Whenever we’re dealing with a rumor from the source of today’s lead topic, I always think of that rumor from last year about “people in WWE” saying he’s “the worst”…
And today’s top rumor…
Yep, you guessed it, we’re talking Jonathan Coachman. Grab your salt shaker as we consider what the former WWE and ESPN personality has heard about morale at WWE.
It aligns with other things that have happened or that we’ve learned about from multiple outlets lately, such as the post-WrestleMania releases, and the take ‘em or leave pay cuts offered to The New Day and other veterans. What Coach hears from “all of the people” at WWE who contact but who he “would never out” also plays into fears among some in the fan base of TKO and management-driven creative.
Appearing with one of the other controversial wrestling media figures he podcasts with this week — and not his usual controversial podcast co-host Vince Russo either, this was on 2 Count Tuesday with JD from NY —Coach said there’s a lot of frustration at WWE right now:
“I would never out them, but I wish I could tell you… all of the people that DM me that still work there or have a direct line there that are so upset — no matter what their paycheck is.”
Some of the messages Coach says he gets are from people agreeing with common internet or podcast criticism of WWE shows, which he says wrestlers “can’t hide from” thanks to social media. About those, Coach said:
“And it breaks my heart when I get these messages. They’ll say, ‘Man, Coach, I really agreed with what you said there’ … I wish I could say it, but I’ll get fired.’”
The forced pay reductions are also keeping people from rocking the boat, per Coachman:
“And now, with the pay cuts, it’s even worse. You can’t say anything because they’ll come to you and say, ‘I don’t give a shit whether you have two, three, or four years left on your deal—we’re going to give you a pay cut, or you’re going to walk out the door for whatever reason.’”
It all leads to people feeling like cogs in a corporate machine, and many of them as “independent contractors”, too. Coach says, “they are so unhappy because they have to get on a plane and fly to a show that they know they’re not going to be valued whatsoever.”
Seems plausible. Is it accurate? Discuss below until we hear otherwise, which if you follow the wrestling rumor game, you know we just might.
More rumors!
- On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer indicated that the teases between her and Austin Theory on Raw are leading to Maxxine Dupri joining The Vision.
- In his interview with Tony Maglio of The Hollywood Reporter, MJF confirmed that he holds the trademarks for both “Maxwell Jacob Friedman” and “MJF”. He also said, AEW is “definitely a more workers’-rights-focused professional wrestling company, and that’s not me taking a shot, it’s just a fact.”
- With Mick Foley set as Renee Paquette’s main AEW pre-show co-host, Fightful Select checked on the status of her old co-hosts. RJ City is still a member of the creative team, and Jeff Jarrett is still on a talent contract.
- Geno shared Clash in Italy’s odds earlier here, but the main event of Lucha Libre AAA’s Noche de los Grandes is grande enough to have its own odds at BetOnline. El Grande Americano is a substantial favorite over the so-called “Original” EGA. Bayley, Lola Vice, and Catalina are also heavily favored over Las Toxicas. Challengers War Raiders and Hijo del Vikingo are slight favorites over the champions they’re facing, Pagano & Psycho Clown for the Tag belts and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. for the Latin American title.
- On CMLL Informa Wednesday night, Mistico confirmed that he injured his knee in a May 17 trios match. The lucha superstar said he’s been doing physical therapy twice a week, and his plans to continue that for another week and return on June 5, if he can get cleared.
Weigh in about WWE morale or any of these rumors in the comments below, or float a take to your fellow wrestling fans in The Feed!