Top 10 Controversial Moments In WWE
For years, WWE has proven itself as an entertainment machine that never hesitates to go the extra mile to come up with surprises that make fans entertain themselves. Nevertheless, these moments can be questionable because they can provoke controversy and hurt a company’s reputation. In this article, we decided to make you acquainted with ten of the most discussed scandals that shocked the wrestling world and left WWE with a head in a spin. Matt Striker approved statements about Steve Irwin. In 2006, weeks after the very sudden and sad passing of Steve Irwin, the stunt coordinator for ECW, Matt Striker, filmed a segment that made a joke about not swimming with stingrays. This crude humour made by the actor elicited a lot of anger from the fans and the public because they found this statement to be a sign of disrespect to women. The show garnered a lot of heat, and fans took time to lodge complaints with WWE through social media platforms. Striker continued to mean-mouth and disrespect the memory of a great player in the person of Irwin, not forgetting they hurt the feelings of the fan and family of a dearly beloved person. WWE, in a short while, dismissed the comment as being in terrible humour and extended their sympathy to Irwin’s kin and lovers. This highlighted the importance of sensitivity and awareness in the creative process, especially in WWE, regarding the scripts they put out, particularly in cases of tragedy. It also became a lesson for the company on the consequences that can be brought by an offending comment by the talent. Paul Heyman’s Unexplained Firing The professional wrestling industry has quite a number of fans and legends, and one of them is Paul Heyman, who was fired as the head writer of RAW in 2020. Such a decision taken by Vince McMahon again enraged fans and insiders of the wrestling business. During his time, Heyman played a key role in improving the RAW by introducing new, interesting stories and changing the course of the program. This event caused many people to wonder about the cause of his departure, and various groups, like the fans and the analysts, were taken aback. Reports suggested that the USA Network, which airs RAW, was not happy with the decision, creating more speculation about WWE’s internal environment. The controversy surrounding Heyman’s firing portrays WWE management as somewhat enigmatic and capricious. It also brought to light the role that network partners may play in mapping the creative course and staffing of WWE. Lars Sullivan’s Racist and Homophobic Remarks Lars Sullivan’s wrestling journey in WWE was tainted by some of the remarks that he had made online, which included racist, homophobic, and offensive statements. When such comments came to light, the fans were outraged and demanded the wrestler and WWE take accountability. Some went to WWE sponsors, including Mars Wrigley, sharing information about the issue and demanding that they do something about it. This elicited a lot of concern from the sponsors, which made WWE fine Sullivan and oblige him to take an apprenticeship on sensitivity. This controversy revealed the issue of responsibility and the significance of social media in a wrestler’s life. It also highlighted the point that WWE needs to conduct background checks and regulate their talents before they become world-renowned legends. Abraham Washington’s Scandalous Kobe Bryant Joke The former wrestler and manager Abraham Washington once, during a live event, made a stupid joke about the rape charge against Kobe Bryant in 2003. The comment was made in front of a live audience, and this met with an immediate negative response from the fans. The joke was considered vulgar, terrifying, and completely insensitive considering the nature of the allegations made against Bryant and the adoration that the fans used to have for the late basketball legend. To this end, WWE fired Washington and released a statement condemning what he had said. This action caused a debate among the fans regarding whether he deserved to be fired or not. However, it raised awareness of WWE’s stand against such remarks and emphasised that they aim to ensure a respectful environment geared towards a friendly and safe atmosphere during the live feeds. Al Snow’s Action Figure Controversy WWE released an Al Snow action figure in the late 1990s; the figure came with what is known as a mannequin head. However, the figure raised concern from parents and other groups who perceived it as a decapitated head and thus contrary to the children’s welfare. The protest was significant, and Walmart had to remove the figure, prompting a much broader discussion of the appropriateness of WWE merchandise for kids and younger audiences. This incident also showed the industry’s dilemma that WWE would have to deal with while trying to host a show that would draw adult audiences and at the same time appeal to children via merchandise. It also made people aware of the need to recommend a new policy with reference to how Superstars’ ring personas and gimmicks are marketed to turn into consumer products, especially those that target children. Becoming the world entertainment giant, WWE had to navigate a thin legal line between creative expression and social responsibility. Jinder Mahal’s Racist Promo In 2017, wrestler Jinder Mahal said on SmackDown Live that Shinsuke Nakamura looks and speaks like a cartoonish Japanese mimicked by Americans. The promo was widely considered racist, which provoked a rather critical reaction from the viewers and media. The negative reaction that followed was not long-awaited, and it was angry, demanding that the wrestler apologise and that someone take a look at how the WWE portrays characters of foreign origin. WWE made it clear that they don’t support racism and that they work to bring out positive images and great material. This encouraged WWE to review their policy concerning the type of content that is culturally sensitive and the characters that need to be portrayed with consideration for a worldwide audience. It also stirred up discussions within the
