What's stopping a union in WWE?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Jesse Ventura has said many times that pro wrestlers need to unionize in order to protect themselves from the oppressive Vince McMahon. I understand that technically, all the Superstars are "independent contractors," but what would happen if all the wrestlers in WWE, or at least enough to make a severe impact, walked out and demanded a union? If Big Show, Kane, Jericho, Angle, Benoit, and Lesnar were all to stage a walkout, and take about fifty midcarders with them, that could be enough to force Vince to acknowledge a union. Personally, I've always loved the idea of everyone walking out on a show and leaving Vince hanging. I'm no liberal, but I think that the wrestlers need to unionize. What other way can they stop Stephanie from enforcing a long-hair ban?

 

Solidarity forever!

[{''({o..o})''} 0]

They would be sued for breech of contract and wouldn't have anywhere else to go. Also if unionized, people with seniority would still get better positioning than talented young stars.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Can't happen with the way things are right now. Indy guys could do it, but it would destroy the indy world after the union got power hungry like most do.

[Highland 0]

Independent contractors....

 

^^

 

[The Czech Republic 0]

If I worked in WWE and staged a walkout only to be sued for breach of contract, I would contest on the grounds that my contract was not signed in that very ring with the fancy red carpet set out, thus it's obviously not legally binding. Unless of course it was signed in the ring with the carpet set out, in which case that would be pretty freakin' cool.

[Cran Da Maniac 0]

What about NWA:TNA? They're offering their wrestlers health insurance, so could that be a pre-cursor to a wrestling union?

[Highland 0]

Do we really know how the wrestlers are treated? I don't mean as far as pushes and the like, and yes I know they are pretty much left out in the cold after they leave the business, but during their tenure, what stipulations and benefits, if any, are in a standard wwe contract?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I don't think the WWF provides for any health care if you get injured.

[jester 0]

I believe in order to get a union you have to have a great deal of solidarity between the workers (no pun intended). You don't have to have 100% in favor of a union, but it does have to be a large majority.

 

Now, with the most influential and powerful wrestler about to marry the bosses' daughter, it would be next to possible to spring a union on Vince.

[Guest deadbeater]

The best for the wrestlers at minimum is to create a medical insurance company or account of their own, and have the promoters contribute 1/3 to 1/2 of the premiums to it. It could cut promoters' costs down, as it is tax deductible I believe.

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

Basically there'd be enough people (both inside and outside WWE) who'd be more than happy to not be in a union if it meant Vince was gonna pay 'em more or put 'em higher on the card...

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Jesse had most of the WWF in agreement in 86 to unionize. And it would've have happened had someone(Hogan supposedly) not ratted Jesse out to Vince.

[Guest Sturgis]

I hope you realize if wrestling were to unionize their would be STRIKES, and leave some of us(which is a minority since most people accept indy wrestling, but not all) would be out in the cold.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

It's quite simple...

 

Wrestlers have no spines.

[Anakin Flair 0]

What's stopping a union in WWE?

 

Vince.

[Guest Choken One]

Does It Matter? They can get the Actor's Union if they really wanted it...All it takes is what three credited roles in Movies, Television or Broadway doesn't it?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Does It Matter? They can get the Actor's Union if they really wanted it...All it takes is what three credited roles in Movies, Television or Broadway doesn't it?

But the point is to have a wrestlers' union so they can have leverage on their own.

[Guest Choken One]

The real purpose of a Union is supposed to be that They would get Coverage, SAG offers that...so Thus is McMahon's challenge to them

 

"I hired you as Independent Contractors...If you want Medical and Benifits other then a spot with the greatest wrestling company in history, Go to an Actor's Union"

[Jobber of the Week 0]

The first guy to step up and say "Hey, we should have a union!" would get blackballed immediately, and there's no WCW to turn to (and even then, WCW would have blackballed him too for having the cajones to think of such an idea)

 

At the same time, anyone who backed the guy would be blackballed because the idea will NOT have 100% support. Multiple people will see the scene as an oppertunity to back the boss and get a big pay raise for loyalty should things remain the way they are (and they will.)

[Guest Choken One]

Exactly, Jesse took some SERIOUS risks and If he Had Hogan on his side things might have happened...but as soon as Hogan said no...It wasn't happening...

 

Rock and Austin could have led a revolt in the BOOM days but as soon as Rock and Austin realized "Wait, Just get a Sag Card and we're set, and no need to start a revolt here"...

 

I remember Edge talking about this, This is why you see so many wrestlers looking for acting Jobs...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

A few problems a Union might bring about....

 

1. Booking. What happens when a guy doesn't want to job?

 

2. Bumps. This is the big one. What happens the next time a promoter wants a ladder match or some other big blowoff match? Might the Union step in and say "nope, too dangerous."

 

I'm not discounting a Union, just playing Devil's Advocate.

[Ultra Violence 0]

Exactly, Jesse took some SERIOUS risks and If he Had Hogan on his side things might have happened...but as soon as Hogan said no...It wasn't happening...

 

Rock and Austin could have led a revolt in the BOOM days but as soon as Rock and Austin realized "Wait, Just get a Sag Card and we're set, and no need to start a revolt here"...

 

I remember Edge talking about this, This is why you see so many wrestlers looking for acting Jobs...

wrestlers are not trying to get acting roles to get into the union, to get in you must have three credited TV / Movie / Commercial rolls, but being on RAW or SD is a credited TV roll!

[BifEverchad 0]

A wrestler uttering the words "Union" in a lockerroom,

is like a passenger saying "Bomb" in an airport.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

two words:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vince McMahon

[Austin3164life 0]

A union wouldn't be too bad of an idea, but it would most likely have to benefit both sides (wrestlers and McMahon family). If the workers were to arrange a walkout amongst themselves, they need to have a clause in the Union's charter/contract which claims that they cannot be sued by Vince McMahon & Co. for breech of contract. A worker's union would be different because when you get right down to it, Vince is still a promoter, not really an executive (in terms of the wrestling shows and workers).

[Guest Trivia247]

the WWE in the past seem to have help support wrestlers in the past with doctors...when Eddy, Regal, and the Bulldog for that matter went through their drug treatment I thought I heard Vince actually paid for their expenses.

 

what is the drawbacks of a Unionized wrestler shop? At least from management standpoint? They won't want to do those high impact moves?

 

Hell wasn't the piledriver banned since 2000?

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

what is the drawbacks of a Unionized wrestler shop? At least from management standpoint? They won't want to do those high impact moves?

 

Hell wasn't the piledriver banned since 2000?

They go on strike. No wrestlers = no TV shows, or worse, no PPV's. What's Vince going to do, grab a bunch of indy guys?

[King Cucaracha 0]

what is the drawbacks of a Unionized wrestler shop? At least from management standpoint? They won't want to do those high impact moves?

 

Hell wasn't the piledriver banned since 2000?

They go on strike. No wrestlers = no TV shows, or worse, no PPV's. What's Vince going to do, grab a bunch of indy guys?

Vince vs Steph, 2 Hour Ironman Match BABAY!!!