There is a common belief among many, one that has been shared to me, that the WWE does in fact micromanage talent to the tune of influencing what and how they post on social media.

So remember that, because this will make the following story so much easier to digest.  Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet, someone who has shown to have great sources in the industry in the past, reported that Mike Bennett and Maria were pushing for their releases from the company.  Satin reached out to both stars, and were told ‘no comment’.

Maria has now come out swinging, denying the news and saying it was all made up.  Right.  Made up.  Yet, she omits any mention of being contacted for the article in question.  Her silence is telling.  She goes out after the person ‘leaking rumors’, saying in a selection from her Instagram post;

Whoever is leaking rumors I pity you. And your desperate attempt for attention while disparaging my husband and I. I’m gonna take the weekend off of social media to hang out with my beautiful family and I suggest whoever it is does the same.

Yet, nowhere does she deny being asked about the report, and nowhere did she claim she ‘set the record state’ when asked for a comment.   If she didn’t want the unwanted news, she should of denied the story.  She was asked.  She didn’t deny.

Satin’s tweet is below.

Just so it’s known … I reached out to the couple for comment BEFORE publishing and was told there’d be no comment.

This could’ve been EASILY avoided had they just said the part about Maria wasn’t true. Reporters who reach out to verify information with you aren’t the enemy. https://t.co/snN2uHNsX3

— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) January 18, 2019

The thing with journalists, and we are journalists, hate to break it to you, is that we protect sources.  So many mindless fans have attacked Satin (and others in the past) by saying “WHY DON’T YOU JUST TELL US WHO’S TELLING YOU THE INFORMATION!!?!?!?!”  Well, because, we protect our sources.  Maybe today it’s them telling us Maria wants to quit the WWE.  Maybe tomorrow it’s that Vince McMahon has an illegal Peruvian pig fighting ring in his basement.  Not everything is Watergate.  We know this.  But if we can’t be trusted to protect sources over contract status’ and the like, why would anyone expect us to protect them over something truly serious like allegations of rape and assault?

Those that demand the names of our sources only do so to have another target.  To have another person to go after.  To have other people on their imaginary list of people they hate; because those people are saying things that upset the tranquil balance in that person’s demented head.  We don’t give sources up.  We also don’t burn sources.  Period.  It is OUR responsibility as journalists to weigh and measure each piece of information given.

Most outlets run a rule of two rule; two distinctly different sources must offer the same news before they go ahead with the information.  I doubt Satin did that.  However, I also suspect that Satin’s source is one of the boys in the locker room; which is usually an exception.  I don’t know, but I know, that all of Meltzer’s AEW news is coming straight from AEW crew members.

Which is another thing; companies, agencies, and individuals leak news all the time to get people talking.  I would wager or hazard a guess that most of the leaked news that comes out is coming from the horses mouth, or at least it’s ass.

Maria could of ended speculation by denying it to Satin.  That was her responsibility.  There is no excuse, other than she looks down on people who do this for work.  If she said ‘no comment’, she should of stuck by that, or at least admitted that she should’ve spoken sooner when asked about it.  Instead she plays the victim, and rials people up to avoid getting fired by her company.

And that’s where we come back around.  The WWE may of renegotiated with the Bennets.  Fans think that news is a linear story.  That once a report occurs, that’s it.  It’s set in stone and it’s either a lie, or it’s the truth.  Yet, that’s not the case at all.

Follow along.  On Tuesday all the rumors and reports came out, for the most part.  So on Monday, let’s say Mike and Maria did ask for their release.  Tuesday the news comes out, but then Wednesday happens.  In this fictional-for-instance, lets say on Wednesday that Pappa Vince offers Mike and Maria a raise, less dates to work, and a bonus.  Let’s also say that this appeases them and they decide to return to work.  Yet, here’s the caveat, now they have to go out and save face.  Now they have to back the company, and denounce those “pitied and desperate” losers who “leak rumors”.

Don’t think this happens?  It doe.  It happens all the time.  The WWE became a travel ad for the worst country in the Middle East, and did it with a smile on their face.  You don’t think the WWE worries about all avenues of news? Even the dirt sheets?  Dirt sheets kicked up news about Randy Orton, and the WWE responded.  The dirt sheets kicked up news about Vince McMahon and his involvement in the Snuka Murder case, and the WWE responded. The WWE worries about every outlet with any reach.  It’s what they do.  It’s a company obsessed with it’s image.  The WWE is currently facing a crisis of image, with so many wrestlers wanting out, they have to make it seem like everything is A-ok.  Like when they turned a blind eye to Bill DeMott’s abusive tactics in developmental, or when Michael P.S. Hayes got a recovering alcoholic to drink again.  They just swipe things under the rug and move on, unless they can’t.

The dirt sheets reach the wrestlers.  The wrestlers read them, and put stock in them.  The WWE can’t have potential employees feeling empowered.  So they try to cut things down when they can.  They have talent attack credible outlets, for the sake of saving face.  Think that doens’t happen?  Look at our sitting President.  Where do you think he learned that from (*Looks over at Vince McMahon*)

And then we’re back to Maria.  Maria should apologize to Satin publicly for this mess.  She won’t, because she’s worried about the all-mighty dollar.  And isn’t that what’s most important?  And if Maria reads this, and is offended that I thrashed her character, all she has to do is prove Satin didn’t reach out for comment and I’ll apologize.  However, if she doesn’t prove otherwise, and Satin does, then her thrashed character is justified.

 

In Other News…

Bloodsport should become a real promotion, because I love it.  And hate it but that’s just my thing.  Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, which will be happening on Thursday, April 4th before WrestleMania weekend has just announced Dan Severn will be returning to the ring.  For those keeping track; that’s now three future/current UFC legends on the show.

Meltzer is reporting that part of the reason KUSHIDA wanted out of NJPW was due to stagnency in the brands story telling.  KUSHIDA wanted to turn heel and join the Bullet Club, allegedly but Gedo thought he was best served in the role he’d been in for nearly eight years.  It should be noted, this wasn’t the one reason, it’s never one reason.  This was more than likely the last reason KUSHIDA needed to leave the company.

In other Meltzer news, Ilja Dragunov is apparently set to join the WWE’s NXTUK brand.  I refuse to put a space between the ‘T’ and ‘U’.  Renegade for life.  The Russian, born Ilja Rukober (HOW WAS ROCKTOBER NOT THE FIRST NAME HE WENT WITH!?) did a tryout in Germany last year, and was given a developmental contract.  Dragunov is a well touted wrestler and behind WALTER and Timothy Thatcher was seen as wXw’s best worker.  DEFIANT Wrestling seemingly confirmed this by announcing he was taken off their shows in February.  But the NXTUK brand will continue to work locally in the region.  Great jokes guys.

Mexican promotion CRASH Wrestling (now with that same No-Konnan-Taste), has announced that they’ll partner with China’s Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (IT’S THEIR NAME), and will bring the up-and-coming promotion to Mexico for a partnership.   China isn’t known for it’s love of pro wrestling but recently they’ve started to gain some inroads, and outlets like NJPW, and NWA have helped.

In an attempt to hide the fact nothing happened today, I’ll now be talking boxing.  Wladimir Klitschko discussed a three-fight deal with super fighting app DAZN (pronounced “Da Zone”…who named you, Snookie?  Beyonce?).  DAZN is killing the boxing pay per view market, signing Canelo Alvarez to a huge deal, and partnering with Bellator MMA as well.  Klitschko is still retired however, and is probably a Bond-villain in his down time.

Finally, the UFC released the ugliest belts ever that are overly complicated and stupid.  Here’s a photo of the gaudy and overly complicated title belts that are totally not WWE titles.