Like most successful organisations, WWE exists within quite a large one. As a monolithic multimedia giant in 2018, it can be both a publicly traded company and publicly pollutant force. It can somehow play host to atmospheres of both altruism and ancient subjugation. The formers inform and mask the latters. Video packages, controlled social media strategies and the careful manipulation of their loyalist supporters step in to suppress discussion of archaic staff welfare agreements, shady Saudi Arabian business deals and cynical and monopolistic market dominance.
The creative process is - at this point at least - a relatively small part of the business. In truth, the actual end product is too. WWE's television output hasn't been without merit, but Monday Night Raw in particular has fostered what must objectively be considered some of Sports Entertainment's lowest moments since stretching itself to three hours back in 2012. The decision wasn't made to chase further critical acclaim then though; it was to leverage the company's entire future on a few dull years. And it worked.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for 10 years. Alongside the production of daily written, audio and video content covering WWE and AEW, he also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years.
As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot on the UK's wrestling podcast charts with over 10,000 episodes and 70,000,000 total downloads. He also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House!, Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast, and has guested on long-running Sunderland AFC podcast Wise Men Say.
With WhatCulture, he has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. He has also been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana, 411Mania and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling.
Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in music and culture magazines The Crack, Pilot as well as Sunderland AFC's premiere fanzine A Love Supreme. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it every other Saturday at the Stadium Of Light, and at Cribs gigs nationwide.
