AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com
Happy birthday to me. 68 today. Where in the world have all
the years gone?
Rest in peace to Sabu. He literally gave his body and soul
for his art. It feels like yesterday I was watching him at
the ECW Arena. Hell, Sabu was AT the ECW Arena for the TWA
Reunion event only a week ago. Again, where have all the
years gone?
WWE saw another round of releases 10 days ago, with 17 WWE
and NXT talent outright released or contracts not renewed.
While releases are inevitable given the size of the rosters,
one concerning element of those releases is a seeming
pattern of who is getting released. There have been a number
of out LGBT talent released over the last year. Given the
open political comments by many within TKO in favor Donald
Trump and his attendance at multiple UFC shows, it poses a
particular concern as to whether or not there's intent
behind these releases.
Sonya Deville, Dakota Kai, Shayna Baszler, Tegan Nox, Indi
Hartwell and Blair Davenport, all out LGBT talent have been
released in the last year. There's only one out LGBT person
on the main roster right now: Piper Niven. Dave Meltzer
coincidentally also mentioned this in this week's Observer
(which I didn't read until after I'd written the above).
Contrast that attitude with the May 3 AEW promo of Toni
Storm (who in June 2021, took over NXT's Instagram account
in celebration of Pride Month, and came out as bisexual).
Her character said after her match on Collision "I am here
and I am queer'.
An LGBT person said on AEW's social media: "I feel like
more queer people need to know that the best thing in
professional wrestling right now is a bisexual woman playing
the role of a delusional 1950s movie star who will shout 'I
am here and I am queer' on national TV".
On such a week where the WWE pattern of releasing several
LGBTQ talents over the last year continued, her comment that
night was no accident.
But it wasn't the first time. Back on the April 17 Toni
Storm stood in front of a transgender flag in front of a
dark background a couple weeks ago with a big smile (and
"butler" Luther saluting the flag). Again, no accident.
For that matter, what's been recognized as likely the best
story line in AEW history was the yearlong storyline romance
and breakup of two LGBT women, with one in love with the
other, then turning on the other (ala All About Eve), losing
and regaining the AEW title, and bloodying each other in
multiple matches all the way to a literal Hollywood Finish.
The contrast between the two promotions couldn't be more
pronounced.
There was also another issue in the releases, particularly
with NXT:
Dave Meltzer reported that the WWE perception on releases in
NXT: "Many of those cuts were perceived as not working
hard in training. And if you don't work hard in training,
there's so many people who do. And at this point, if the
feeling is you're not working hard in training - I saw the
term 'lazy' - the ones who are lazy are gonna be gone, and
the ones who didn't stand out are gonna be gone."
Keep in mind this is THEIR perception, not Meltzer's.
Gigi Dolin responded: "When I wasn’t traveling to work
for either of the two companies I was working for, I trained
very hard 3-4 days a week, bumping my ass off and doing
cardio drills with one of the best/toughest coaches I’ve
worked with. And worked out every single day. With live
events every other weekend. So yeah I don’t wanna hear this
lol. The way my body feels says otherwise.
Cora Jade also responded: "This, plus can’t forget
having to go to my own gym outside of work after “strength
and conditioning” that wasn’t doing anything for me other
than get me body shamed by my bosses, coworkers, and fans :)
crazy!"
This culture of "the grind" seems symptomatic within WWE and
NXT. It's part of a culture of toxic masculinity that has
included Paul Levesque trying to bury Will Ospreay for
choosing AEW and a culture that allows him to be a husband
and parent to his wife's son. Now it apparently includes
burying released female talent to wrestling media by calling
them "lazy", that wants to work women until they break,
notably an unusual number of knee injuries, including Cora
Jade, Wendy Choo, Gigi Dolin, Tegan Nox, Sol Ruca, Arianna
Grace, Nikkita Lyons,
Dave Meltzer has been told that people in WWE are blaming
the strength training for causing so many injuries.
In proof that WWE has zero awareness of optics, 72 hours
after releasing a number of women, WWE has signed Alberto El
Patron to its AAA promotion. For anyone who forgot, he was
charged with aggravated kidnapping and multiple sexual
assault charges back in 2020; dismissed only after a witness
refused to testify. This after his prior relationship with
Saraya that included three arrests, with seven total police
reports related to their domestic troubles.
If that wasn't bad enough, WWE is also reported to have
signed La Hiedra for AAA. La Hiedra was currently listed on
a restraining order from Stephanie Vaquer, after she openly
supported Vaquer’s abuser, La Cuartero, and harassed her. El
Cuatrero, who worked AAA and CMLL, was arrested and charged
with domestic violence and attempted femicide against
Stephanie Vaquer in 2023. Stephanie Vaquer made a comment
last Monday which may be related to that : "I’m focused
on my own journey, and karma is handling the rest.
Meanwhile, in the least shocking news of the week, Dave
Meltzer confirmed on the May 4 Wrestling Observer Radio with
Bryan Alvarez that WWE is paying their "favorite" anti-AEW
social media and podcasters "under the table" so fans don't
know they're being fed propaganda.
People online dealt with his comment in the usual calm,
rational manner, going into whataboutism mode claiming "Tony
Khan is paying...etc. etc." Given the longtime reports of
infamous WWE PR cheese trays sent to favored media, this is
about the least shocking news around. For anyone who doubts
the cheese tray story, Alfred Konuwa of Forbes (don't ask me
how that happened) proudly showed pictures of his
charcuterie board. Meanwhile, Dave Meltzer, Sean Ross Sapp
and dozens of others are still waiting for their first
checks, which of course don't exist. Me too.
It'd be a shame if any of those podcasters and social media
trolls got reported to IRS for not reporting income. After
all, Donald Trump hasn't fired EVERYONE in the IRS yet.
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