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Name: World Wrestling Entertainment
Age: 58
Occupation: sports entertainment organization
Last Seen: Stamford, CT
Bee-otched For: telling their fans to stand up
Age: 58
Occupation: sports entertainment organization
Last Seen: Stamford, CT
Bee-otched For: telling their fans to stand up
Right now, Steve Wilkos isn't the only person in Stamford telling people to 'stand up'.
World Wrestling Entertainment introduced a new campaign Monday called "Stand Up For WWE", which they ask their die-hard fans to stop the negativity regarding the company. Part of the reason for the new campaign is because of the vicious attacks Democrat Dick Blumenthal is running against now-former CEO Linda McMahon (R). Both are running for Connecticut senator in an election showing a slight lead for Blumenthal.
One reason for Blumenthal's lead is due to the negativity regarding the WWE. Many in and out of the wrestling business believe that the company is and has been screwing people over by making them "independent contractors" but yet forcing them to sign a contract, making them properties of the WWE. That way, the company can stifle them out of everything from healthcare to social security benefits.
Many wrestlers have criticized Linda for making the WWE an organization that throws its wrestlers away. When Owen Hart died in a freak accident in 1999, the company paid tribute to him. The same went to other fallen WWE heroes such as Eddie Guerrero and others, regardless of how they died. But when Chris Benoit killed his family and then himself, the company paid tribute at first, but when the cause of death was released, they have since decided to remove all references to him.
The last major wrestler to die was Lance Cade, who died last August at only 29. He had an addiction to painkillers, which affected his heart. In response to his passing, Linda claimed that the WWE had no more ability to prevent his death "than a studio could have prevented Heath Ledger's death". The WWE virtually ignored his passing by not mentioning him on their programs.
Many wrestlers have stood up against McMahon and the WWE for basically treating them last yesterday's dinner, especially if they've fallen on hard times. As a matter of fact, many have felt that the 2008 film The Wrestler was the typical tale of most people who've been through the WWE. Billy Graham - the former wrestler and not the preacher - has spoken out against McMahon, claiming that he got Hepatitis C from touching the blood of another wrestler during a match, and that he's angry for not having a pension or health insurance after working for the company for years.
So, out comes "Stand Up For WWE".
The company launched the campaign during Monday Night Raw this week, proclaiming that the company does take care of its employees and that they do have a family-friendly image. One common image throughout the propagandic video was the TV-PG logo, symbolizing the company's dedication to entertaining people of all ages.
To me, it's like the movie industry in the 1930's. For years, Hollywood wasn't afraid to expose early adult themes, such as drinking, sex and even occasional nudity (ie Tarzan and His Mate). However, the censors got their way in 1934 and the symbol of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America started gracing the screen before movies. People were so angry about being treated like children that they even resorted to throwing objects at the screen and booing. For years, the WWE wasn't afraid of showing blood, chair shots and even a Diva or two half-naked. To me, the TV-PG symbol is the modern equivalent to the MPPDA symbol.
WWE has even launched a website promoting their campaign. The site has links to company facts, overview and their outreach efforts. However, some of the info they dish out on their "setting the record straight" section is flawed:
*"Friday Night Smackdown, which made its network debut in 1999, has always been rated TV-PG." Actually, one episode was rated TV-MA for containing partial female nudity, and it was like 10 years ago. I might have the tape somewhere....
*"World Wrestling Entertainment first opened its office in 1983 with 13 employees." Actually, they've been around since 1952.
*"WWE provides a comprehensive benefits package to all full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and employee stock purchase plans", and "WWE has 140 Superstars and Divas currently under contract as independent contractors." Yes, they're independent contractors who are forced to work with the company and they still don't get many bennies. "The average WWE Talent earns more than $550,000 annually." Huh. Really?
I can go on and on. The point is, the reason for the conversion from TV-14 to TV-PG is simple: Linda's senatorial run and nothing more. I'll admit, a lot of the time WWE is on my TV, I'm staring at my computer screen. The product isn't as good as it once was 10 years ago when Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock were the stars. Now, it's John Cena, a rich wuss whose dad gave him everything growing up. He's basically to wrestling to what MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice were to music 20 years ago. They were hot amongst kids, but five years later, the kids grew up, started listening to Snoop Dogg and 2Pac and Hammer ended up forced to do gangsta rap while Ice ended up trying out nu-metal. Of course, Hammer's now a preacher years after his much-publicized bankruptcy while Vanilla Ice is now flipping houses on the DIY Network's The Vanilla Ice Project.
Folks, John Cena's fans will get tired of him in five years. Trust me. C. 1989, I loved wrestling. Then again, I was eight years old. But then, I knew that it was fake and I was turned off. However, it was The Rock and Austin that brought me back. All I can say is thank God for TNA for doing what the WWE was doing years ago. Not to mention, they've given many great ex-WWE talent and even legends a second chance. True, some of the folks need to retire, but hey, as long as The Beautiful People can bend over in front of the camera with their butt cheeks partially exposed as opposed to the over-padded bottom the Divas wear, I'm for it.
The point is, Linda's gonna lose, plain and simple. She's just like Rick Snyder and Rich Iott, two multi-millionaires known for leaving hard-working people on the side of the road to rot. True, I see a lot of people in the WWE whom I know won't last much longer (name one fan of The Dudebusters, whose slogan sounds like something you'd hear in a gay porno: "we bust dudes"). But that's life, and that's wrestling.
Linda McMahon will get the smackdown thrown onto her. Trust me.
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