WWE and Trump

[JLM]

Yeah I don’t think anyone is surprised about big businesses being in bed with Trump, but I can see how it would be jarring to see such an on-the-nose display of it from the guy who’s been positioned as the face of a more palatable WWE. It’s not wildly unexpected but I can see why people find it a bit gross. Also “everything is gross” is not a particularly good argument for not being grossed out by things. Like you can observe and participate in the ongoing hellscape of unfettered capitalism, know that it is the current norm and still be appalled by it. 

It’s something we all have to do when we’re not ignoring it because it’s too depressing to think about 24/7. If you’re better than the next person at shutting it all out and getting on with things that’s great for you. 

We also have different tolerance levels and triggers. Any time anyone is disgusted by anything you can point to worse things or other equivalent things or other things they should be as disgusted or more disgusted by. You can chastise a vegan for having a smartphone or whatever. Personally  I don’t value bullying people into boycotts or chastising them for their perceived ethical failings on these issues,  buuut equally I won’t condescendingly explain to them what naive babies they are for drawing the lines they DO draw. 

[Slapnut]

I often see the line “why are people surprised by this?” being trotted out recently, but it’s entirely possible to be unsurprised and yet appalled by something to the extent that it’s worth a discussion.

Edited February 14, 2025 by Slapnut

[d-d-d-dAz]

Okay, fair enough.

But I'd say I'm not trying to stifle discussion, just trying to make my own point. Which is fine too. Triple H being a republican and a Trump supporter doesn't surprise me and doesn't particularly offend me, despite it not being my politics. That's an absolutely fine opinion to put out, I know this forum can be utterly militant at times but it's okay to hear some other opinions.

I'd argue though filtering out 'what you can live without' is the pissiest of piss weak moral stances. Like going on hunger strike except for biscuits because you really like biscuits.

Trump is a part of the mainstrean political culture now. If you don't want to support businesses that enable that, then honestly good for you... but it's going to be a long four years, and you're going to end up off grid, naked and afraid eating hemp seeds and playing conkers for entertainment.

If you only want to cancel certain things based on what you can or can't live without anyway, then I'd say that's not true outrage. That's a fad diet of performative activism.

 

[Hannibal Scorch]

Bloody Hell

9 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

I think it’s more complicated than that. Triple H being there doesn’t in itself tell us anything about his own political views, any more than you being on Twitter tells me about yours. It’s a family member, and she likely invited him.

Ever been invited to something and decided you didn't want to go?

10 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Did he agree with Linda? Why isn’t WWE celebrating Black History Month this year, and was it wrong to do it in the past? Was it - and I hate this term - ‘virtue-signalling’ when it did? What do Black wrestlers think of him being there, and where does he stand when it comes to the importance of diversity and representation in wrestling; not only of Black wrestlers, but of LGBTQ+ people? 

I mean he was there. He nodded at things she said and he didn't interrupt her with a babyface promo. And we know where he stands on diversity and representation, he was asked mere months ago about it.

 

12 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Finn Balor has worn pride colours in the past, and Punk - albeit in AEW - wore a t-shirt promoting trans rights. Would they be allowed to do that, and if not, why not? Questions like that should be asked of any company supporting this drive to push down minority groups, and they should be pushed hard on it. I’d like to see Triple H pushed to the point he either gives a proper answer or squirms at the next WWE presser. I don’t think that’ll happen, though.

I think we know the answer to that as well, and there are about $100m a year of them.

 

13 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Given that Shad Khan donated to Trump, I think Tony Khan should be asked similar questions. He’s not responsible for his dad’s actions any more than Triple H is for Linda’s, but Khan has, in the past, commendably stood up for Nyla Rose in the face of anti-trans abuse, and I think it’s important he’s asked if he’d do the same in the current climate and also where he stands on all of this.

I am just quoting this because I thought it was funny tbh. 

[TheScarlettChad]

Just now, Hannibal Scorch said:

Bloody Hell

Ever been invited to something and decided you didn't want to go?

I mean he was there. He nodded at things she said and he didn't interrupt her with a babyface promo. And we know where he stands on diversity and representation, he was asked mere months ago about it.

 

I think we know the answer to that as well, and there are about $100m a year of them.

 

I am just quoting this because I thought it was funny tbh. 

So you have no real answer then or argument?

[tiger_rick]

The OP literally says "the links have been there forever". We know the McMahons are Republicans. We know they support Trump. We know lots of people support Trump because, get this, Trump just won the election.

Triple H sitting behind and supporting Linda while she makes racist and transphobic statements, the company that he is very important in not partaking in Black History month, this company

How is that not disgusting and worth talking about?

Edit: And I'll add, given the discussion above, if the same comes out about AEW, then I'll personally be fucking them off too, because I've loved wrestling all my life but it's not more important than the treatment of the people in it. 

Edited February 14, 2025 by tiger_rick

[JLM]

Don’t support any causes because it’s impossible to support all causes. Don’t take a stance on anything because it’s impossible to take a stance on everything. Don’t try and do a little better because you’ll never be perfect. Don’t get me wrong, we’re all hypocritical and selective and morally inconsistent to varying degrees. We are flawed and we were born into a system that is difficult to disconnect from and still have a life. As I say, I won’t judge people for not doing “enough” (whatever that would even mean) or not having the same lines in the sand as me because we all have to choose those daily. The idea that numbing yourself to it all and doing nothing is the stronger moral stance is quite depressing though. 

Edited February 14, 2025 by JLM

[RedTwoster]

16 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

Ever been invited to something and decided you didn't want to go?

That really doesn’t have any impact on what I said. I’m not meaning to have a go at you here - but you can apply close to the same logic to your presence on Twitter. 

16 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

I mean he was there. He nodded at things she said and he didn't interrupt her with a babyface promo. And we know where he stands on diversity and representation, he was asked mere months ago about it.

All the more reason to ask him about it again then, no? If he nodded, he should be asked if he agreed with what she said. 

16 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

I think we know the answer to that as well, and there are about $100m a year of them.

And that’s a reason not to ask the question? It’s interesting that you liked a very similar comment I made in another thread. Is it because I referenced your Twitter use (which wasn’t an attempt to call you out) or was it because I said similar questions should be asked of AEW?

16 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

I am just quoting this because I thought it was funny tbh. 

Really? You know I’m a big fan of yours, but I think a response like this is beneath you. Of course AEW should be asked similar questions - do you think they should be exempt from them? I think executives from every major media outlet should be placed under heavy scrutiny as to where they stand on all of this; not least if they have ties to a Trump donor.

The thing is, I think both WWE and AEW will continue to be diverse employers; at least in front of the camera. But they absolutely should be asked where they stand on the current political climate, as it’s so all-encompassing; and Trump and Musk have taken a particular focus on the entertainment industry. 

[FUM]

We’re all hypocrites to our morals to some extent. Whether it be support of a football club owned by a prick, enjoying films knowing the industry was disgusting, listening to music knowing the singer has terrible beliefs or watching wrestling when we know the industry has been historically despicable.

As for Black History Month, I don’t think large corporations following government policy is a shock whether it be WWE or any company. Do I think it’s right? Absolutely not but it’s not like they’ve stopped everything and are running Klan videos. They did a big tribute video to MLK Jr. just a couple of weeks ago.

[deathrey]

@d-d-d-dAz sorry, couldn't be arsed to go back and quote/delete stuff but you talked about not wanting to drop an ingrained wrestling habit, I think that's a big difference for me here. I quit watching years ago and was thinking of starting again and this has hugely put me off

[tiger_rick]

9 minutes ago, FUM said:

As for Black History Month, I don’t think large corporations following government policy is a shock whether it be WWE or any company. Do I think it’s right? Absolutely not but it’s not like they’ve stopped everything and are running Klan videos. 

Again, that's OK then isn't? Phew. For a minute there, I thought there was a problem.

The bit in bold is the important bit. You are correct, it's not right. Let's say it's not right and stopping pretending the fact it could be worse matters a jot.

AEW have recognised it. I went and checked after the previous post. It's on their X and Facebook. There's a nice little video of all their black wrestlers too. I don't say that because I love AEW (I do really like AEW, that's clear in the AEW threads) but because it shows that this is a choice, not a mandate. If you choose to be ignorant, you should be called on it.

[Chili]

I posted this originally in the 'stupid things' thread. I'm not surprised by HHH being there, or his ghoul of a wife, or Linda's stupid son. We've known for years that politically they're a pack of cunts. It's just that it's so closely associated with such an awful regime, especially with what Linda McMahon was saying and Papa H was nodding along too and how WWE PR always put out all that stuff about 'Black History Month's that @tiger_rickmentioned. Nobody should be telling anyone on here that watching WWE because they're Trump shaggers or AEW because they have donated in the past, makes you an arsehole. If people were so hardline about everything and the level they judged it at, we'd all be completely miserable. But I think that regardless if wrestling is shit hot because we're all sad fucks who are happy it's not THAT embarrassing to be a fan at the moment, they're still rotten as fuck. You can't just switch completely off from it because we like a storyline or something guff, though fair play if you can, you mad sociopath.

That then has to make you think how does the company operate behind closed doors and now with these horrible fucks running the country, how much of a shit is even given to WWE bothering or just quietly nixing their performative PR they put out. Whose going to speak up in the company? People should, but I completely understand why they don't, because it's the wrestling business and they're not going to unite on it, probably because it's not worth the hassle, probably because a lot of them support it or they're shouting Qanon bollocks down in NXT, and because there wouldn't be any unity. If say Punk said something, he'd probably be left high and dry on it. The Undertaker gets to interview the prick. It's so closely pally. But even with all that they wheeled out Hogan and pay him to promote his beer, same fella who appeared at Trump's rallies and gave speeches. I'm amazed I'm the first saying this, but they're still doing business with the Saudi Arabians and doing their wretched shitty, sportswashing PR for them, and nobody really pipes up because everyone's just used to it I guess. It's not that for me it's 'Oh well, it's obvious they'd be real right-wingers' because we all knew. It's that it's more woven into the administration that I just think it's really abhorrently shit and I hope while the wrestlers themselves continue to work extremely hard for our entertainment, those at the top have a horrible great fall from grace one day, which I doubt, because while it's something they deserve, we just won't get the pleasure of ever seeing it. 

[Hannibal Scorch]

@RedTwoster I like you genuinely which is what’s so annoying we’re having this discussion between us. I am more active on Twitter still than Bluesky because unfortunately most of the people I’m friends with there aren’t in the sunshine space. I hate it, which goes back to asking the question of where do you draw lines and how do you justify decisions because things are more complex at times. I don’t pay for Twitter like I don’t pay for anything WWE related but that doesn’t mean my hands are clean, and I don’t think that is the be all and end all.

As to your last point, what companies or rich individuals do, or who they fund isn’t the big issue here. Because some companies donate to various causes and campaigns, some only to one side of things. Disney have fallen foul of that in the past as one example. But it’s not questioning where money was thrown here, we’re talking about an ex WWE employee, part of a lawsuit about something she was involved in, is trying to get a very serious and senior position in the government and used/invited the “leader” of her former company to be in attendance. Why? Why did he need to be there? Was Cheryl from Curb Your Enthusiasm in the hearing when RFK Jr was being heard? That’s a question by the way, I don’t know. But did he actually NEED to be there?

Also, Shad Khan is not involved in AEW. He doesn’t own it, he doesn’t have a position in the company as far as I know. His only ties are he gave his son his inheritance early so he could start the company. These are not the same things in my opinion.

[Mr_Danger]

1 hour ago, tiger_rick said:

 

JR would be beside himself trying to tell us how athletic every single person on this card is.

[FUM]

15 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

Was Cheryl from Curb Your Enthusiasm in the hearing when RFK Jr was being heard? That’s a question by the way, I don’t know.

Yes. I imagine it’s fairly standard to have family there.