AJ Lee Tweets Stephanie Over How WWE Divas Are Treated

[Jack-Hammer]

Over the past few days, a new example of WWE's corporate hypocrisy has been making the rounds on Twitter. Stephanie McMahon praised actress Patricia Arquette for her acceptance speech Sunday night after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Boyhood. Stephanie Tweeted:

"RT @StephMcMahon: Thank You @PattyArquette for having the courage to fight for #WomensRights on such a grand platform. #UseYourVoice

Former WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee responding to Stephanie's Tweet with:

"@StephMcMahon Your female wrestlers have record selling merchandise & have starred in the highest rated segment of the show several times. And yet they receive a fraction of the wages & screen time of the majority of the male roster. #UseYourVoice"

I don't know about the "record selling merchandise" or the "highest rated segment of the show" stuff, the latter especially sounds like complete bullshit because I don't recall a Diva match or segment ever being the most watched segment of Raw. If a Diva segment ever was the most watched part of the show, I imagine it was back during the late 90s to early 2000s when the women were generally portrayed as pieces of meat to be openly exploited as *********ory fodder.

However, it's true that women on the WWE roster are and have generally been treated as meaningless fodder for...well really for just about the entirety of their existence in the whole long history of WWE. Only a small handful of women in WWE history have made a significant impact and have gained any real degree of relevance, with AJ Lee being one of them.

Anyone that's watched WWE with any degree of seriousness over the past 15-20 years knows that, in the grand scheme of things, women on the main roster have never been treated as relevant aspects of the product as a whole. For most women, there's always been very little to no character or storyline development in WWE and when they are given some degree of character personas or storyline, it usually involves using stereotypes that are usually outdated to one degree or another. For instance, the feud between Paige & The Bella Twins is made up of what looks to be some sort of nonsensical hodgepodge of storylines from lousy teen movies with the Bella Twins portraying the gorgeous, but mean spirited popular girl while Paige is one of the school's outsiders. The Bellas steal her clothes, they make fun of her because she isn't tanned and, last night, they're part of a tag match that lasted all of 30 seconds in which Paige wasn't even tagged in. Honestly, how is anyone that isn't a teenage girl supposed to invest in something like that to any appreciable degree, especially considering that teenage girls aren't a significant demographic of WWE's audience?

It's always pretty groan worthy whenever someone from WWE management makes a statement like Stephanie's in regards to women's rights given that women, for the most part, are generally treated like 3rd class citizens if they wrestle on the main roster.

 

[SoulTrain4]

While it's true that they don't give enough time to the divas I'd argue the interest isn't there. Women's wrestling has never been that big of a deal when it comes to the product.
Now is it fair that this generation of women don't get the same time that the women of the past? No, but honestly most of these chicks today are on TV because they look good not because they wrestle good.

So is the unfairness of time being limited equal to the unfairness of only having a job because you make good eye candy?

 

[wwe fan2009]

well the women are starting to get better at wrestling there is AJ Paige Charlotte, Bayley and Sasha if they give them more time maybe more would be interested in womens wrestling

 

[OddManRush]

Over the past few days, a new example of WWE's corporate hypocrisy has been making the rounds on Twitter. Stephanie McMahon praised actress Patricia Arquette for her acceptance speech Sunday night after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film Boyhood. Stephanie Tweeted:

"RT @StephMcMahon: Thank You @PattyArquette for having the courage to fight for #WomensRights on such a grand platform. #UseYourVoice

Former WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee responding to Stephanie's Tweet with:

"@StephMcMahon Your female wrestlers have record selling merchandise & have starred in the highest rated segment of the show several times. And yet they receive a fraction of the wages & screen time of the majority of the male roster. #UseYourVoice"

I don't know about the "record selling merchandise" or the "highest rated segment of the show" stuff, the latter especially sounds like complete bullshit because I don't recall a Diva match or segment ever being the most watched segment of Raw. If a Diva segment ever was the most watched part of the show, I imagine it was back during the late 90s to early 2000s when the women were generally portrayed as pieces of meat to be openly exploited as *********ory fodder.

However, it's true that women on the WWE roster are and have generally been treated as meaningless fodder for...well really for just about the entirety of their existence in the whole long history of WWE. Only a small handful of women in WWE history have made a significant impact and have gained any real degree of relevance, with AJ Lee being one of them.

Anyone that's watched WWE with any degree of seriousness over the past 15-20 years knows that, in the grand scheme of things, women on the main roster have never been treated as relevant aspects of the product as a whole. For most women, there's always been very little to no character or storyline development in WWE and when they are given some degree of character personas or storyline, it usually involves using stereotypes that are usually outdated to one degree or another. For instance, the feud between Paige & The Bella Twins is made up of what looks to be some sort of nonsensical hodgepodge of storylines from lousy teen movies with the Bella Twins portraying the gorgeous, but mean spirited popular girl while Paige is one of the school's outsiders. The Bellas steal her clothes, they make fun of her because she isn't tanned and, last night, they're part of a tag match that lasted all of 30 seconds in which Paige wasn't even tagged in. Honestly, how is anyone that isn't a teenage girl supposed to invest in something like that to any appreciable degree, especially considering that teenage girls aren't a significant demographic of WWE's audience?

It's always pretty groan worthy whenever someone from WWE management makes a statement like Stephanie's in regards to women's rights given that women, for the most part, are generally treated like 3rd class citizens if they wrestle on the main roster.

I can think of the Women's Championship main event match between Lita and Stephanie that was the highest rated segment on RAW, even though it was fully entrenched into The Rock/Triple H feud.

There was definitely a point where Trish and Lita were more over than nearly 2/3 of the locker room, and AJ was definitely more over than a good 3/4 roster in recent years during her peak as the crazy girl GM.

 

[StonewallBrigade]

Divas are midcarders therefore get paid like midcarders. Why should they get paid on a level higher than they draw? I don't know about you guys but I've never given WWE a cent of my money that had anything to do with the Divas.

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

This one feels like a work and the possible set up of an angle to me. The McMahon tweet came a full day after the Oscars...plenty of time for creative and McMahon herself to have cooked this up. Look, the WWE knows full well that the Divas are used as fodder. This could very easily be part of an art mirroring reality angle and if so, it could actually be a very good one if played right.

 

[kadroan]

This one feels like a work and the possible set up of an angle to me. The McMahon tweet came a full day after the Oscars...plenty of time for creative and McMahon herself to have cooked this up. Look, the WWE knows full well that the Divas are used as fodder. This could very easily be part of an art mirroring reality angle and if so, it could actually be a very good one if played right.

I agree. This is probably the most Divas storylines I've seen going on at the same time - Natayla vs. Naomi, Paige vs. Bella Twins and now Steph vs. AJ. I'm not sure how this would all fit on the WrestleMania card but it's good to see the Divas division is getting attention now.

 

[stingray11214]

Look, It has been known for years that when when it comes to women's wrestling, WWE sees it only as filler or fap candy. Women that go to WWE bought the BS that it is the "biggest and best" in the World. Most of these women do not go into WWE for a wrestling career. They are using it as a stepping stone for movies, TV and music roles. If you want to be a serious female wrestler, why are you bothering with the E?!? Go to TNA, where at least the females have a chance. If not, my suggestion is to go where you will be the focal point, make some money, work a limited schedule, and where the press gives a damn about your work. Where is that? Japan. I can bet you dollars to donuts that if Paige, Emma, and AJ Dropped feelers into the Japanese waters, it would look like a piranha feeding frenzy in the Amazon. I can see Emma signing with Wave or Stardom, Paige and AJ signing with either JWP or Chigusa Nagayo's new promotion, Marvelous. They would make far more doing that, because they will allow Indy dates, then being fodder amongst the men.

As for AJ's tweet: She publicly embarrassed Stephanie, who is as vindictive as her father is. Is it a work? I doubt it. I think AJ is looking to be Future Endeavored, especially after her employer is suing her husband, and she is going to be in the middle of that hurricane.

 

[Dave]

Well, it was nice knowing AJ, that's about the sum of things right now... As much as I agree with the point she is trying to make, this is the wrong way to do it; calling out your boss in front of millions of followers and the media is a big no-no in the WWE and AJ is more than likely going to pay the price for that. And what's more, I don't agree with what AJ is saying, in terms of the highest rated segments and whatnot. Like many, I can't recall seeing a Diva segment that is worth a shit in the last 10 years.

The point she is making is valid though and reeks of the hypocrisy that the WWE is becoming synonymous with actually. The WWE should be putting their female talents out there, no doubt about it. But they constantly talk about other female and what they are doing. There is no doubt that the Divas are making a difference in the world, so maybe start showing them a little bit of gratitude? That said, I'm sure Stephenie had tweeted about things her Divas have done in the past. So taking a pot shot at her, like this one, seems a bit out of order.

Like I said, the point is one that should be made. But not like this.

 

[OYDK]

I doubt WWE fires AJ, unless she decides not to show up to work like her husband, but I can safely say that I doubt they make life easy for her upon her return. She is the "face" of the Divas division, so they'll want her to work out the rest of her contract.

It seems that A.J. doesn't really give a crap about her job at this point, and she will most likely be putting some people over until her contract expires. I can see a problem similar to the Rey Mysterio fiasco happening with AJ if she demands to be let out of her contract, with the WWE not obliging.

 

[Thejock83]

Wow. It seems that so many "smart" fans don't know a work when they see it. Wow.

 

[Wald]

Wow. It seems that so many "smart" fans don't know a work when they see it. Wow.

I initially thought that too but the more I thought about it the more I realised it isn't. WWE is very protective of their image as a great company that does a lot of work in areas like equal rights for homosexuals, fighting women's cancer, Make a Wish and areas like that. Having your top female wrestler publically point out that your chief brand manager is a hypocrite when it comes to equal rights for her female workers isn't good for the WWE at all, because lets face it, AJ is right.

I just don't see WWE in 2015 risking the negative PR for what would be a midcard Wrestlemania match. The timing of AJ's outburst is also telling, considering it came three days after WWE backed their doctor in his lawsuit against AJ's husband.

As for if AJ's claims are right. Well I don't the merchandise sales but weren't the Brie Bella v Stephanie segments back in the summer consistently in Raw's top two or three segments? I seem to recall them doing very well ratings wise anyway.

 

[JDHale]

I think this is going to be one of those situations where WWE accidentally stumbles into a situation which is going to be gold for them.

Feminism is one of those major talking points at the moment with a lot of people positive about the equal rights for women movement. I don't think WWE were intentional about the feedback they got on twitter after that ridiculous less than 30 second match, and I also don't think the AJ tweet was what WWE was expecting, but I expect it to be used in a storyline and it to be amazing. It's one of those things that if were to become a storyline would have people talking because of how controversial the matter is, and it would blur that kayfabe/reality line. Whether it be between Steph and AJ I'm not sure, but I just can't see this being swept under the rug in the next couple months. It's one of them things I feel that if WWE put on another throwaway Diva's match in the next few months like I said, that hashtag will pop up again and again. That's my two cents anyways!

In terms of AJ calling the merchandise a 'record selling' amount I honestly wouldn't be surprised. I think she meant in comparison to past women wrestlers and if that's the case I can't say she's lying. I don't have the numbers but she is the most popular Diva on the roster and I'd say her merchandise sells like crazy. In terms of women salaries and television time they probably do deserve more. Again I don't know the numbers, but I'd guess she herself sells more merchandise than the likes of Mizdow, Ryback, Usos and other higher up faces. She's probably close with the likes of Ziggler, Reigns and Ambrose too. It is only guess work though but she has a large following so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm right with those, and she's miles ahead of other faces of the likes of Swagger, R Truth, and that lot who probably get paid more (television time is debatable though). (also I only used faces because the job of heels is to make the faces sell more imo). It's not just AJ that sells though, and I'd (again) guess that the likes of Paige and the Bellas are at least on the level of Ryback and the Usos. I can see Divas in NXT selling well when they get moved up to, especially Charlotte and Bailey mainstream wise. Sasha Banks possibly too but she's a heel so..

To try summarise what I said then. AJ's tweet is true to the extent that women deserve more television time and higher salaries in correlation to the merchandise they sell. In fact the same should go to males on the roster too (Ziggler.. ) I think it's true because I feel the females sell more than a lot of the males on the roster (check Ryback, Mizdow etc. at this moment) and they should be rewarded for that. Finally, I feel none of this was intentional, but I see WWE capitalizing on it by putting the Divas in more prominent positions on the card like meaningful storylines. Obviously it would just be used in the long run to make WWE more money by people investing into the women wrestlers through merchandise, but that's what the WWE do. If you don't see that, then notice how on television the angles to do with people being held down usually means new merchandise being brought out for that star to help their move up the card against "the company" - check CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Ziggler and soon to be the Divas division from my perspective. It plays off the major feminism movement that's going on around the world right now. So yeah, my thoughts!

 

[MrMojoRisin]

I know if I was the WWE, I'd try capitalizing on this... and once upon a time that's exactly what they would have done. AJ's money and for all her faults, Steph is actually a great performer. If they really want to #givedivasachance this would be a great way to do it.

But instead... I'm pretty sure we won't see AJ Lee again on WWE TV, and if we do, it'll be in a skit designed to humiliate her that she will find a way to turn around on the WWE. What they'll likely do is just let her sit at home and ride out her contract. It's just safer for them that way.

AJ's kinda caught in the middle of a tense situation between her husband, and her shitty employer. Who would you expect her to side with?

 

[Navi]

I feel a little differently than most. I give AJ kudos for showing up to work and putting in the effort after all the WWE put her thorough. With firing her husband on their wedding day and that kind of shit. Now I don't think CM Punk is blameless so don't get me wrong there. He's the ultimate drama queen, and I feel sorry for her that she has to put up with him.

But if I were her in this situation I would have kept my mouth shut. Her husband has just been sued by the Doctor that works for the WWE for unspecified damages, and the WWE is obviously behind him. It must make it her for her to even go to work. I would have watied until my contract was up and I was out of the shitstorm before I opened my mouth.

Now the WWE if they do anything to her will look like assholes because people will see it for what it's worth, so anything will be done in private. Going to work though and knowing that your bosses probably wish you would just disappear can't be a good feeling.

AJ has been around long enough to know that the McMahon's will jump on any sort of publicity they can get, even if it makes them look like hypocrites. When the shit is flying, it's always better to stay low to the ground, else you might get covered in it.

 

[Dave]

I know if I was the WWE, I'd try capitalizing on this... and once upon a time that's exactly what they would have done. AJ's money and for all her faults, Steph is actually a great performer. If they really want to #givedivasachance this would be a great way to do it.

But instead... I'm pretty sure we won't see AJ Lee again on WWE TV, and if we do, it'll be in a skit designed to humiliate her that she will find a way to turn around on the WWE. What they'll likely do is just let her sit at home and ride out her contract. It's just safer for them that way.

AJ's kinda caught in the middle of a tense situation between her husband, and her shitty employer. Who would you expect her to side with?

Agreed. But the point in capitalising on the whole situation would be to put someone over. And there is absolutely no way that the WWE is going to want to put over AJ at this point. Not only has she been completely outspoken about some of the ways WWE carries out its business, she also happens to be married to one of its main enemies at the minute. Whilst a WrestleMania match between the two - in the name of woman's rights or whatever - would be interesting to see, there is not a single chance of that happening.

It's a shame but it seems as though they will allow AJ to see out her contract from her couch. With so much public attention on the wwwand Punk right now, the WWE would be idiots to give AJ anymore attention than she has gotten already, or punish her and draw more attention to the fact that they just might be shitty employers. It's a no-one situation thanks to stubbornness.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

Agreed. But the point in capitalising on the whole situation would be to put someone over. And there is absolutely no way that the WWE is going to want to put over AJ at this point. Not only has she been completely outspoken about some of the ways WWE carries out its business, she also happens to be married to one of its main enemies at the minute. Whilst a WrestleMania match between the two - in the name of woman's rights or whatever - would be interesting to see, there is not a single chance of that happening.

It's a shame but it seems as though they will allow AJ to see out her contract from her couch. With so much public attention on the wwwand Punk right now, the WWE would be idiots to give AJ anymore attention than she has gotten already, or punish her and draw more attention to the fact that they just might be shitty employers. It's a no-one situation thanks to stubbornness.

I know. That's why I said I don't expect to ever see her on WWE TV again.

I would capitalize on it, and I would do so to put AJ Lee over, because like I said... she's money. They won't though, for all the reasons you said.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

As others have pointed out, it's possible that this is setting up something of a storyline. I hadn't considered that as WWE does use social media sometimes to fan the flames of upcoming or potentially upcoming storylines. A feud between Stephanie & AJ could be interesting and, at this point, AJ is really the only Diva that I think can pull it off as she's easily had the most developed character of any woman on the WWE roster in quite a long time. Whether it's a work or not, women on the main roster are still treated as fodder and have been, as a whole, for about as long as I can remember.

As another poster said in regards to the interest of the Divas, I agree that the interest isn't there right now because....well, how could it be? The women have been treated as irrelevant filler, so there isn't anything for people really become invested in. I'm not saying that the Divas could or would become as important to the company as the male wrestlers, but I do believe that they have a lot more that could be contributed to the overall betterment of the product itself. If they contributed any less than they're currently allowed to, it'd be the first welfare system in pro wrestling history.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I doubt WWE fires AJ, unless she decides not to show up to work like her husband, but I can safely say that I doubt they make life easy for her upon her return. She is the "face" of the Divas division, so they'll want her to work out the rest of her contract.

With due animosity toward Phil Brooks, I can't help thinking AJ's apparent change in relationship with WWE has his fingerprints all over it, although I certainly hope she's savvy enough to think it through for herself.

But have you wondered how she's been able to garner this work schedule in which she works a few months and then is off for a few.....sort of a Rob Van Dam deal? Also, I wonder if she's paid while sitting at home with hubby. Why would the company allow this? Did they give her the privilege in exchange for signing a contract extension? If she intends to work the rest of her contract and leave, I can't imagine what advantage the company gains by giving her a schedule like that.

The reason I ask these questions now is because of the tweet to the boss. Is she feeling invulnerable because the company needs her more than she needs them? Does she want to force Stephanie's hand? Toward what end?

Women's wrestling in WWE is what it is; what it's been for a long time. In my opinion, the actual ring work has been better in the past year than in quite some time, although it will never be confused with the men's. Still, it's a good development.

If women like Gail Kim feel the company reneged on promises made to her as to development of her role, they leave when their contract is up......fair enough.

But what is AJ's story?....and again, I can't help wondering if her husband......who was so down on WWE.....has anything to do with it. What, it's not enough he removed himself, against the wishes of his fans.....he has to wedge his wife out, too?

Just wondering.

 

[Thejock83]

Works a few months and is off a few? She took time off to get married, and is now off injured - that's not a schedule but 2 different things 🙈

 

[LBGetBack]

Hopefully this ends with Stephanie hitting her with the pedigree for the pin at Mania.

Would be a nice addition to the card, and potentially an entertaining match. AJ can wrestle, and Stephanie performed admirably at Summerslam. Could potentially be a hot angle for the next month.

 

[HeyYo]

Relax everyone. This is an angle. AJ will be wrestling Chyna Jr. at Mania.

 

[Dave]

I'm not so sure that this is angle. The WWE and Stephenie in particular, are very dependant on social media to protect an image of the company in a positive light. That's not to say that the WWE can't make the most of this and capitalise on what AJ seems to have served up to them on a silver platter. Sure they can go down the route of having a match at Mania but that would require Stephanie being the competitor who is standing against equal rights... That's just insane.

Lets just be honest with one another, AJ said what she wanted and now she is going to have to pay the price. You don't call out your boss on such a touchy issue with the eyes of the world on you. I have absolutely no sympathy for AJ at this point. It's no wonder that her and Punk are so good together, they are loud mouths that don't understand when to just put their head down and get on with things.

 

[Wald]

Sure they can go down the route of having a match at Mania but that would require Stephanie being the competitor who is standing against equal rights... That's just insane.

Yeah when you say it like that it's obviously not a work.

I mean Stephanie as the chief brand manager of WWE isn't going to work an angle where she's saying women shouldn't be seen as equal to men and that the WWE are right to discriminate against them, even kayfabe wise that would be PR suicide.

 

[Dave]

Yeah when you say it like that it's obviously not a work.

I mean Stephanie as the chief brand manager of WWE isn't going to work an angle where she's saying women shouldn't be seen as equal to men and that the WWE are right to discriminate against them, even kayfabe wise that would be PR suicide.

I agree.

The only way that they could make it work, is for them to go above and beyond the initial "work" of equal rights and make this more about AJ stepping out line and challenging the Authority, almost the same was as what John Cena has been doing over the last year. But honestly, it's a fucking minefield that the WWE don't want to be treading in. With such close links to the equal rights for women movement and the scenario with CM Punk sure to hang over the feud like a bad smell, there is just far too much to lose and not an awful lot of gain.