By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE issued the following press release on Saturday regarding talent using third party outlets.
“Much like Disney and Warner Bros., WWE creates, promotes and invests in its intellectual property, i.e. the stage names of performers like The Fiend Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Big E and Braun Strowman. It is the control and exploitation of these characters that allows WWE to drive revenue, which in turn enables the company to compensate performers at the highest levels in the sports entertainment industry. Notwithstanding the contractual language, it is imperative for the success of our company to protect our greatest assets and establish partnerships with third parties on a companywide basis, rather than at the individual level, which as a result will provide more value for all involved.”
Powell’s POV: The story has blown up after former U.S. Presidential candidate Andrew Yang commented on the matter on Friday night. WWE’s statement addresses their rights to the characters played by the talent, but it does not address the belief that WWE doesn’t want its talent using their own names with third party services such as Twitch and Cameo.
Hey Jason (or anyone else who might know)
Why aren’t sports entertainers part of the Screen Actors Guild? Once VKM pulled back the curtain and called this entertainment rather than a sport and the wrestlers became “characters” why are the wrestlers not considered actors like on any other TV show or movie?
“exploitation of it’s characters”
This stuff just writes itself.
Soon they’ll be coming for you, Jason. Exploiting the fame and talents of their workers to earn a crust and all that.