Is the WWE correct on forcing fans to change their clothes?

[FromGlasgow]

Having read the story of the fans being made to cover up during the recent RAW show shown here incase anyone missed it http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/561711-wrestlemania-pre-show-news
Does anyone else think this was a good idea for the WWE to force their fans to change their costumes? If it was only costumes like Hulk Hogan, Paul Bearer and IRS its not exactly controversial, Wouldnt that be something a little interesting to look at instead of the usually dull audience, As those fans probably paid hard earned money especially for front row seats just to be told to change or leave I know I wouldn't be pleased ive not heard of this in any other sport ive seen people dress up at live basketball and football games for example without any problems, I really can't see an argument for it happening other than their not current WWE stars perhaps if they had dressed as Cena, Rusev and Reigns for example maybe there wouldn't have been any issues but if WWE are so against highlighting their past why have the hall of fame, I just think WWE is so out of touch now and ive attended loads of WWE live events but ill certainly be thinking twice about attending anymore now if this is how they treat the fans.

 

[laodaron]

It isn't their costumes that are the problem, it's just that it becomes a slippery slope if you start allowing it.

 

[CyberPunk]

There are not many details in that news article, but from what I understand, these fans were getting more attention than the segment going on in the ring.

If I were WWE I wouldn't want to change what the audience are wearing. I can control people I pay. Unless these members were paid audiences, they are not obligated to a dress code. Were they doing something untoward? From the looks of it, no they weren't; otherwise, they would've been asked to leave. Were there costumes distracting. From what I read, no. Then I don't understand. If fans are not into what you are presenting in the ring, they'll find something to amuse themselves.

WWE should not try to do this. In this day and age, it's very easy to receive bad publicity. With WWE, that likelihood is even more.

 

[laodaron]

Um, no. The WWE has all the right in the world to declare that certain attire is not permitted. They also have the right to confiscate signs, or do whatever they want. Just because they aren't paid doesn't mean that the WWE can't control what goes on in the audience.

 

[Dave]

I guess it all comes down to image rights. If the WWE doesn't own the image to those superstars then the can't broadcast their likeness, it's that simple. I'm sure there is a tonne of terms and conditions that you have to meet when you buy a WWE live ticket. And I'm sure if I looked hard enough I could probably find them. But at the end of the day, the WWE is not going to leave itself open to a lawsuit for anyone, whether they want to allow fans to wear anything they want or not. Probably, this wouldn't have been a problem if they were a bit further back. Really, they probably forced the hand of the WWE. Or at least that's how it looks to this onlooker.

 

[brochester8]

I think people are always dressing up though. I've seen them at Mania in Atlanta People dressed as many legends. Andre, Goldust, Mankind, M$M and others. I wouldn't think they would make them change though. I can definitely understand if it was someone dressing like Benoit or someone like that. Or if they were acting like goofs. Like the one guy said I'm sure there is a reason.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think Dave touched on something that I'm wondering about. In this day and age, especially if you're a huge company with deep pockets, you're a target for potential lawsuits coming from any type of direction. As a result, I'd imagine WWE tries to do anything it can to protect itself.. We've all heard examples of lawsuits that seem frivolous to us, yet courts have awarded compensation to people in such situations. I have no idea if WWE has any legal right to broadcast the images or likenesses of certain wrestlers and I suppose it's possible that those wrestlers or families could seek some sort of compensation. Several years back, for instance, Owen Hart's widow tried to sue WWE because they used footage of Owen Hart as part of a Hart Family DVD compilation. It sounds ridiculous, it really does, but I've heard of people suing over even more ridiculous things.

As an outsider looking in with total ignorance of WWE's legal or corporate policies, it seems perfectly harmless to me. If they just happened to be there dressed as some of their favorite wrestlers, I don't see what the big deal is. There's not real of information in the report and I'm wondering if their antics were disrupting other fans around them. I mean, I had no idea this had happened until earlier today and it strikes me as pretty odd that these guys would be singled out just because they were dressed up in some way. As someone else pointed out, you see that quite a bit of the time at some shows. IF they were clowning around, getting in other people's way and just causing a lot of commotion, that's something I can wrap my head around. After all, fans are there to watch a wrestling show and not a handful of guys dicking around, they paid their money too, so IF their antics were bothering other people around them, then security may have been right to step in.

Ultimately, I dunno what the deal with this situation is. If they weren't bothering anybody, then I don't see the issue. If they were bothering others, maybe then it's a different story altogether.

 

[dave-cee]

re-live your WWE memories ONLY on the WWE Network for

"$9.99"

re-create an icon of our business (with a Costume), buy a ticket to Raw and watch a show where we give our fans what they want and praise the WWE Universe...

"Aslong as you're wearing our merc!"

Priceless!


wasn't they calling out a guy in randy savage costume only 1 year ago after wrestlemania?
I get that there should be a form of code, I'E not everybody can turn up in silly outfits. but 90% of fans i know wouldn't dress up. mostly out of embarrassment nowadays

 

[WWEIsLife2]

Very rarely have I been to WWE Shows and not seen at least one guy dressed up. The last RAW I was at back in October I saw one guy dressed as CM Punk. He was on the floor level and I think even took a picture with someone. They didn't ask him to go anywhere from what I could tell.

From the sound of it was more Arena Security in Des Moines telling them to change. There has to be a reason for this is all I can think of.

 

[@smarkmouth]

I didn't realize that there's a dress code I have to follow when I want to enjoy a wrestling program. Didn't the band Arcade Fire try this and get slammed by their own fans? When will the official dress code be published for public knowledge?

I try to enjoy WWE without being overly critical, but every day I grow less and less impressed by these policies I read about. No CM Punk merch (even if official WWE merch), no costumes. WWE is coming to Montreal in May. I very much doubt I'll be volunteering my money.

 

[Just Do It]

I know why they have done it: because it could have been a distraction to their television show. I'm just gutted the lads had to change as they may have provided some entertainment for me.

 

[Prince Vee]

That's absolute bullshit!! They are paying for that! They aren't abusing anyone or they aren't wearing just tights or something that's not accepted in public. And they didn't wear anything like promoting other promotions. They have the rights to wear what they want! This is some kinda bullying by the WWE!!

 

[laodaron]

This is certainly not bullying. The WWE has every right to enforce whatever arbitrary dress code they want at their shows.

 

[Navi]

I would have thought that considering the WWE is only in that stadium for one night, the stadium would have it's own dress code. Not one for each organization that uses it.

This is kind of ridiculous as most of them were dressed as HOF wrestlers, during HOF season. I didn't see any problem with it at all, and didn't even notice until it was brought up on the main page. Then I went back and looked. Guess from now on I'll be wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt and not hitting the merchandise booth.

So two new rules I see happening here. Wear what we tell you to wear and cheer Roman Reigns dammit.

 

[DirtyD79]

While dressing up as a wrestlers is not something I'd do at a show, if these people had paid for their tickets and were behaving themselves then I just don't see what the big deal is. I mean sure maybe if their costumes obstructed other people's view of the show or if they were wearing something inappropriate like maybe a KKK robe or bondage gear. But people dressing up like wrestlers just seems like people having fun with the show and enjoying themselves.

And yes, I'm well aware that many businesses have a dress code but the thing is they tell you about it up front. It just seems like these days WWE is getting too corporate and too hypocritical. Yep, WWE is all about Freedom of Expression, as long as it's the expression they want.

 

[laodaron]

Ugh. Buying a ticket doesn't let you be an asshole. You can't wear revealing clothes, you can't wear clothes that promote violence or rape. You can't wear clothes that have cuss words on them. Stop trying to find shit that isn't there. If you're wearing a costume, you're trying to be disruptive. If you don't like that policy, don't buy a fucking ticket. The WWE doesn't owe you anything in this regard.

 

[rmp0012002]

Ugh. Buying a ticket doesn't let you be an asshole. You can't wear revealing clothes, you can't wear clothes that promote violence or rape. You can't wear clothes that have cuss words on them. Stop trying to find shit that isn't there. If you're wearing a costume, you're trying to be disruptive. If you don't like that policy, don't buy a fucking ticket. The WWE doesn't owe you anything in this regard.

^ Agree. These people are trying to be the show instead of just being fans.

 

[Navi]

Well I didn't see anyone in a revealing outfit, nothing to do with cuss words, or anything that promoted rape or violence. So are kids dressing like Cena a no no as well.

Like I said before, jeans and a white t-shirt will be the normal from now on for me.

 

[Pedigree1]

Most indeed it is a slippery slope. WWE as we all know is a huge monster of a company and holds the keys to the kingdom plus all the money.. I don't think its right,they can dictate what the audience can and cannot wear.. I know where this is going,a couple of guys were dressed like Savage,Hogan,Big Boss Man etc..

I honestly don't see the problem and If they were not acting like jack asses then a certain explanation is certainly in order. If they were out of line then yes certainly you can do whatever. From what I understand there was 10 of them paying each 100 a pop for a total of 1,000.

Fans today think because they pay their hard earned monies they can act however they want. If they were out of control security might have to step in,but none of us were there so who knows

 

[dave-cee]

I guess it all comes down to image rights. If the WWE doesn't own the image to those superstars then the can't broadcast their likeness, it's that simple.

going back to what Dave said... (hi Dave ).

isn't the law based on likeness or use of something identical, applied to people that are paid by the product.

its like if TNA got a pattern on sting and then he went to wwe thats a lawsuit. but a fan painting his face white and black and wearing a trench coat IMO means just that, Facepaint and a coat.

We as fans are urged to enjoy the product daily on the website and the network... some fans enjoyment come from paying tribute to a legend and having fun.

 

[kadroan]

I think Dave touched on something that I'm wondering about. In this day and age, especially if you're a huge company with deep pockets, you're a target for potential lawsuits coming from any type of direction. As a result, I'd imagine WWE tries to do anything it can to protect itself.. We've all heard examples of lawsuits that seem frivolous to us, yet courts have awarded compensation to people in such situations. I have no idea if WWE has any legal right to broadcast the images or likenesses of certain wrestlers and I suppose it's possible that those wrestlers or families could seek some sort of compensation. Several years back, for instance, Owen Hart's widow tried to sue WWE because they used footage of Owen Hart as part of a Hart Family DVD compilation. It sounds ridiculous, it really does, but I've heard of people suing over even more ridiculous things.

As an outsider looking in with total ignorance of WWE's legal or corporate policies, it seems perfectly harmless to me. If they just happened to be there dressed as some of their favorite wrestlers, I don't see what the big deal is. There's not real of information in the report and I'm wondering if their antics were disrupting other fans around them. I mean, I had no idea this had happened until earlier today and it strikes me as pretty odd that these guys would be singled out just because they were dressed up in some way. As someone else pointed out, you see that quite a bit of the time at some shows. IF they were clowning around, getting in other people's way and just causing a lot of commotion, that's something I can wrap my head around. After all, fans are there to watch a wrestling show and not a handful of guys dicking around, they paid their money too, so IF their antics were bothering other people around them, then security may have been right to step in.

Ultimately, I dunno what the deal with this situation is. If they weren't bothering anybody, then I don't see the issue. If they were bothering others, maybe then it's a different story altogether.

That makes a lot of sense. Last thing WWE is more bad PR with lawsuits. I guess it's only best to dress like current WWE superstars I guess since they own their rights.

 

[SoulTrain4]

We don't know all the facts of the case. I can say that in general I'm against making fans change clothes, unless they give them free merch or something.

For instance, if these guys were given those shirts for free in exchange for changing that's cool with me.

As for this situation, I been to WWE shows where people were dressed up. I see those people on TV all the time in costumes so idk, maybe the whole CM Punk fiasco created some new rules on likenesses.

 

[MC_Live]

I think it's absolute bull. As long as their outfits aren't causing a problem for anybody else around (which they weren't last night) fans should be allowed to dress up as wrestlers. I think it adds not only to the enjoyment of the fans there, but it helps fans at home think wrestling is cool and fun. "It's distracting" my ass. If the product on the TV was actually good, then dressed up fans wouldn't be a distraction. They would be noticed, and then people would move on and go back to watching the action in the ring. This is the kind of shit that annoys me. If WWE spent less time thinking about useless, inconsequential shit like this and focused more making their product better, then they wouldn't be as shitty as they are today. It's so freaking pathetic.

 

[Burritocover]

If there's a legal issue then they are totally justified in what they did. I have a bit of a hard time believing thought that they can really be legally responsible for what people wear to the shows. I guess people can sue them for anything but I can't imagine they'd possibly lose but who wants the headache. If they did it cause it was a distraction I was a bit distracted when I first noticed them but after a couple minutes I forgot about them. I've seen people dressed up a million times and I actually dressed up as the Hurricane at wrestlemania 19. I wish I could find a pic to post. Generally I don't think it's an issue at all and really adds to the fun of going to a show but when it's a group first row on hard camera I can see how they'd think it's a distraction if they are intentionally drawing attention to themselves.

 

[Navi]

If there's a legal issue then they are totally justified in what they did. I have a bit of a hard time believing thought that they can really be legally responsible for what people wear to the shows. I guess people can sue them for anything but I can't imagine they'd possibly lose but who wants the headache. If they did it cause it was a distraction I was a bit distracted when I first noticed them but after a couple minutes I forgot about them. I've seen people dressed up a million times and I actually dressed up as the Hurricane at wrestlemania 19. I wish I could find a pic to post. Generally I don't think it's an issue at all and really adds to the fun of going to a show but when it's a group first row on hard camera I can see how they'd think it's a distraction if they are intentionally drawing attention to themselves.

You would think that if it's something as simple as being a distraction on the hard camera, they should have just moved them along to another seats where they weren't in view all the time. That would have avoided some of the negative feelings towards the WWE that have surfaced.

As you say I didn't even notice them at all, until it was brought up.