WWE: The Fall Of An Empire

In 2022, mainstream coverage of the story shouldn't exist with reporters at pains to remind viewers that wrestling is fake.

As the world continues to understand more about what can occur within organisations when power dynamics are skewed, used and abused, what exactly that company does to make money shouldn't factor in. Yet, the trite reminder that wrestling - like films, television, the theatre - isn't real steals focus from the story before it's even been profiled.

It did this 30 years ago when McMahon appeared on Donahue and other various other outlets facing down drugs and sex scandals, happened over and over again when various company representatives spoke to members of the media about the Benoit family tragedy, and even derailed some of the intended derailments of Linda McMahon's political aspirations over the years. It's been irrelevant each time, but as long as pro wrestling isn't consumed by every single living breathing American, the most popular outlets in the world will feel obliged to cover it with a wry passing glance rather than the warranted scrutiny saved for the political world or even the NFL or Premier League.

McMahon's promoted presence on SmackDown generated buzz for that show and did his public perception no damage whatsoever. Those that already thought of him a bit of a piece of sh*t weren't having their thought processes adjusted by the news, and those that had no clue any of this was happening either idly flicked onto Fox on Friday night or just carried about their day as normal. If anything, it was a galvanising move, which again speaks to his attempts to consolidate what had days earlier looked every bit the crumbling empire.

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