7 Times WWE Actually Did Something Classy

4. When They Actually Started Encouraging Their Talent To Be Active Family Members

Like with the 'Be A Star' campaign, there is obviously a commercial incentive for WWE to adopt a strategy that makes them look like a family-friendly and responsible organisation. And again €“ that is absolutely fine because Mums with disposable income are where they want to cash-in. But why this particular programme is so unique, is that it also represents an acknowledgement from WWE that in the past they have been an absolute toxic influence on families. Traditionally in the business, it was nigh on impossible for performers to keep a functioning home life amongst the travel, addictions, groupies, and alienation. The message of this campaign might be to encourage the public to take the lessons on board, and that€™s great €“ but what is really special is seeing WWE learn from their mistakes, and celebrating the families that their own staff have. This would have been unheard of during the Monday Night Wars where Vince McMahon famously told Vince Russo to €˜hire a Nanny€™, and where Mick Foley€™s children got to see their father beaten within an inch of his life from ringside. Kids were a burden then, and the 'WWE'/McMahon family always came before a wrestler's own. Even if this campaign is built on cynically trying to rebuild their image after the Benoit tragedy, that doesn€™t matter. The point is that family stability is rewarded and encouraged in the company, which makes the lives of everyone involved better. Real change is coming from canny marketing and that's a blessing where one is needed. Again, the ability to progress and change like this, is the epitome of class.