{"id":124279,"date":"2024-05-06T09:00:06","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=124279"},"modified":"2024-05-06T02:20:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T06:20:45","slug":"sports-and-entertainment-has-the-paul-levesque-era-buried-vince-mcmahons-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/05\/06\/sports-and-entertainment-has-the-paul-levesque-era-buried-vince-mcmahons-legacy\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cSports and Entertainment\u201d: Has The Paul Levesque Era Buried Vince McMahon&#8217;s Legacy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In this first of three articles, James unpacks how since\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlemania XL<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0changes in the relationship between\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">and its founder\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vince McMahon<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0have impacted perceptions of the new era of wrestling. Since Vince put his remaining\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">TKO Group Holdings<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0stocks up for sale, the company is almost disconnected professionally from the man who made WWE a global cultural brand. This has impacted\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AEW<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and WWE both in terms of\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">creative<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, business and its fanbase\u2019s perceptions.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In the next two articles, James will analyse first how\u00a0<\/span><\/em><strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Paul Levesque Era<\/span><\/em><\/strong><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> has fulfilled WWE fans&#8217; wishes. In the last, how differently AEW faces differences in its fan\u2019s expectations.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/80JkHAIIHuY?si=9jDbBdqKzNQyk9Nx\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cDamn, I Love Pro Wrestling\u201d<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For some fans, that expression of explicit joy from\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Michael Cole<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for pro wrestling signalled that the era of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vince McMahon<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was over for good. Unlike\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlemania 39<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, it\u2019s not a false dawn. Now, Michael Cole and other commentators have used what were once forbidden words, like pro wrestling, repeatedly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yet at Mania, it was the match to light the fireworks. The added confirmation that WWE is \u201cback\u201d. A perceived correction was made. Vince\u2019s presence, despite claims of staying \u201cout of the weeds\u201d, lingered after\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cody Rhodes<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0failed to complete the story on the first try.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The bookending of Mania made it clear: this is \u201cThe Paul Levesque Era\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Symbolically, change was there in plain sight. Beyond Triple H\u2019s declaring it, the message seemed drummed in and repeated throughout the night. Even in small choices. Like the national anthem replacing America the Beautiful. For a wrestler whom many fans for years hated for burying people, many are happy with his burial of his father-in-law\u2019s legacy. Out with the old and in with the new.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ding dong, the Vince is (metaphorically) dead! The signs are that WWE is trying to erase Vince from its history, like it has before with its problematic performers of the past. At least for the time being. Yet, just like in those incidences, just because they are out of sight, doesn\u2019t remove them out of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although, to a certain degree, I would argue that some fans are happy to go along with erasing McMahonism. The issue is this runs the risk of also misappropriating credit to Triple H when in fact WWE\u2019s current success and upward trajectory are rooted in Vince\u2019s decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even the change of language used to describe WWE is essentially McMahonesque. The change to WWE\u2019s USP (its unique selling point) from \u201csports entertainment\u201d to\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cSports and entertainment\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The addition of \u201cand\u201d is key for two significant reasons. First, it\u2019s a supposedly clear break for the new Paul Levesque Era from the trappings of Vince. It\u2019s a break away from the old, self-denying term that tried to pretend the second W did not stand for wrestling. And yet it retains familiarity with the past. It\u2019s having their cake and eating it too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Second, it helps display the regime\u2019s narrative. WWE is more than a pro wrestling company. No more denial or word games. It\u2019s the implication WWE is now more sports-driven while retaining the entertainment factor. The blending of new cinematic elements of production and storytelling with clear logical and storyline-orientated action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It also implies WWE is more than pro wrestling. It\u2019s a slight but significant change. One that initially, when announced, concerned me as a fan of having a competitive wrestling market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, if like me you enjoy studying the connotations and implicit meaning behind language, you may have already come to the same conclusion I have. A conclusion is that the more things change, the more they stay the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We\u2019re Number One\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Paul Levesque Era in essence and approach is still, like Vince McMahon, to monopolize wrestling.\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KKUdSgsL5PU\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Voices of Wrestling<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0dissected how WWE\u2019s RP team systemically control the mainstream media narrative that favours them and disparages AEW. WWE is hot. They are right, in business terms, taking advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The by-product of this cultural narrative is that while WWE is in a financial and creative \u201cRenaissance\u201d, AEW is therefore \u201cdying\u201d. The Monday Night Wars narrative is such an easy comparison that is being made. Ironically,\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/25\/the-corporate-elite-is-the-aew-faction-whats-best-for-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Elite<\/span><\/a><\/strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/25\/the-corporate-elite-is-the-aew-faction-whats-best-for-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in<\/span><\/a><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/25\/the-corporate-elite-is-the-aew-faction-whats-best-for-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0AEW<\/span><\/a><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is also trying to have its cake and eat it too, but to try and address this narrative.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In approach, Triple H is approaching opposition to market dominance in the same way as his father-in-law. But part of the presentation is interesting in that Paul Levesque is the person to receive the lion\u2019s share of credit without mentioning the foundations Vince provided. Arguably, the reason WWE is in this position, at least financially is happenstance rather than due to Triple H or creative. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Although the latter has helped immensely,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CM Punk<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in 2011 was right in WWE and Vince could make money \u201cdespite himself\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Age of Myth-Making\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The thing with perception is it becomes reality.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">George Orwell,<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0the writer of\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1984<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, would have loved wrestling because of how companies, pundits and fans use and twist language to build their narratives and myths.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tribalism and echo chambers, which are not a new phenomenon, but only more technologically sophisticated and widespread in our society due to the internet, make facts flexible and subjective. Opinions are concrete and true. This is a wider symptom of our Western political divisions. It has resulted in and will result in lots of false narratives being created.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Elsewhere, I\u2019ve covered myths around\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/10\/aew-overpay-wrestlers-wwe-underpay-wrestlers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">AEW contracts and wrestlers&#8217; pay<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. The things both WWE and some of its fans have missed about\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/30\/wwe-learn-aew-bidding-war-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">why some wrestlers prefer AEW<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0(spoiler: it\u2019s not just to do with the grind). Even why discussion around whose better,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Undertaker<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sting<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">(?), is built on either recency\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/11\/the-undertaker-vs-sting-comparing-endings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">bias<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/03\/12\/the-undertaker-vs-sting-breaking-down-discord\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">modern discord<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These narratives play a purpose for both the company and the customer. They help us to identify and feel connected with our media. From the company&#8217;s standpoint, they want fans to focus on the positives. Their narrative. At present it puts Paul Levesque front and centre. From a creative standpoint and as a locker room leader, yes, he deserves credit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">However, from a business standpoint, something that fans online are quick to tout about WWE, the success comes because of Vince. Two men Vince hired, before the series of scandals broke, have helped more than Triple H in making his era what it is today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">PR Spin<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The successes are touted and repeated by the media. WWE Senior Vice President of Communications,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chris Legentil<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, is the person behind the scenes generating the spin. Legentil\u2019s management of the press and media has allowed the deluge of positive reporting to distract from more negative aspects of WWE\u2019s legal issues beyond Vince.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For instance, settling with\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Court Baur\u2019s MLW<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2023\/12\/20\/mlw-wwe-lawsuit-ends\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">anti-trust lawsuit and settling<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0with former writer\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Britney Abraham&#8217;s<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0racial discrimination lawsuit. Currently, as reported in February, WWE is suing the state of Texas to stop\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wrestlenomics\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">from having access to documents linked to attendance numbers and ticket sales for the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Royal Rumble<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in San Antonio that would otherwise be available on public record.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Beyond WWE, some pundits have monetized the anti-AEW hate market into a cottage industry. These figures are eager to stir the pot with AEW fans who are happy to weaponize the positives, which often causes distractions from these other issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To be clear, there is nothing wrong with WWE celebrating its successes. WWE fans have taken years of abuse from wider popular culture for liking wrestling. As well as from WWE itself. Fans are not morally responsible for the actions of the company. Unfortunately, these issues and moral dilemmas impact various sports. And as I\u2019ll discuss later, there are ways mentally we side-step moral complexity. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Business is Booming, Thanks to One Man<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Nick Khan<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0has revolutionised the way WWE does business. As an outsider with experience as a talent agent and business executive, Khan brought connections, knowledge and skills working with various creative, sports and media industries WWE did not have before. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Khan has perhaps proven to be the greatest hire Vince made in his later years. In the 2010s, WWE was making huge record profits, regardless of barren\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">creative<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. More so than the glorified\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Attitude Era<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then Khan arrived. His approach has packaged WWE\u2019s unique cultural value to the extent that countries and cities pay to host WWE events. This narrative is often used to diminish AEW by comparison. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yet often the sentiment behind it gets something wrong. It\u2019s not just because WWE is popular again. It\u2019s because the man who oversees this section of the business has brought newer corporate dark arts to wrestling that\u2019s allowed WWE to maximize its profitability more than ever.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Beyond the business being the machinery left by Vince, there are still McMahon&#8217;s fingerprints in the most significant aspect of WWE\u2019s wrestling product.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sports and Entertainment are Not Equal Partners<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE has fulfilled the wishes that fans have been asking for over a decade. I\u2019ll explore these more in the next article. Although it\u2019s important to point out that while some WWE fans feel wrestling is back, pointing to attendance, money and ratings, there is another striking number. The amount of wrestling on WWE shows compared to AEW is night and day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last week AEW\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Collison&#8217;s\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">main event between\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Swerve Strickland<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Claudio Castagnoli<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0went longer than all the combined matches on\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Smackdown\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">that week. This past week the percentage of actual wrestling bell-to-bell on\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Raw<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0was 27% over three hours and 33 28% on\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Smackdown<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At times, PLEs such as\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the Elimination Chamber<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0in Australia are four and a half hours long. The largest gap between matches was over 50 minutes. The entire show had only an hour and 50 minutes of wrestling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some may argue quality over quantity or the importance of pageantry. WWE excels at the latter, but that for some doesn\u2019t cover up that some divisions are booked better than others. See the cold reception WWE\u2019s lower card women\u2019s division and women\u2019s tag team division receive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The wrestling quality has been more consistent under Triple H. Wrestling at times returns to the forefront but shows are still open with SNL-style monologues. Cards seem to be made on the fly and authority figures and top heels still make decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Solo Sikoa<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is presented as possibly the next Tribal Chief, despite a long losing streak. DQs and no contests still happen. There are holes in WWE\u2019s storytelling that existed under Vince.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And yet the crowd remained hot. The deafening sound made in France last night shows fans are not only invested but this is what they want. Fans are more than satisfied and that\u2019s all that counts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Eggshells Have Left the Building\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Perhaps Triple H\u2019s biggest success is the change in WWE\u2019s working atmosphere. Behind the scenes, many wrestlers and former WWE wrestlers are keen to point out positively the way WWE feels relaxed. The Undertaker described it as \u201ccalm, almost too calm\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Without late changes occurring almost minute to minute and a more approachable style of management, it\u2019s undoubtedly made WWE a better place for many WWE wrestlers and employees. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vince\u2019s reportedly volatile nature and constant changes to programming frustrated wrestlers and fans alike. These stories normalised what would in another work environment be a hostile and unacceptable work environment. Yet because it\u2019s pro wrestling, it\u2019s kind of accepted by wrestlers and then fans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even for top stars who had access to Vince, it did not stop their mental health from being impacted like\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CM Punk<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Jon Moxley<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. This has made WWE a more attractive work environment since Vince has left.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">But to play devil\u2019s advocate, is the change from the \u201ceggshell\u201d walking culture of WWE something to celebrate? Or in 2024 should there be a standard for every employee, whether professional athletes or ordinary crew members to be treated with respect?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bury Vince with Cognitive Dissonance<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As fans, our focus is on wrestling, but politics has played a significant role in many wrestling fans\u2019 fandoms because of creative dissatisfaction. The fact WWE has never had a boom period this profitable makes the correlation easier to digest. Easier to justify a cognitive dissonance between the product we enjoy and the morally difficult aspects of Vince McMahon\u2019s choices of behaviour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that impacts many of us outside of wrestling. It\u2019s about how a person can remove a discomforting feeling or idea that conflicts with or contradicts our beliefs and values. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">How we either ignore or use wrestling terminology, bury contradictory thoughts or feelings away from our morals. Almost like a self-imposed layer of kayfabe. Some folks need to enjoy something while avoiding moral conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE and Triple H cannot remove themselves fully from Vince. Triple H is Vince\u2019s son-in-law. As outlined, the Paul Levesque regime is not revolutionary. Rather a regime with similar philosophies that overlap closely. Triple H uses the same machinery to override the history of the other. It\u2019s how history has always been written.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vince cannot be wholly removed from WWE history. When writing about\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/30\/wrestling-with-neurodivergence-a-history-of-achievement-success-and-masking\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">neurodivergence success in wrestling<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, I could not avoid mentioning Vince\u2019s contribution. His impact is ingrained in every aspect of wrestling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Morally, it can be difficult to deal with allegations when they are so deeply connected to something you care about. Wrestlers who know Vince closely are struggling with this issue.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bryan Danielson<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is parasocial and interpreted as a virtuous figure in wrestling. Danielson used familiar language to express his feelings towards Vince while avoiding commenting on the accusations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201c<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you love somebody, is that people make mistakes and you love them regardless, you know<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">?\u201d Bryan Danielson, a<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">transcript from\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fightful.com\/wrestling\/bryan-danielson-vince-mcmahon-no-comment-you-love-someone-even-when-they-make-mistakes\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fightfu<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">l<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s Human to Want to Move On\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s easier for many to focus on the wrestling and positives and that is entirely valid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Across sports and beyond, there are controversies that fans will turn a blind eye to. In football (soccer), fans have turned a blind eye to suggestions of corruption and breaks of human rights for workers related to World Cups in Qatar. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Then before this Russia and Brazil. In real life, consider how many fans can separate the artist. For example, separating\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Michael Jackson<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and his music from serious accusations made against him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In wrestling, many fans like me have had to do this before. I used this self-defence mechanism myself to deal with the uncomfortable truth related to my first wrestling hero,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chris Benoit<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I live in the UK and one night, I was able to stay up to watch Raw at 1 AM. As the show started, I was greeted by the graphic used only for when people have died. I<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> was heartbroken and cried. Then when reality came to light, I had to deal with the fact my hero was a murderer. At first, like some folks still online, I tried to separate the work from the artist. However, I realised that this wasn\u2019t morally acceptable to me. It was easier and better to cut Benoit out completely. Sometimes it is better to forget and move on. That\u2019s fine.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s what we have the chance to do under The Paul Levesque Era. And whether the reminders of Vince bother you or not, that\u2019s fine. Wrestling is the escape. The fact that the change has been positive just makes it easier.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<p><em>Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013 Stay tuned to the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_self\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this first of three articles, James unpacks how since\u00a0Wrestlemania XL\u00a0changes in the relationship between\u00a0WWE\u00a0and its founder\u00a0Vince McMahon\u00a0have impacted perceptions of the new era of wrestling. Since Vince put his remaining\u00a0TKO Group Holdings\u00a0stocks up for sale, the company is almost disconnected professionally from the man who made WWE a global cultural brand. This has impacted\u00a0AEW\u00a0and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4960,"featured_media":124302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,4,3],"tags":[8758,7845,75,241,8790],"class_list":["post-124279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-elimination-chamber-2024","tag-nick-khan","tag-triple-h","tag-vince-mcmahon","tag-wrestlemania-xl"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4960"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=124279"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124279\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=124279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}