Hugh Morrus: The Fallout Is Not Funny

[THTRobtaylor]

Ok, the scandal is dying down or not as the case may be but we can now say Bill DeMott has left the WWE and his role as NXT Head Coach.

JR has just put a very unfortunate blog post up that really and truly shows that he has little grasp of the situation, or that he like many of the Old Schoolers are not seeing why the allegations were so serious and the implications so bad for WWE had DeMott stayed. So here I'm gonna look at what this means in real terms.

Jump Or Be Pushed

Let's face it, regardless of the moral outrage from certain veteran quarters, Bill DeMott was in an untenable position once allegations arose for the second time. Regardless of your own personal beliefs about wrestling training, WWE is a publicly traded company and certain things do not stand public scrutiny if revealed to be happening. Homophobic or Racist comments, "naked Stinkfaces" and more importantly mistreating injured workers or bullying are all red flag triggers in any corporate environment. WWE has already had several negative incidents this year involving Rey, Alberto Del Rio and the lawsuits brought by investors. Whether true or not, DeMott was gone the moment that letter was made public. He's been given the "honorable discharge" as much as they could, allowed to resign but there was no way he could stay with the company or be moved, just as there was no way Cody Barbieri could be after the ADR incident. He'll leave with the goodwill of a large contingent of the company and the business and serve as a cautionary tale to all going forward.

What Was So Bad?

Putting aside the homophoic, racial and sexual allegations, the one that absolutely sealed DeMott's fate was the one about hitting a concussed student on the head. Concussion is the sporting worlds biggest spectre right now and rightfully so. I speak from bitter experience of the consequences of not treating a concussion quickly and correctly. I am indeed disabled for life because of somebody like DeMott is alleged to be, more interested in covering their own ass than getting the help I needed...when I suffered my accident, my "boss" (who was also a bully in the same way DeMott is accused of being) decided to leave me on a sofa in shock after being unconcious for over 15 minutes, while she wrote the accident report, neglecting even to call an ambulance. For an hour I was on that sofa, drifting in and out of conciousness and eventually was driven to hospital. The damage was done and I now suffer with headaches and neurological issues as a result.

Yesterday in the Liverpool football game, a player was stretchered off after being knocked out for seconds. After 10 minutes of precautionary treatment the furious player was prevented from returning to the pitch, even throwing the head support off in disgust to cheers from our fans. He was wrong, they were wrong. The guys checking him out and stopping him were right...

CM Punk's Podcast and the Dr's subsequent lawsuit has brought the WWE's attitude towards injury into laser sharp focus. They can't be seen to be forcing injured talents to continue, despite what "tradition" dictates. DeMott may have been following the company line, but suddenly that line is damaging but he alone takes responsibility for hitting that guy on the head... A concussed person, hit on the head again could die...even from a "tap" as Bill would no doubt call it... like my ex-boss, anyone who is willing to risk someone's health in that way has no place being in a position to.

The Reaction

There have been 3 distinct camps. A lot of indignation and Outrage from older wrestlers, those outright against DeMott and his methods and those who simply stay silent, mainly out of self interest.

Normally I consider Chris Jericho one of the smartest guys in the business, but his tweet was ill informed, ill timed and wrong. That he removed it double quick proved this. WWE may have told him to, but I'm thinking more that he realised the hypocrisy of the situation. By invoking Stu Hart, he opened a massive can of worms.

Guys like Hart DID stretch people and seem to enjoy doing so, but Bret himself has admitted over the years this was not a sadistic thing, he was preparing guys for what the business could throw at them. If you have been to the top of Stu's mountain, then he'd also taught you how to stop others taking advantage in a similar way. Today's business does not have that same level of threat attached to it, only that shocking Japanese womens match a couple of weeks back has really had that "side" to it in years. Guys don't go into business for themselves anymore cos they would be sued so badly it's not worth the risk, so by definition, they don't need to be "as tough" as their earlier counterparts needed to be.

This of course rankles with the old guard, who had to jump through hoops, be beaten to a pulp and endure whatever was thrown at them. But it really is different now and anyone talking about "the good old days" like they are a good thing is causing themselves to look foolish. JR has just done that to the worst degree I have seen. The DeMott stuff is nothing to do with smacking kids... it's abuse of power pure and simple and that is the WWE way cos it used to be the Wrestling way. It comes to something when Bob Holly states what was going on, if true was unacceptable...

Those damning DeMott are generally those "fired or who didn't make it" but then the question must surely be asked why and who decided this? If they were released because of their concerns on DeMott and he then is let go/resigns... then did THEY fail or did WWE? It's very murky.

There will also be those who kept mum despite either seeing, hearing or being exposed to things they shouldn't in the interests of keeping their job. Already there are rumors of a sexual harrassment case that has come to light through this. What else could and arguably SHOULD now be reported? DeMott won't be the only one doing things that could cause WWE damage. Indeed Trips himself has recently being accused of hitting his former fiance... so no one is "perfect" in WWE, that much is seemingly obvious.

The Fallout

Apparently there is a big meeting today. This will be cos of the allegations. Matt Bloom (Albert) is in charge in the interim of NXT and this in itself is a bold move by WWE. They are picking a guy outside the normal "HHH-Verse", Billy Gunn was to many the nailed on candidate. But Bloom has experience of how Japan do things, where things are stiffer and experience of how WWE of the Attitude era did things. He's seen friends and partners come, go, die and he himself is someone who has adapted over the years to different roles. On paper he is a leftfield but strong figure to lead that training programme...and more importantly, no one has EVER called him an asshole, difficult or a pushover.

Why would the E pick him? It shows the "old ways" are no longer acceptable in a public way, even if ultimately as with Wellness it will be selectively applied in reality. Bloom is a big guy, no one is gonna sass him or the like, they know he could bury them...and he is someone who they can rely on until arguably their first choice becomes available.... The Undertaker.

In the short term you may see a turnover of talent in NXT AND the main roster. Today's meeting will likely have to offer the chance for talents to come forward with any allegations on any misconduct, by anyone... it could lead to some uncomfortable times for a few people but it has to happen a few suspensions may be given out.

This has been one scandal too many for WWE, they have now had their Business Ethics, Medical Programmes, Attitude to Race and Bullying challenged three times in a calendar year. They have no choice but to put the house in order and do so publicly. If not or they try to cut corners/make lip service to it then it could be the downfall they experienced in 1992 all over again.

Only takes one concussion or racial lawsuit to be won and bang... Vince is in a world of hurt.

Basically, he created the WWE Universe to replace the Wrestling business, where wrestlers became actors. An actor got slapped by a director? SAG would sue their ass and it'd be a scandal... so why is it ok for a WWE talent to be slapped...as Vince himself is so fond of saying, they're NOT wrestlers.

Even the Triple H/Chyna stuff from a few weeks ago comes into play here. WWE and Trips HAD to deny it, but there seemed little shock around the business. Even when Austin asked the question that caused it he called BS, why? cos it was likely an open secret in the business it happened, one they had managed to keep out of the hands of the fans, just like they had kept a lid on what was happening with DeMott down in NXT.

The wrestling "bubble" doesn't exist anymore, WWE killed it when they went public...but it seems they only just are realising what that truly means for how they do things and what they can and can't cover up.

Hugh Morrus was a mid card player for life who lucked a gig training for WWE... the punchline for the company is no joke.

 

[Prince Vee]

You were pretty much right in most of your points and I gotta respect it but we can't take everything in the same way. Sometimes intense training should be needed and if these trainers like Bill or Stu whoever doing it because of their "sadistic" behavior then there must be some reason behind why the Trainees are getting bullied. We should take that as getting prepared in another perspective.

But ill treating a person who have concussion isn't something acceptable and Bill is absolutely untenable against it. Yes the racial and sexual abusings are unacceptable as well but I don't think they had provided any evidence against Bill. What if they are doing it for some personal vengeance?

The bottom line is NXT is the best Wrestling TV show in the past few months and I don't personally want it to get down due to some kinda internal politics or critics.

Cheers!!

 

[Dave]

Yeah, I have to agree with you on pretty much everything you have said. The only thing I would like to add, is that I feel sorry for the "Old School" thinkers who have come out in support of the old school teaching methods; but not entirely in support of Bill DeMott himself. As it stands, we've had plenty of people say that this is the way wrestling should be taught and everytime I see something like that, I tend to shake my head in disgust. Over the last two days alone, people like Jim Ross and Lance Storm have tried to defend the teaching style. But in today's world, it just isn't fucking good enough.

In today's world, it is not good enough to tease, bully, or make fun of people for being gay, for being a different set from your own, or for being a different colour is skin. And guess what, I firmly believe that Bill DeMott is a racist, homophones who tried to use his power and influence to get with women. That's not okay. And what's more, that makes him a fucking piece of shit. So good riddance to bad rubbish. There is no defending it in any situation and those who are lose a little bit of my respect every time they do.

Lastly, I'd like to add one more thing. Good for Albert. He seems like he might be a good choice for the head trainer position, so I'm excited to see how that goes.

 

[Navi]

Another question is you have to ask why did it take so long for this to come out into the open? I understand there is a certain code of silence but since the WWE is now a publicly traded company, and there are shareholders involved, you would think that any sign of a scandal brewing would be nipped in the bud. He should have been let go a long time before the shit hit the fan.

Either way the guy is an asshole.

 

[Stone Cold Tea]

Sometimes intense training should be needed and if these trainers like Bill or Stu whoever doing it because of their "sadistic" behavior then there must be some reason behind why the Trainees are getting bullied. We should take that as getting prepared in another perspective.

But ill treating a person who have concussion isn't something acceptable and Bill is absolutely untenable against it. Yes the racial and sexual abusings are unacceptable as well but I don't think they had provided any evidence against Bill.

Do you even realise how much is wrong with what your saying? Yes intense training should be intense but that doesn't involve homophobic, racial or physical abuse. These are actions that are wrong in all walks of life so just because your in a business where you ' Have to be tough' that is no excuse.
How would you like it if it was you in that situation? Would you say you deserved it? No you would so don't utter things like that it just makes you appear to be a piece of shit.

Secondly the evidence is there in the fact that numerous wrestlers have come out and spoken of the abuse they suffered under Demotts training. The fact he has now resigned means these accusations are all but true. If your going to come with the argument that its only former emloyees have spoken out and they're butthurt that's ridiculous. No current employee would risk their position with the company after they're just gone through all that shit for it to just be laughed out of the door by Vince.

Never ever again say that anyone deserves bullying.

 

[Prince Vee]

Do you even realise how much is wrong with what your saying? Yes intense training should be intense but that doesn't involve homophobic, racial or physical abuse. These are actions that are wrong in all walks of life so just because your in a business where you ' Have to be tough' that is no excuse.
How would you like it if it was you in that situation? Would you say you deserved it? No you would so don't utter things like that it just makes you appear to be a piece of shit.

Secondly the evidence is there in the fact that numerous wrestlers have come out and spoken of the abuse they suffered under Demotts training. The fact he has now resigned means these accusations are all but true. If your going to come with the argument that its only former emloyees have spoken out and they're butthurt that's ridiculous. No current employee would risk their position with the company after they're just gone through all that shit for it to just be laughed out of the door by Vince.

Never ever again say that anyone deserves bullying.

Oh I guess you didn't see my point clearly. I was certainly against the racial, homophobic and sexual abuses. But okay I should respect your statements..

Cheers!!

 

[Stone Cold Tea]

Oh I guess you didn't see my point clearly. I was certainly against the racial, homophobic and sexual abuses. But okay I should respect your statements..

Cheers!!

I understood your point clearly. The fact is though the homophobic, racial, sexual and physical abuse are the basis of the bullying and you've said that there must be a reason for the bullying so you can't have it both ways.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

DeMott may be a creep but we are reacting to only one side of the story. While I don't doubt that DeMott made contact with a concussed wrestler's head, I don't know what DeMott knew about the injured wrestler and I further don't know what the contact actually was.

I also think it is BS that so many are choosing to come down so hard on the guy and completely ignore the guilt of WWE management, other WWE training staff, and yes, even the trainees. No dream job is worth abuse and we all have a responsibility to our pride and integrity. Then again, I question how much the trainees really felt abused by name calling in an industry where you are expected to cut promos on others tearing them down and intense physical challenges in an industry where you are expected to physically challenge yourself.

But I don't know all the details so it is hard to pass judgment. Then again, neither do any of you. There is a lot more that could come out here so I wouldn't be so eager to judge the methods and antics of a "career mid card heel".

What kind of trainer do people think Stone Cold would be if he was had DeMott's job? Maybe I'll save that question for Deborah if i ever meet her. Didn't Stone Cold push limits as a fake trainer on Tough Enough? Isn't NXT the greatest thing going right now? Doesn't WWE have a tremendous pipe line of talent coming up? Who trained those guys?

 

[Prince Vee]

I understood your point clearly. The fact is though the homophobic, racial, sexual and physical abuse are the basis of the bullying and you've said that there must be a reason for the bullying so you can't have it both ways.

Okay... well in the beginning I never truly believed that he was bullying around. But after reading your comments and critics over my reply and also after reading many reports and statements from the wrestlers, yes, I should accept that my statement was wrong. I totally agree with your point you and I apologize as well.

Cheers!!

 

[FightOwensFight]

DeMott may be a creep but we are reacting to only one side of the story. While I don't doubt that DeMott made contact with a concussed wrestler's head, I don't know what DeMott knew about the injured wrestler and I further don't know what the contact actually was.

I also think it is BS that so many are choosing to come down so hard on the guy and completely ignore the guilt of WWE management, other WWE training staff, and yes, even the trainees. No dream job is worth abuse and we all have a responsibility to our pride and integrity. Then again, I question how much the trainees really felt abused by name calling in an industry where you are expected to cut promos on others tearing them down and intense physical challenges in an industry where you are expected to physically challenge yourself.

But I don't know all the details so it is hard to pass judgment. Then again, neither do any of you. There is a lot more that could come out here so I wouldn't be so eager to judge the methods and antics of a "career mid card heel".

What kind of trainer do people think Stone Cold would be if he was had DeMott's job? Maybe I'll save that question for Deborah if i ever meet her. Didn't Stone Cold push limits as a fake trainer on Tough Enough? Isn't NXT the greatest thing going right now? Doesn't WWE have a tremendous pipe line of talent coming up? Who trained those guys?

Thanks for some sense of perspective on this. As always, people on one side of the argument have had their say, and everyone runs with it as if it is established fact. As many have pointed out, the people complaining are all people that never made it with WWE, so there could be an axe to grind. I am not suggesting that the things they say happened didn't happen, in some manner, but the specifics are what is key.

The allegation is that the guy that was concussed was hit in the head. As said above, in what context? Had the guy had a concussion test and DeMott ignored it and started hitting him? That would be bad. Did he take a bad bump and that was it? The naked stinkface allegation. How is that any different than a normal one done by Rikishi (or Big Show to Vince)? Does that little amount of fabric make that big a difference? All three are pretty horrifying to me.

If all the things being said are true, then yes, it is bad. But all you have now are the allegations of a handful (out of hundreds and hundreds that have gone through the same training, by the way) that have yet to be substantiated.

 

[Wald]

DeMott's resignation is proof enough for me that at least some of what was said is true. People are making out like WWE would have asked him to leave regardless but I don't think that is the case. PR wise the damage has been done and if the allegations were all complete lies than WWE's best course of action would be to back DeMott and face them down. We all know Vince isn't one to shy away from a fight when he thinks he is in the right too.

I figure Vince, Triple H or whoever has asked DeMott if he ever used sexist, racist or homophobic language and/or if he slapped a guy with a concussion in the head. If he answers yes to any of the above than he is rightfully out of a job, which is where he finds himself today. This isn't Old School v New School training methods, this is common sense winning out in society and deciding that type of stuff shouldn't happen any more.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

The thing is that we haven't really heard DeMott's side of the story. To my knowledge, he's still denying these allegations that've been made against him even though he resigned. Given how many were coming forward and the allegations that were made, DeMott really had no viable alternative but to resign or wait to be released.

IF DeMott legitimately did all these things, which isn't difficult to believe, then I can't blame anyone for how they feel and he should have been let go if any evidence beyond he said/she said was out there. After all, WWE is a company advocating against bullying, racial and homophobic slurs and having someone on the payroll engaging in all that with developmental talent just flat out looks bad.

At the same time, to be fair, you also have to consider the source of these allegations. All those making the accusations were wrestlers who were fired from WWE and who is to say that some of these allegations by some of these former employees aren't exaggerated or blatantly untrue due to sour grapes and/or personal dislike of DeMott? I'm sure at times that DeMott was a dick and did push them extremely hard but, then again, that's what he was supposed to do. He wasn't there to be their friend, to nursemaid them or to hold their hand through the whole thing; part of his job was to push you as hard as possible, make you puke until you thought your jockstrap was coming up your gullet and then keep right on pushing you. There may have been lingering, negative feelings towards the guy. I'm not saying that's what's going on, I have no way of knowing what's going on but, as usual, a lot of people are already condemning WWE just based on the words of what these people have said and/or, in some cases, they see WWE as the big corporation and the big corporations are ALWAYS guilty.

I read the transcript of an interview Jim Ross recently did and he sort of posed the same sorts of questions and also went a little further. JR pointed out that there are young wrestlers coming up through the business and have been coming up through the business that genuinely don't want to put forth the effort and hard work it takes; they don't really feel like they should have to pay their dues and that they're owed success. A few years back when they received a WWE tryout, there were reports circulating that The Young Bucks displayed such an attitude during said tryout and, if true, the reports claim that they were highly disrespectful to Booker T.

At the same time, just because all these allegations are made by former employees doesn't automatically make them untrue. There'd be a lot more weight added to things if someone currently on the roster came forward with similar allegations but, as has been pointed out, there are very few, if any, who'll do that and put their own futures in jeopardy.

 

[SoulTrain4]

Jericho is 100% correct. If you have listened to any stories about past training methods I haven't heard anything in this DeMott scandal (that is proven) that compares to the stuff some of those guys went through just 15 years ago.

So far it's been a lot of "he said" and no documentation of any kind other than a letter which was written at some unknown time by a potentially sour ex-recruit.

Agendas abound in this world, we don't know for a fact DeMott has done any of the above. Like Tommy Dreamer said, the complaints are coming from former developmental talent, many of whom never made it.

It's classic "old school vs new school" training methods, I've heard stories about Hogan getting his leg broken on the first day of training (side note: Hogan is a very prolific liar but he has been quite consistent with telling this tale). I've heard Batista complain about Sarge (who ran WCW's Power Plant back in the day), who he claims worked them beyond the breaking point and was verbally abusive. Tommy Dreamer just told a story the other day about Johnny Rodz stretching him to the point of potential nerve damage. The tales go on and on.

I think the thing that fans neglect to realize is that part of training guys is to weed out weaklings and guys who just want to be on TV or who think the business isn't real athletic and is only a stage show. We've seen proof that people come to these facilities in horrible shape and mentally weak as fuck. This is typical of all coaches regardless of sport, injuries happen, sometimes not so nice words are spoken and feelings get hurt in doing so.

I also think we not even looking at this statistically, how many talents over the years has DeMott trained? Dude been there forever and there have been what...5 complaints, maybe? Out of the probably hundreds or thousands of guys he has had in there. That's a piss poor percentage.

Let's switch to WWE, the company that fired Jim Cornette for slapping Santino...let's not forget that, as a publically traded entity they can't really afford the negative publicity, especially during Wrestlemania season, so it's likely they asked him to step down and he obliged. I don't take stepping down as a sign of guilt but of damage control by a huge corporation that needs to protect it's own image.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

That's the rub though... they ARE only actors these days, not actually wrestlers. WWE is making a big thing of not wanting wrestling but entertainers. So are the younger guys that far wrong if they're not prepared for or willing to accept the hazing that guys who wanted to be wrestlers got in the past?

Tales like the Hogan one are not right because Hogan then went on to something...for every one like him there was someone who got their leg broke and whose life was never the same for it. Or they got hazed and teased until they quit the biz as a failure when the hazing was the problem rather than them. Look at Renegade and the beasting that guy took once Hogan was done with him...and where it ended. Hogan would do well to stop eulogising Matsuda for doing it or his own toughness for overcoming it...what he SHOULD be doing is saying, "This wasn't OK even then but it happened, it's time to stop it happening and find other ways to make guys show they want it..." but Hogan never will cos he's a mark for his own experience. As seemingly a lot of these older guys are... You went through hell to be a wrestler, we get it, we read it in your book, we know you were in the Dungeon/Power Plant/Monster Factory or Baba's Dojo. But these kids aren't there... they have the Performance Centre, the crashmatted ring and all the toys you didn't have. That's not their fault, they don't have to protect kayfabe or pretty much do any of what you had to do either... blame Vince, not them and certainly don't take it out on them if they balk at what you went through in the name of paying dues.

The Kurt Angle/Foxcatcher stuff is interesting, he was part of that bizarre set-up but it worked, he won the Gold... doesn't mean it's ok what went down and Kurt would do well to be warning young wrestlers off of "svengali" teachers and coaches...but he doesn't.

The JR stuff is worse in some ways, he's seen and allowed some shocking things like Wrestler's Court to take place in the locker rooms he was in charge of, he was in charge when PS Hayes was using racial slurs to Lashley. Lashley didn't need to toughen up, Hayes needed to stop being racist and JR needed to fire his ass for doing so or at least be telling Vince, this is not ok...but he didn't out of self interest and that's where it all falls down. There is no rule to say any of it is required or ever was, hazing, bullying, beastings, they're all part of the business cos guys chose to continue the myths, not cos it was "the way or even the right way".

It stopped being about protecting the business the moment Vince stated it was entertainment, so then it became more about veterans protecting what THEY had or getting even at the world for their own lack of success. Any guy who roughs up a trainee today has no part in today's business. It's not "respecting the business or the past" it's just sheer bullying and power abuse. "Sure kid, I'll take 3 grand off you to kick your ass for 3 months...I didn't hear a thank you..." even Jericho mocked the Hart school for that approach, yet he seems happy for DeMott to be doing almost the same for WWE.

DeMott had to go because it's WWE that has set it's stall out as a TV show and anything BUT wrestling and what was alleged did not remotely fit that model and could only damage them. Vince is the one setting WWE's stall out as a TV show, not a wrestling company... when there were issues on Desperate Housewives between cast and producers, lawsuits came about because of alleged comments that were inappropriate.

The reality here is that the sour grapes are just as much from "old timers" who had to train harder than the kids do today... they became "grumpy old men" about it in a lot of ways. To be a WWE superstar today absolutely DOES NOT require that level of hazing... the proof... the guy who got that level of training isn't going to Mania... the kid who is handpicked is...

I liken it to that movie Whiplash that's out right now, the character is a monster, displaying behaviors that sound exactly like what are alleged in WWE. If that kid stops drumming cos of that guy, who is the loser? him for quitting/failing or the bully for driving him out? or the world cos they never see the potential that might have been there with a different teacher? Why would a kid considering WWE over another option, especially the athlete type they are looking for more these days join a WWE where this stuff is not only allowed but seemingly condoned as "part of the curve". The guy who first properly challenged their approach by demanding a big money, no fuckeries deal? Brock Lesnar, who is on top now? Brock Lesnar and who is about to walk for the 2nd time? Yup...and WWE are seemingly desperate to avoid it happening again so they try and allow this stuff by the back door.

Part of me really wants SAG to get involved here... just to finally kick the myth that wrestlers are anything other than actor/stuntmen in the balls once and for all. Every one of WWE's competitors on a Monday night get union protection, but WWE guys don't. Hell, Seth Green or Hugh Jackman can appear in the same skit or match with a WWE talent... one is SAG covered if WWE did anything, the others aren't... but somehow SAG don't say..."Hang on, this isn't right? You need to register..."

 

[laodaron]

This is the same argument presented by every single previous generation in the history of everything. It's an ignorant argument, and there is no inherent value in it.

Paying dues is a farce. It's a way for the previous generation of whatevers to hold back the new generation of whatevers. Obviously, proper education and training are required for every job, but to pretend like having some 300lb. guys asshole schmeared on your face is teaching you how to be a better wrestler instead of systemic abuse disguised as "paying dues" is ignorant.

Bill DeMott is a piece of shit. He's been a piece of shit for a long time, back when he realized he would only ever be Hugh G. Rection and guys in Tough Enough were probably all going to be more over than him. He wasn't training, he was holding them back.

The comparison to Stu also doesn't make sense. Stu probably was abusing, but he didn't get his thrills from it. Teaching hard work and perseverance don't require explicit and offensive language, or outright sexual and physical abuse. Let me be clear, I would have no problem with them putting in 10-12 hours days of full force nonstop work. In-ring, in-gym, pure dedication. Getting in shape, learning technique, etc. Calling people *****es for being injured is pathetic.

Once again, this is why professional wrestling NEEDS A FUCKING UNION. Then we aren't all discussing some allegations on a message board, the union would have already investigated and acted accordingly. The longer that Vince and Co. refuse the necessity of a union, the longer that this stupid shit happens.

 

[DCLXVI]

Never liked Bill Demott, always struck me as an asshole who was a little bitter that he never got further than Hugh Morris. I was always a little confused about how the top wrestling training facility in the world chose him of all people to show people the "WWE way"... the only match I even remember him in is taking Goldberg's first Jackhammer.

I've heard all the stories, even about him open hand slapping Enzo Amore across the face (and Enzo credits him for every bit of his in-ring training, not a sour word to say about the guy)... and I get the tough mentality, but it is true. These aren't the territory days and wrestlers - are not wrestlers - they are physical actors. You simply cannot haze people, call people ******s or derogatory names as a means to "break them" like the trainers of old did... and you DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY cannot hit a man while he is in a concussed state. This is a company that runs anti-bullying campains and has an openly gay wrestler. What he was doing was called hazing.

Matt Bloom will be fine, especially with Billy Gunn and Norman Smiley working alongside him. I am glad they canned Bill Demott, I am actually shocked they did it in such a quick fashion and allowed him to resign as opposed to future endeavoring him.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

"intense training" =/= hitting concussed guys in the head. That's how you kill people, shorten lives, or end careers. It's stupid. Homophobic and racist slurs aren't okay either. Both of those actions are just unprofessional. You can be tough without being a dick. Especially when a lot of the guys on NXT are already more over or more recognized than Demott was at his peak.

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

The issue I have with all of this is that the WWE is essentially a monopoly within its industry. It's kind of a weird place...wrestling is still, IMO, a niche of entertainment but it's got enough history, fans, and revenue that for a company like the WWE to dominate can only be called a monopoly. That kind of monopoly power means that people can be blackballed out of the business, and they came be forced into silence...if you are lucky and good enough to make it to the WWE, few really want to lose that income, I'd imagine. Yes, there are some willing to make their own road in indies, and there's still others who are big enough names in Mexico and Japan to not need the WWE. It just seems that's the exception, not the rule.

So the cries of "we only know one side" ring hollow to me. So do the "sour grapes" argument. There's little glory or upside to being a whistleblower historically. The business is simply to ripe for abuse.