WWE SmackDown Smacks and Downs: The ladder climb to unemployment

DOWN DOWN DOWN: unnecessarily adding insult to injury

In lieu of discussing other segments on what was a loaded show in terms of stories, I would be remiss if I didn’t excoriate WWE for their tone-deafness during last night’s show.

Look, let’s be clear here: WWE greedily hoarded talent and were somehow shocked when said talents were frustrated they weren’t being used because there are just too many wrestlers signed to WWE. Then, to ensure profit margins, they basically fired a multitude of these same wrestlers and other people who really have no recourse in finding another job.

To make matters worse, released wrestlers are under a 90 day non-compete clause (30 for released NXT wrestlers). Many non-wrestlers on social media joked they have nowhere to go anyway during this pandemic, but they fail to understand that they could still sign contracts, create merchandise, and begin stories with different promotions through the wonders of technology.

I was hoping WWE would be prudent and do all they could to avoid reminding fans of the mass release of talent, but they couldn’t even do that.

Give them credit for improvising during this pandemic. Take all that credit away (and more) for making the Money in the Bank ladder matches “Climbing the Corporate Ladder” matches.

You read that right.

Think of how many of the wrestlers who lost their jobs this week did their damndest to climb the corporate ladder in terms of position on the card only to have internal politics and the decision-making of one individual determine their worth. Sure, that’s how many of us feel in our jobs/occupations, so I’m also sure we can all understand the pain, anger, and loss of direction many of these talent are experiencing.

WWE basically rubbed salt in the wound with this unnecessary match format. It’s just such a careless blunder considering what WWE needs right now is positive press and not to remind fans of just how difficult it is to support them as a company. Instead, it’s as egregious an own-goal as any.

Further, how many levels did this have to be cleared by before it made it to air? How long had this match been discussed? The latter question is important because really, no matter when it was discussed and decided, they either knew the releases were coming; didn’t know and found out with everyone else, yet didn’t change the match; or the match was decided after the releases from Wednesday.

If it is the last one in particular, it would be such a shameful mark on WWE. Then again, it’s not like holding an event in a country shortly after their government abducted, murdered, and dismembered a journalist brought enough shame upon WWE to change their ways or cancel their partnership with that country.

Specifically to the ladder matches, it sounds like these matches have already been taped (which adds further confusion on the timeline of the matches being cleared), so be prepared to see a bunch of shenanigans (predictable and unpredictable). There will probably be the obligatory shots of people working in the offices just to have wrestlers roll through and destroy the offices.

Over/under on how long into one of the matches we see a high-profile name (maybe Stephanie McMahon?) shocked when a wrestler is thrown through through their office wall?

Also, someone is falling from or being thrown off the roof. Just expect them to show up on RAW the next night kind of like how Elias splat on the concrete floor only to appear the next week with no injuries.

No one should be ridiculed for supporting WWE just as no one should be ridiculed for despising WWE. However, I think we can all agree that WWE really makes it difficult to wholeheartedly support them, especially when so many of their mishaps are self-inflicted.

I would encourage people to further check out the promotions I lauded in the opening slide, but also independent wrestlers and promotions. Particularly if you find it troubling to support WWE, check out places like DEFY Wrestling in Seattle, U4IA (pronounced “euphoria”) Pro Wrestling in San Antonio, and so many more around the country.

Whatever the case, I will be here to cover SmackDown and I hope I can provide enough for you to keep coming back week after week my dear readers. Please stay safe and healthy, and practice social distancing as much as possible. Until next week…