WWE is leaning into right-wing culture in all the worst ways. There are several examples that both fans and critics have pointed out throughout the last few months. One such has been the inclusion of Tony Hinchcliffe, who was brought in to work commentary during an episode of Monday Night Raw and held a “roast” during WrestleMania weekend. Well, it looks like Hinchcliffe’s name wasn’t enough to carry another event during SummerSlam weekend, as Ticketmaster has listed the event as canceled.
“WWE Late Night Featuring Tony Hinchcliffe” was scheduled for Saturday, August 2 at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey. Ticketmaster sent out an email to inform ticket holders that the event is cancelled.
“Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event. The good news is that a refund will be processed automatically for you. Your refund will be processed to the original method of payment used at time of purchase, once funds are received from the Event Organizer, which is usually completed within 30 days.”
Tony Hinchcliffe is a representation of WWE’s problematic turn
Hinchcliffe was first introduced to the WWE Universe back in April when he was brought in as a commentator for a show. He was on the microphone during a match between The Viking Raiders and The New Day in which he made a tasteless joke about Big E’s neck injury. According to reports, the segment was seen as a bomb and he hasn’t been back on television since.
That hasn’t stopped WWE from working with Hinchcliffe, however. The WrestleMania Roast was another unforced error, as reports were that the “jokes” were filled with unsavory statements throughout the show. Within the week, WWE was working hard to take down any recordings that could be found online in the face of backlash.
Controversy isn’t new to Hinchcliffe. In 2024 he spoke during a Donald Trump rally and made offensive comments about Puerto Rico and Latinos. The comments were so widely criticized that the Trump campaign immediately put distance between itself and the performer.
Politics and sports will always go hand in hand. However, it is still unfortunate to see the right-wing shift impacting so many forms of entertainment. As WWE continues to lean in that direction, fans and critics will speak out. Tony Hinchcliffe’s event being cancelled is a resounding response to what WWE is doing under the guide of TKO and Endeavor.