The WWE were smacked in the face last night unexpected as John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight ran a blistering, yet funny, piece on the contracts of WWE wrestlers.  The WWE for years have violated labor laws by classifying their talent as ‘independent contractors’, but also retaining exclusivity over them.  Which is in fact illegal.

Despite numerous ex talent speaking out on Twitter about how happy they were that this finally brought to light, the WWE is steadfastly denying the insinuation they’re doing anything illegal.  In a statement, the McMahon Reich said;

John Oliver Ignores FactsJohn Oliver is clearly a clever and humorous entertainer, however the subject matter covered in his WWE segment is no laughing matter. Prior to airing, WWE responded to his producers refuting every point in his one-sided presentation. John Oliver simply ignored the facts.

The health and wellness of our performers is the single most important aspect of our business, and we have a comprehensive, longstanding Talent Wellness program.

We invite John Oliver to attend WrestleMania this Sunday to learn more about our company.

I’ve been told independently by two sources that the locker room is a buzz with this, and one of the sources said that the McMahons were “embarrassed” by the whole piece.  The sources also note that the only issue anyone might have had was the timing of the Roman Reigns joke.  That said, anyone I’m told that is trouncing the report is either in management or being encouraged.

John Cena’s WrestleMania match is still up in the air as of this writing.  While the WWE and Cena seemingly have agreed on who, no one else knows yet.  According to Dave Meltzer,

The Cena match is being kept secret.  I mean even people who know everything don’t know that one. I mean people internal, internal do know, but I don’t know who it is. It’s not Kurt, for sure. He’s got nothing to do with the Kurt match. Kurt is wrestling Baron Corbin, unless there’s another guy who’s coming in that we don’t know that’s what it’s gonna be.

Personally I think it might be The Undertaker, because reasons.

WWE Quick Hits – Linda McMahon will resign from her position as  the head of the Small Business Administration, and will take a job in the private sector.   She’ll still play a part in the President’s 2020 re-election campaign.  The WWE will bring back the women’s battle royal for WrestleMania.   WWE’s main event for WrestleMania will now be  a’winner-take-all’ match.  Rhyno’s contract expires in July and according to the Man Beats himself, he might be moving on when it does, and the 42 year old hopes to work until he’s 50.

 

In AAA news, the promotion has announced a press conference at Madison Square Garden on April 4th to more than likely announce their future show.  Among the wrestlers appearing are IMPACT Wrestling’s Taya Valkyrie, Pentagon Jr, Fenix, Konnan and AAA mainstays like Blue Demon Jr., Daga Drago, Puma King and Aerostar.    With the Young Bucks bringing eyes to the product as the promotions tag team champions, and the signing of UFC veteran Cain Velasquez, it seems like now’s the time to push for this.

Chris Jericho revealed on the Chris Norton and Sam Roberts show that he’s ‘persona non grata’ with the WWE, and the WWE has stonewalled him from being able to book WWE talent on his Talk is Jericho show.  He claims this is due to his affiliation with AEW.

Indy Quick Hits – Tenille Dashwood is now a free agent and is no longer with Ring of Honor.  Kenny King has re-signed with ROH for two more years.