WWE's Biggest Nightmare Is Coming True

The announcement that WWE were going to assume control of all third party platforms from their talents (predominantly revenue-generating online avenues such as Twitch and Cameo) brought the subject of wrestler unionisation back into general conversation.

Wrestlers had built additional incomes from the fan-driven destinations, but Vince McMahon's edict gave talent just 30 days to sign over the bulk of the any and all future earnings to the company or get rid of the revenue streams entirely. Without any kind of support system, wrestlers could make the reasonable assumption (this year more than before) that they could lose their jobs over it.

Many acquiesced out of not really having a choice, and it was the prospect of this forced action that triggered so much chat on a subject McMahon and the other money men (and it's always been f*cking men) of wrestling have only been too happy to keep cornered.

Back in 2019, AEW were pledging to "change the universe", but Cody didn't back unions for wrestlers as a way to do it. Speaking to Breaking Kayfabe at the time, he said;

“I’ll hit this right on the head, there’s been talk in wrestling – people say the word, ‘union’ a lot. A union in wrestling would destroy wrestling because it’s not there at the price point yet. You have to take these baby steps, and a baby step is a talent feedback system, a baby step is a player’s league, a body where there’s a transparent line of communication between your office and your talent about what they like, what they don’t like, the travel, the catering, everything to the booking – it’s got to be there.”

Former WCW chief Eric Bischoff expressed similar caution during a discussion about the matter on his 83 Weeks podcast, noting that;

"Be careful what you wish for because that sh*t can come back to kill you. It sounds good on paper, it sounds really good – I’m getting protected, I’m gonna get free this, I’m gonna get health insurance. I get it, man. I’ve gone without health insurance. Things got tight for me and a couple of businesses didn’t go my way and cash dried up. But I had no choice. I know how that feels. I also know what happens when you unionize and you change the entire compensation structure for such an important part of the wrestling business across the board."

McMahon almost certainly knew the subject would come up again, but no tweet from Paige or Zelina Vega, nor increased pressure from former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang would stop him. Particularly considering how he's batted it back before.

CON'T...