#5 WWE’s International Relations blunders
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The WWE is, in theory, an apolitical organisation, but it’s very hard to ignore their sometimes overt championing of Neo-Conservative, right-wing American Exceptionalism most associated with the Republicans.
There’s no doubt the WWE are a patriotic organisation, which at times results in good causes like dedicating the episode of Smackdown after the 9/11 attacks to those who lost their lives. They also do a lot of work with the US armed forces, and regardless of your politics, you have to admit these people deserve some recognition for the perilous lives they lead.
A female WWE star said her life is in danger. Details HERE
The problem with sticking so strongly to this ideal is that you end up upsetting as many people as you please. Large sections of the US population alone are ready to question whether their country really is the ‘greatest nation on earth’ and sole protector of liberty and democracy. Then you consider the global audience WWE has, and you can see why the company will occasionally run into issues with its global PR image.
There are many moments one could list here, but it’s worth going into detail about some of the more memorable ones. Firstly there is the excessive use of foreign wrestlers as anti-American heel personas.
Jinder Mahal and Rusev are modern day examples from a long line of mostly Russian or Asian superstars that come and berate the US for thinking it’s exceptional while often making many valid points. Then whoever the white-meat, all-American babyface is at the time, be it Hogan, The Rock or Cena, will come and force them to eat a fat slice of American apple pie.
The WWE sparked controversy back in 2014 when Lana, the female manager of the ‘Bulgarian Brute’ Rusev, utilised a recent plane crash over the skies of Ukraine, which was thought to be caught in the crossfire of a Russian and Ukrainian battle in the Crimea, as a way to get her promo over and get heat on her man. WWE had to issue an apology for taking the angle too far, and the pair soon had to row back their promos to something a little more neutral.
That being said, the WWE also had to issue an apology after the Big Show tore down the Russian flag that usually came down when Rusev and Lana were in the ring together. The angle was entertaining overall but was an excellent example of how the WWE can still put its foot in its own mouth from time to time.
Back in 1991, the US found itself at war with Iraq in what is now known as the first Gulf war. That year’s WrestleMania, WrestleMania 7, was built around a rivalry between the American hero Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter, a treacherous Iraqi sympathiser that claimed America had gone weak.
While it was fairly strong show overall, the most remarkable thing about the event was the last minute venue change due to poor ticket sales. Whether this was about Americans thinking the Slaughter character had gone too far or a genuine concern that terrorists would target the event, is still debated to this day.
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