Lately it seems that WWE has its hands full thanks to fed-up Superstars.
From Neville to Emma, the reports that have been coming out by the day leave much speculation as to what is really going on backstage.
To be fair, this isn’t the first time that fans have heard of WWE Superstars being unhappy with their position. Most fans recall CM Punk telling all on the infamous Art of Wrestling podcast, exposing the behavior and backstage drama that we only read about all over the Internet. I immediately thought about him when Sports Illustrated reported on Emma’s being vocal backstage over her direction.
It has been said that if you don’t stand up for yourself, no one else will. Emma may have had backstage heat, but you can’t blame her for trying to find a way to receive TV time and a chance to shine among the Women’s Division. Emma had been overlooked on the main roster from the start. Her runs in NXT were prominent, but casual fans would never know that thanks to the creative’s lack of commitment to her. It’s a stark contrast considering the high praise she received from her peers on the day of her release. I firmly believe she is the one WWE let get away, and it’s a shame. It may be a blessing for Emma, who will succeed in other promotions such as Shimmer.
Also reminiscent to Punk, the hot topic of October was the shocking news of Neville “walking out”. The company has been quiet about Neville’s disappearance, but if it is really true, then once more fans can’t blame Neville for being fed up with his position in the company. Neville was highly misused on the main roster, but going to the Cruiserweight Division afforded him a great opportunity in character change and being the Division’s top star. Neville is a main event star, and his consistent work proved that.
Austin Aries’ request for release earlier this year was the start of things falling apart on the Cruiserweight end. Many were outraged when the match between him and Neville was moved to the pre-show at WrestleMania. Aries had tried to have a good outlook on the situation, but it fell flat when the match was not included on the DVD. The exclusion of the match robbed both men of WrestleMania royalties. The rumors of Enzo Amore may have put the nail in the coffin in terms of Neville’s WWE main roster run, but according to all the reports, it seems that his walk out was a long time coming.
The heavy rumor with Jax’s leave of absence was a pay dispute. Regardless of her bloodline, fans ought to know that it isn’t a secret that the women don’t get paid as much as the men do. Didn’t AJ Lee blast Stephanie McMahon some years back about pay equality? Coincidentally, a salary report was released shortly after the news of Jax’s absence surfaced. With little detail behind Jax’s time off, it’s really hard to say what happened despite the rumors that were running wild.
For WWE they may call the shots and they control Superstars’ fates. But for Superstars, their goals are to win championships and create legacies for themselves. Many times the dreams are tarnished because of misuse and lack of concentration and commitment on the creative department end. It is very hard to appreciate the hard work of the talent when the direction and stories just doesn’t make sense many of times.
It is one of the most frustrating things to watch as a fan. So when the Internet gets wind of what’s happening, it really should come as no surprise. If fans are frustrated watching Superstars, imagine how Superstars themselves feel about their position. Even Sasha Banks has been vocal about creative direction. Little bits and pieces are coming out, and it’s surprising that there hasn’t been a much bigger issue coming out of it.
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With stories such as Neville, Emma, and Jax making waves there is a common thread despite the paths each person has taken. Is there an underlying issue and if so, what is the company doing about it? We will all just have to see if these bits of news will die down or not.