United States Presidential candidate Andrew Yang has recently been in the headlines in the pro wrestling world following a series of tweets he posted aimed at WWE and Vince McMahon after discovering their new rule banning talent from engaging in third-party deals, claiming ownership of their name and likeness.
Yang appeared on CNN to clarify his comments over the weekend and on Sunday, the official CNN YouTube channel posted the video.
“I’ll do whatever Joe [Biden] and Kamala [Harris] help us get to the next age in our country’s history,” Yang told CNN’s Ana Cabrera during his appearance over the weekend (see below). “I think the post you’re talking about was my categorizing the misclassification of professional wrestlers as independent contractors, which is completely ridiculous.”
Yang continued, “Given that WWE controls their name and likeness for years and controls their activities in many ways. Anything that Joe and Kamala have for me that they think will help move the country forward, I would love to help.”
The CNN television appearance and Yang’s aforementioned tweets have also resulted in a number of pro wrestling stars — both past and present — replying to or commenting on the subject.
“For all the wrestlers who know that you’re being misclassified but are reliant on staying on Vince’s good side – even because WWE might hire you – I get it,” Yang wrote in one tweet that has garnered a lot of attention from within the industry. “Our job is to make it easier for you to get what you deserve without risking your career.”
One of the names who responded to this particular tweet was Maria Kanellis.
“So much in wrestling is in the shadows,” Kanellis wrote in a reply to Yang’s tweet. “Fear and abuse of power is their main control mechanism.”
Kanellis continued, “If WWE fires a woman two months postpartum, who wouldn’t they fire?”
Answering this hypothetical / rhetorical question was former WWE NXT Superstar and Mae Young Classic Tournament competitor Sage Becket.
“Or hire you during the “Evolution”, AFTER you’ve already lost 130 [pounds] over the last [two years], then do weekly weigh ins [with] you [because] you need to lose MORE weight, to be marketable [and] release you ON ‘International Women’s Day,'” wrote Becket.
“Been there [and] lived that,” she continued. “No desire to go back. The industry is a train wreck. WWE isn’t the only company that does this…just the most affluent.”
Becket concluded her tweet by referencing her belief that current United States President Donald Trump’s relationship with Vince McMahon only makes the situation worse.
“That rabbit hole is deep,” she wrote. “That’s what happens when the 45th disappointment is in your [WWE] Hall of Fame.”
Check out some of Sage Becket and Maria Kanellis’ tweets responding to Andrew Yang’s initial Twitter posts below.
Check out related articles here at eWrestling.com covering this same topic via these links listed below.
- * AEW Makes Fun Of WWE’s New Third-Party Ban During ALL OUT PPV Broadcast (Photo)
* Lana Endorsement Ad Reason For WWE Third-Party Ban? View The Ad In Question & Read Lana’s Reaction Denying The Rumor
* WWE Releases Statement Explaining Why They Are Banning Talent From Third-Party Deals
* CM Punk, Renee Young & Mick Foley Blast WWE For New Third-Party Talent Ban
* Backstage News On Initial Memo Sent Around Informing Talent Of Third-Party Ban
For all the wrestlers who know that you’re being misclassified but are reliant on staying on Vince’s good side – even because WWE might hire you – I get it. Our job is to make it easier for you to get what you deserve without risking your career.
— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 5, 2020
So, much in wrestling is in the shadows. Fear and abuse of power is their main control mechanism. If WWE fires a woman 2 months postpartum, who wouldn’t they fire? https://t.co/vvbk3eScpp
— MariaKanellisBennett (@MariaLKanellis) September 5, 2020
Or hire you during the “Evolution”, AFTER you’ve already lost 130#s over the last 2yrs, then do weekly weigh ins w/ you b/c you need to lose MORE weight, to be marketable, & release you ON International Women’s Day ♀️ @AndrewYang https://t.co/UMIUcS2CkE
— MK (@MKGlidewell) September 6, 2020
Been there & lived that. No desire to go back. The industry is a train wreck.
WWE isn’t the only company that does this…just the most affluent.
That rabbit hole is deep…That’s what happens when the 45th disappointment is in your hall of fame https://t.co/ZsC8hypW3p— MK (@MKGlidewell) September 6, 2020
REACTION: CHAT ABOUT ANDREW YANG vs. VINCE MCMAHON (WWE)
* For late-breaking WWE & AEW news & rumors, follow our social media reporter on Twitter @MattBoone1984
* Follow the official eWrestling account on Twitter @eWrestlingCOM
* Follow the official eWrestling Facebook page at Facebook.com/eWrestlingCOM
* Chat with other fans about this article in the official eWrestling Disqus feed below, or at Disqus.com/home/forums/http-ewrestling-com
REACTION: Wrestlers come out of the woodwork’s w/CRAZY claims after @AndrewYang blasts Vince McMahon & #WWE on @CNN
Former #WWENXT star (@MKGlidewell) claims she lost 130lbs, but was told it wasn’t enough – forced to weigh-in regularly (#MUSTREAD)
LINK: https://t.co/gtv3ycCg2B pic.twitter.com/Z053906zwR
— Matt Boone (@MattBoone1984) September 7, 2020
