More than McMahon: Wrestling Industry Faces Reckoning Over Sexist Practices and Culture
The latest legal accusations against Vince McMahon, are a gut punch, but not a shock. The stench of alleged abuse of power and silencing of victims has hung over wrestling for years, a miasma that's finally starting to choke out the cheering of the crowd. The news broke, another wave of legal accusations against Vince McMahon, and a sinking feeling settled in the gut of every wrestling fan with a conscience. Not of surprise, for unfortunately, this felt not like a revelation, but another grim confirmation of a seemingly open secret. Now though, with Vince McMahon officially out, we must compel ourselves to take a deeper look at the people and systems that allowed him to maintain so much power, even after years of public allegations of wrongdoing and sexual misconduct.
McMahon's reign as WWE CEO reeked of rumors of a putridly sexist locker room, poisoned by his unchecked power. Women weren't employees, they were toys; trophies paraded for his pleasure, careers bartered with degrading acts both on and off screen. His alleged whispers of "passing them around" weren't just about booking matches, they were about treating human beings like playthings, a grotesque barter system fueled by his insatiable ego. It wasn't just the hush money he coughed up, it was the careers silenced, the dreams choked, the lives warped by the suffocating grip of his monstrous entitlement. He may have built an empire, but it was built on the backs of those he dehumanized, and the anger lingers, a toxic cloud refusing to dissipate until true accountability chokes the life out of his arrogance.
These latest allegations are particularly chilling. Whispers of on-screen talent involvement, a web of complicit silence woven by a company built on secrecy and NDAs. Lots of people knew, or at least, they should have. In a company led by a man with such a checkered past, ignorance feels like a luxury none could afford. Who looked the other way? Who turned a blind eye? Who enabled this culture of abuse, of fear, of women forced to choose between their dreams and their safety? Clearly, despite his frequent public lawsuits and seemingly never ending waves of allegations of appalling behavior, he thought himself to be invincible. Vince McMahon believed he was above any and all potential repercussions because of his standing within WWE, and his financial status. Even after being ousted the first time, resigning in disgrace for eerily similar circumstances, this man was conceited and self-absorbed enough to worm his way back into power.
Creating an industry that prioritizes the safety of women over anything else begins with accountability. The silence must end. The complicit must be called out. Those in power, those who knew and did nothing, must face consequences.It also means dismantling the culture of secrecy and fear. NDAs should be used sparingly, not as weapons to silence dissent. Open communication, transparency, and a zero-tolerance policy for abuse are non-negotiables.
And then there's the audience, a subsection of fans who stand as a chilling reminder of the industry's toxicity. They defend the indefensible, their loyalty warped by a desire for only their favorite wrestler's success, or the gloried “good ole days”. This cult of blind devotion eats away at the soul of the sport, leaving behind a hollow shell of athleticism and entertainment, and empowered people like McMahon to continue his alleged reign of terror. But the brave women, the victims that have chosen to speak and those who have maintained their silence, and endured these systemic dangers inherent in their career field, deserve better. We have a responsibility to call out the toxicity, to demand better from our industry. We must stop being complicit in the silencing of women, in the normalization of abuse. The industry, we as a broader society, must stand beside them. There will be pushback, resistance to change, there always will be.
We must actively cultivate an environment of respect, inclusivity, and zero tolerance for abuse. This means challenging the "boys' club" mentality, dismantling hyper-sexualization, and calling out toxic sexist behavior at every level, at every turn.
Ultimately though, don’t let them convince you that this is solely about Vince McMahon. This isn't just about one company, one man. This is about a systemic issue, a toxic environment that needs a complete overhaul, and an industry in desperate need of a culture shift.
