After Greatest Rumble We Should Question WWE’s Commitment to Social Change
The WWE leaving the women’s division off of the Greatest Royal Rumble creates an opening to question their position on social change.
The WWE Greatest Royal Rumble has come and gone. The event that took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia brought out approximately 60,000 people in attendance and millions more watched on the WWE Network. This event is widely considered a success for the business opportunities that came into the WWE, but one must wonder if holding the event without any women on the show hurt the organization’s attempt to position the women on equal footing with the men on the roster.
Women’s wrestling in the WWE has continue to push to new levels. Everything from the Women’s Rumble, to the ladder match, elimination chamber and their placement on nightly shows; the WWE is placing more importance on what women bring inside the ring, rather than just around it. This is why it stung so deeply to many when the WWE agreed to partner with a country that doesn’t see women as equal citizens. Weeks later, this talking point has remained center stage as experts, fans and other wrestlers alike have weighed in on the controversy.
“I understand that people are questioning it, but you have to understand that every culture is different and just because you don’t agree with a certain aspect of it, it doesn’t mean it’s not a relevant culture,” Paul Levesque (Triple H) said as transcribed by Jack Jorgensen of CBS Sports. “You can’t dictate to a country or a religion about how they handle things but, having said that, WWE is at the forefront of a women’s evolution in the world and what you can’t do is affect change anywhere by staying away from it.”
If having a positive impact on change was a focus for the WWE, why would the organization covet the business of a country that is diametrically opposed to change of their own? In doing so, the WWE has created an atmosphere where it’s OK to question whether the company is willing to trade off its social awareness for financial gain. The WWE has made strides for many social movements such as their anti-bullying campaign, but this controversy makes it seem like those are just for show instead of seriously causing the change Levesque spoke so highly of in his statement.
With the WWE heading toward negotiations for a new television deal, what happens if a major outlet like Fox makes a questionable request? Would the company be willing to change the booking of its women’s divisions or other wrestlers based on the financial support of the company signing the agreement? These questions didn’t seem viable long ago, but after the concessions made to the Saudi Arabian government, that doesn’t seem too tall of an order today.
Next: The SmackDown roster is the best in recent memory
Within the WWE The Greatest Royal Rumble is seen as an overall success. But at the end of the day, it seems like the WWE has some questions to answer for their treatment of the women on their roster. They’ve opened the door to wonder just how serious the WWE is about social change or if their dedication to the platforms are stronger than the almighty dollar.