What would a Union of Wrestlers mean for the WWE?

[Headman]

Actually, with no viable alternative to compete with, this would be the best time for the wrestlers to try it, Vince doesn't have anyone else, there is no WCW, no territories, there isn't anywhere for him to replace large portions of his roster. It would have been much harder years ago because it would have been tempting for under carders elsewhere to take the chance and jump and to WWE. It's actually just like MBL & NFL, there are no other leagues doing what you do in the US and the quality of players you might be able to bring in would be so low the product would suffer and you would lose money (You do remember the 1987 Replacement NFL games correct).

There's no place for these guys to go. They have no cards to play. It would be idiotic to walk out. And the NFLPA which was once the strongest of all sports unions is actually weaker than it's ever been. Their last collective bargaining agreement was heavily lopsided in favor of ownership. Why? Because the players know there's no USFL out there anymore.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Wages go up? Where's that money come from if the product isn't popular enough to bring it in? Just stop already. You're a union guy. We get it. Not all of us wanna drink the koolaid.

And I did have something to say about the actor's guild. There are unlimited individual projects to support new actors. There's only one major pro-wrestling company in America. It's just a flawed comparison on your part.

Where does the money come from if the product isn't popular ? Uh,, it doesn't matter if you're union or not, if you're product isn't popular people wont buy it. You notice there isn't a thriving Lacrosse Players Union in the US, it's not a popular sport, it doesn't drive revenue, Basketball and Baseball however are different animals.

Unions have nothing to do with making a product more or less popular, many of non union entities go out of business, even when they pay rock bottom wages because no one wants their stuff.

Unlimited new projects to support new actors ? really, last time I checked scripted TV programs were at an all time low on TV and made for TV movies almost non existant compared to say 20 years ago, let alone 30. There are fewer independent film companies and even fewer that can get widespread distribution deals with almost all corporate Cineplex Movie showing complexes (not too many independent theaters anymore) so there are fewer films than 20 years ago. If anything work is probably tighter for professional actors than at any time in my lifetime.

So apparently NONE of your arguments actually hold up, seems the only guy drinking koolaid around here is you.

 

[FlairFan2003]

There's no place for these guys to go. They have no cards to play. It would be idiotic to walk out. And the NFLPA which was once the strongest of all sports unions is actually weaker than it's ever been. Their last collective bargaining agreement was heavily lopsided in favor of ownership. Why? Because the players know there's no USFL out there anymore.

There hasn't been a USFL since 1985 - That hasn't stopped a whole lot of player friendly deals from being struck.

And most sports fans will tell you MLB has the strongest union, has for years.

 

[FlairFan2003]

At the end of the day the only real change would be a much more structured pay scale and better detailed and enforced termination policy. WWE would have to be much more open with talent about their revenue (which Vince would hate).

WWE is already the most desirable place to work so that wouldn't change.

I doubt it would happen now because you'd never get enough guys to stand together. This would be the time to try though as Vince has no where else to turn for talent, unless he risked the backlash the NFL got in 1987 (and the lost revenue, not too mention all the money he'd be refunding to sponsors and fans).

In the 80s & 90s it never could have happened unless the overwhelming majority of wrestlers from all the active promotions all agreed to stand together, almost impossible. Certainly if in 1985 Ric Flair & Dusty Rhodes tried to unionize the NWA you know that some mid carder in search of a break in WWE or the AWA would have jumped at the chance to take their spot, same if Hogan & Savage tried it in WWE.

There is s disparity in payscales now that would be lessened somehwhat, top guys would still make a lot more than bottom guys but bottom guys would close the gap. Look at MLB, where marginal players get multi million dollar deals (that seems big but not compared to top tier players getting 20 plus million/year). Aaron Rogers is still getting mega bucks in the NFL, so would John Cena in WWE, the difference would come in lower tier guys getting a little more.

Its not going to happen though. Too many wrestlers on the roster to keep enough in line to make the vote go through, and more and more middle & lower tier guys sour on the business too quick and want out anyway.

 

[JoeyJoeJoe]

Actually, with no viable alternative to compete with, this would be the best time for the wrestlers to try it, Vince doesn't have anyone else, there is no WCW, no territories, there isn't anywhere for him to replace large portions of his roster. It would have been much harder years ago because it would have been tempting for under carders elsewhere to take the chance and jump and to WWE. It's actually just like MBL & NFL, there are no other leagues doing what you do in the US and the quality of players you might be able to bring in would be so low the product would suffer and you would lose money (You do remember the 1987 Replacement NFL games correct).

I agree that if something is going to be attempted, now would probably be a good time. I keep seeing folks say that some wrestlers wouldn't go with it, and that's probably the case. Maybe it opens the door for others, but more than likely, it would mean a lengthy period of WWE management and creative trying to backfill all of the angles and PPVs. Cena can't wrestle himself. But more likely is that it shines a light on issues within the WWE that prompts change -- WWE is a publicly traded company and the negative press plus a possibility of investigations could lead to god knows what.

My thought is though that the WWE's profit margins are negative to begin with right now and have been over the past year. Despite their revenues, there are times I have to wonder how WWE is even viable as a business, particularly since it seems that for the company to have a business boom requires some magical superstar who comes along once every 8 to 10 years to rescue the company from the doldrums (great business plan, Vince).