Lio Rush highlights outdated practices in WWE locker room

Lio Rush has been in the news for week due to heat backstage, but is he causing problems or just illuminating a larger issue?

Rumbling about the 24-year-old cruiserweight, Lio Rush, started a few weeks ago. He was notably absent this week on Raw, forcing Bobby Lashley to speak for him—a memo Lashley apparently took literally.

Last week, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp said a source told him Rush would be “very lucky to be back on the main roster anytime soon if ever” due to him conduct backstage.

There are all sorts of rumors floating around about the situation. Some sources suggested there was a rift between Lashley and Rush. Others claimed Intercontinental Champion, Finn Balor, had a problem with him and his wife’s presence at a rehearsal. However, the most prevalent story is Lio Rush feels like he’s too good to pay his dues.

Now, the term “pay your dues” elicits a strong response depending on who you discuss it with. That seemed to be the case when Hall of Famer, Mark Henry, chimed in on the topic on Busted Open Radio. Henry was agitated because he felt Rush wasn’t honest with him about his situation in the locker room when he tried to help him. He also expressed distaste in the idea that Lio didn’t feel he should have to carry anyone’s else bags.

Rush tweeted, “I believe we are all able to carry our own gear and provisions. I treat others as equals and as a young black male have often had to fight for my own equality.” In response, Henry said the following:

“It’s not a race issue. It’s an ego issue. Who are you? Nobody is exempt from being respectful to the business and paying homage to the guys drawing money. We all have done it. Steve Austin did it. The Rock did it. You better than The Rock? Get the [expletive] outta here!”

It’s hard to determine whose point of view is right because we aren’t privy to the way backstage politics works. It’s entirely possible that neither of them is necessarily wrong nor right.

At any rate, the fact remains that paying your dues, and the very idea of meritocracy, doesn’t usually hold up when race or sex is a part of the equation. Any insistence that everyone is treated the same as long as you put in the work is flawed at best.

With that said, Lio Rush is no stranger to backstage heat. Back in 2017, he was heavily criticized for an ill-advised joke about Tenille Dashwood, after she got released. In addition, more than one source has claimed he’s arrogant in the past.

Earlier this week, Sapp conducted an exclusive interview with Rush. It was an interesting look into his side of the story, and admittedly he made a few solid points. If what he says is true, he has some valid grievances. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s handling the situation well, but that doesn’t invalidate any of his claims—particularly his right to royalties.

“The Man of the Hour” could have a chip on his shoulder, but the bigger issue here is that what some consider locker room etiquette is outdated.

Rush certainly isn’t the first wrestle to complain about backstage politics or nepotism. As a matter of fact, there’s plenty of rumored evidence that suggests it has been rampant for years.

It would possibly be easier for some fans and fellow coworkers to accept these accusations if they weren’t coming from someone who has a history of rubbing people the wrong. Honestly, that shouldn’t matter though. As the saying goes, you have to give respect to get respect. That isn’t an idiom that only applies Rush in this situation.

Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail, and all parties can come to an understanding. However, it’s more likely that this will follow Lio Rush for the rest of his career. Once someone becomes known as a troublemaker it’s hard to shake that reputation, even if they are being marginalized in some way.