wrestling Observer, the gathering storm is looming over Titan Towers. John Morrison has corroborated the passport story, something JBL denied on Twitter. Roberts himself has also alleged that JBL told him to kill himself on numerous occasions and would constantly ask him why he was "still alive".
There is no suggestion that JBL has said anything similar to Ranallo - but the potential consequences, given Ranallo's struggles, are unthinkable.
WWE's response to this social media maelstrom? They have ignored it in hopes that it will simply go away. Jesus Christ. I thought philanthropy was the way brands are going to win? Wasn't SmackDown lead writer Paul Heyman scrapped in the mid 2000s, despite penning a ratings hit of a critically acclaimed TV programme, because he didn't conform to some phantom corporate environment?
Even if WWE attempts to curry PR favour (morality is not exactly a pivotal concern), the company's internal bullying culture does not end with him.
Roberts has since revealed that, at the close of a production meeting, he was taken to one side by Vince McMahon, who whispered coldly in his ear: "Don't forget your passport! Haha"