Jimmy Jacobs, a former WWE backstage producer, has been fired following a photo being released of himself and Bullet Club members during their ‘invasion’ on Raw.
Jimmy Jacobs, a long time independent wrestler, who had an incredible run in Ring of Honor for over twelve years, left the indies, and joined the WWE in a backstage creative role as a writer.
The Young Bucks, an indy tag-team whom are friends with Jacobs, recently received a cease and desist letter from the WWE. This letter mentioned that The Young Bucks can no longer use the ‘Too Sweet’ hand gesture, because it looks too similar to an intellectual property the WWE own.
Furthermore, the company demanded that the Bucks should stop using the gesture on any merchandise and in-ring. Or else, they would be fined with $150K(+) in damages, per Wrestling Sheet.
The Young Buck have been using the ‘Too Sweet’ hand gesture for some time now, and Ryan Satin (who wrote the original report), suggested that the WWE may have only found out about the Bucks using their intellectual property because of their ‘Raw Invasion’.
The Bullet Club, which involves the Young Bucks, recently released a video entitled “Bullet Club Invades Raw” – on their Being The Elite YouTube channel. The video also included ex-WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, who is now doing his own thing on the indies.
The video quite clearly takes shots at the WWE, but, it can only be seen as satirical. The video is a poor knock-off of the actual WWE invasion angle. And that’s the point of the humour. However, clearly the WWE don’t find it amusing. And as such, sent the Bucks cease and desist’s.
Last night, Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet broke the news on Jimmy Jacobs being fired from his role in the company; which stems from him taking a picture with the Bullet Club outside of the arena before Raw.
Per Satin, company officials were very angry that he took a photo with Bullet Club members, ones in which, that are long time friends.
You could argue that the cease and desist letter was warranted, moreover, a long time coming for The Young Bucks. However, there’s no denying that firing an employee — just for taking a picture with ‘rival’ employees — is unjustified.
And it makes the WWE come across very petty, which is certainly not a good look. The company’s hope may be to look strong, and send a statement to the Indies, however, in my opinion is does the exact opposite.
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It shows that the company are taking notice of these individuals, furthermore, willing to take time out their day to punish successful Indy wrestlers. It does do the WWE any favours in terms of publicity. Let the headline read the WWE fired an employee, just for taking a picture with old friends.