WWE’s Goodwill Has Vanished
Vince McMahon has no shame.
If it wasn’t already gone, any trace of WWE’s good name has vanished after the biggest budgetary bloodbath in company history on April 15.
As of this writing, 31 individuals have been released by WWE as part of cost-cutting measures the company will undertake in response to the ongoing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Those massive cuts come just days after WWE was deemed an essential business by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, allowing the company to continue to run live TV shows in the state during this national lockdown.
Of course, that special designation just so happened to be granted the same day that the American First Action committee, which is chaired by Linda McMahon, announced a total of $18.5 million in television advertisement spending in the Orlando ($11.3 million) and Tampa ($7.1 million) media markets. According to a press release from the super PAC, the money will be used for pro-Trump broadcast advertising from Labor Day through Election Day.
That sure smells like bribery, doesn’t it? These cuts also come after the XFL, Vince McMahon’s second attempt at a football league, filed for bankruptcy. Also this week, McMahon was named as one of President Trump’s advisers for revitalizing the U.S. economy in the coming months. One hand washes the bloodshed of the other.
This has been such a sad day on so many levels. A lot of good hard working people lost their jobs at the worst time possible. Keep in mind this was in a company with $500 million cash reserves and was still expected without it to turn a significant profit this year.
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) April 15, 2020
As has been pointed out by many pundits, WWE has the financial resources and political power to endure the pandemic. However, McMahon has prioritized maintaining a huge profit margin over taking care of his employ…independent contractors. Less than a month after announcing $500 million in cash reserves, boosted by fat TV deals and a very lucrative relationship with Saudi Arabia (not to mention a lack of debt), WWE has now kicked its loyal workers to the curb, after making some of them travel for Raw on Monday in this dangerous time.
Out of every pro wrestling company, WWE, universally regarded as the industry leader, was in the best position to withstand a recession. Instead, McMahon has chosen to line his pockets and send 31 people into an empty job market. There is no reason that he cannot take care of his workers. Hell, Rusev even pledged $20,000 to the production crew out of work. A WWE Superstar, one of the boys, generously reached into his pocket because McMahon wouldn’t bother dipping into his.
In Bulgaria we say “ It’s not a lot but it’s from the heart” I pledge 20,000$ to any of my WWE extended family that are sitting at home without income. WE can’t do it without y’all. Production, security, etc. LOVE YALL.
— Miro (@RusevBUL) March 24, 2020
Any sympathy that one could feel for this company, any excuse for McMahon’s behavior is all gone. We’ve always heard stories from “disgruntled ex-wrestlers” about McMahon’s deceitful behavior, his pettiness and his iron fist. We’ve been told to chalk that up to simply being a ruthless businessman, but now the evidence is crystal clear: McMahon is heartless. And these heartbreaking cuts come one day after McMahon was basically accused of covering up Nancy Argentino’s murder.
The jig is up. The curtain is fully pulled back. Despite WWE’s best efforts to foster goodwill and positive P.R. with its bullshit “Be A Star” campaign and support of the Susan G Komen Foundation, we know what kind of operation McMahon is running. He’s willing to sign a deal with any devil because he is one himself.
By the time this gets published, more wrestlers, referees, announcers, writers, road agents and production crew will probably be released. That’s why now is time for the remaining locker room to take a stand. If the WWE roster isn’t full of jock sniffers and kiss asses, every person should stay home. WWE can’t put on live television without the men and women it has signed. They’re already taking an unnecessary risk by traveling; after all, WWE has the biggest video library in all of entertainment. Dig into the archives for Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Keep your workers safe
While the world is at a standstill, McMahon is hellbent on watching it burn around him as long as the money keeps rolling in.
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Were Vince’s dad still alive and at the helm, this never would have happened. His dad was, in the truest sense, “old school.” Add to it the WWE being declared “Essential” ( what a sleazy boondoggle!) and there is zero justification. Someone who was on the conference call told me it was the shortest one she can remember; less than 5 min. His sterile “best of luck in your future endeavors” line might come back to haunt him – – let’s not forget how he recently corkscrewed people in the again-defunct XFL. Your masthead is correct. Vince’s goodwill is down the toilet. His integrity swims with The Tidy Bowl Man.