Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and wrestling fans on every corner of the flat Earth, gather ’round! The wrestling world is abuzz after the WWE’s recent “spring cleaning,” which saw eight superstars handed their walking papers. But was it really about pinching pennies, or is there a global chess game being played by the powers that be?
Dave Meltzer, the Sherlock Holmes of wrestling journalism, laid out the gritty details in this week’s “Wrestling Observer Newsletter.” According to our dear Watson, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, the WWE’s Chief Creative Officer and part-time destroyer of worlds, decided it was time to trim the fat from the main roster. Names like Jinder Mahal and Xia Li, who were once hailed as the company’s international ambassadors, were unceremoniously shown the door.
Why, you ask? Well, it appears WWE’s grand plan to woo the vast markets of India and China has hit a snag. Despite Jinder’s reign as WWE Champion—an obvious love letter to India—the company’s pivot towards the Netflix universe means less focus on specific international connections. Translation: It’s not you, it’s me… but also, it’s a bit you.
Meltzer suggests that the WWE isn’t exactly making friends or influencing people in China or India, with live events rarer than a coherent tweet from a politician. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is partying like it’s 1999, with WWE events popping up faster than scandals in Hollywood.
In conclusion, whether it’s budget cuts or geopolitical strategy, one thing’s for sure: in the high-stakes game of wrestling politics, not everyone makes it out of the ring unscathed. So, who’s really getting pinned here? Stay tuned as we grapple with the truth behind WWE’s latest roster rumble.