Over the last day or so, we’ve seen a vast alteration in the way the WWE does business. The WWE, or rather, Vince McMahon, has developed a reputation for not releasing talent from their contracts if they requested it. But that seemed to change yesterday with the release of Sin Cara, Luke Harper, and the Ascension (Konnor and Viktor). Reasons vary from a spring cleaning to McMahon realizing they didn’t have anything more to offer the WWE. The more popular theory, and the one that makes the most sense, is that Triple H convinced McMahon to change his mind.
There is a logic to this, as over the last few years reports have leaked that Triple H has consoled various NXT superstars after a McMahon tirade. There are other rumors as well that have Triple H defending NXT in general from McMahon or others’ ideas. One recent one was that they reportedly wanted Triple H to compete at Survivor Series, which he refused.
The biggest reason for Triple H to be involved has to do with recent WWE policy
Hold ‘em tight
Over the last twenty years, the WWE has secured promising talent, then buried most of them so they most likely couldn’t be a threat elsewhere. In short, it was probably done to prevent other promotions from growing to threaten them like WCW did in the 1990s.
It’s also a known fact that McMahon holds grudges, so he may have refused to grant releases simply because he felt slighted. It could’ve been because it shows a lack of faith in the process, in him for promoting them. It’s hard not to take something like that personally when you’re as involved in the day to day (micromanaging) of a company. Nothing is guaranteed to work, and McMahon’s lack of allowing most talent to have say in their own concepts probably doesn’t help.
It’s could reverse a negative view
Given the fact the company reportedly lost over $8 million last year and the pasting they’ve been getting over their beyond poor and tired storylines on Raw and Smackdown, not to mention the numerous promotions that have been growing in popularity, negativity is the last thing the WWE needs.
The WWE has long been considered the “big leagues” where a wrestler hopes to sign to make their dreams of fame and fortune come true. It’s a proven commodity that’s cranked out talent and made many wrestlers wealthy.
Over the years with the advent of social media, the Indie culture has exploded in all entertainment areas like books, movies, music, and professional wrestling.
Going Indie means total creative control for the wrestler and the freedom to work with any promotion they want. It’s a freedom that isn’t available to many that sign long term contracts with a single promotion. Fun Fact: All promotions, including WWE, have brought in Indie wrestlers (independent contactors) like Bruiser Brody and so on.
For many, the creative freedom to hone their own character and work where they want or are able to is worth risking a lower income and paying for their own healthcare.
By letting the aforementioned superstars to leave, it’s a step in showing others that the WWE cares about wrestlers and their careers. This could go a long way for future talent and fans’ views toward the promotion.
We’ve often heard about Vince McMahon wanting to do thing “the right way,” but it appears Triple H is intent on doing that, even if it’s informing their talent to speak to them if there’s a problem.
In the end, putting the talent’s best interests before the promotion isn’t a bad thing. Especially when said talent doesn’t want to be there. Plus, it also frees up some cash.
