WWE fired dozens of wrestlers and other talent just days after a controversial decision deemed them an essential business in Florida and fans are livid with Vince McMahon
- WWE fans are livid with Vince McMahon and the company for firing dozens of wrestlers and other talent on Wednesday.
- On Monday, the company had been deemed an "essential business" by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meaning it could continue to broadcast live shows from its facility as long as fans weren't in attendance.
- WWE said in a statement that the personnel decisions were necessary cost reductions made in response to the coronavirus.
- In the same statement, the company said it had "substantial financial resources, both available cash and debt capacity, which currently total approximately $0.5 billion."
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WWE released a slew of wrestlers suddenly on Wednesday, including Kurt Angle, Drake Maverick, Curt Hawkins, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Heath Slater, Zack Ryder, and more. Several producers and other talent were let go as a part of the cuts as well.
In a statement, WWE wrote that "the implementation of various short-term cost reductions and cash flow improvement actions including" was necessary due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Given the uncertainty of the situation, the Company also identified headcount reductions and made the decision to furlough a portion of its workforce effective immediately," the statement read.
The decision to fire so many performers was especially shocking as WWE had just been deemed an "essential business" by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meaning the company would be allowed to continue taping live shows from its Florida studios and thus maintain its profitable television contracts with Fox and USA Network.
To the state government, McMahon's business was essential and thus could continue to operate as close to normal as possible despite a statewide stay-at-home order. But to his employees, McMahon was facing dire financial repercussions due to the pandemic, and severe cuts were necessary in order to keep the company afloat.
Viewed together, the two ideas did not compute.
In the same statement that announced WWE's planned cuts, the company also wrote that it had "substantial financial resources, both available cash and debt capacity, which currently total approximately $0.5 billion, to manage the challenges ahead." With $500 million ready for use, the need to cut so many performers is tougher to justify.
Further clouding matters is McMahon's wife, Linda McMahon, runs a pro-Trump super PAC which recently committed $18.5 million in Florida markets.
On Twitter, fans voiced their displeasure with McMahon and the company and expressed their best wishes to the wrestlers who had suddenly lost their jobs.
In addition to the significant cuts made to WWE on Wednesday, McMahon is also currently dealing with the bankruptcy of his revamped XFL, which was forced to shut down all operations in response to the pandemic.
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