3 months ago
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Professional wrestling has never had a union, though it has often been a topic of discussion. In 2024, while no union exists, there is reportedly a movement underway to finally make it happen after decades without union representation for pro wrestlers. If successful, this could significantly alter the way the entire industry operates.
Fans have been buzzing about the possibility of a wrestlers’ union since Jesse Ventura attended the July 29th taping of WWE Raw. Ventura famously attempted to start union during his wrestling career, leading to a confrontation with Vince McMahon. The story goes that Hulk Hogan put a stop to it before it could gain any momentum.
During an appearance on the Eyes Up Here with Francine podcast, former ECW star Francine revealed that she had been approached about potentially joining a wrestlers’ union. Her comments suggest that efforts to form a union are indeed underway.
“Do you know how many times I’ve heard, ‘Let’s get a union’ in my thirty-plus years? There’s always been somebody saying, you know, we really should start a union, and it never ever happens. It never happens. Somebody came to me two months ago. Somebody who has a little bit of clout, and they were like, ‘We want to get together and try to form a union, and would you be interested?’ I was just like, get the stuff together, let me know what you’re proposing because they wanted names to support it, and then I never heard about it again. I don’t know if the boys are scared to do it because they might not get work, but I don’t know, it’s a touchy subject.”
Zelina Vega fueled the conversation a few years ago when WWE released her for refusing to stop streaming on Twitch. Though the controversy has since been resolved, and Superstars are now allowed to pursue outside ventures, former U.S. Presidential candidate Andrew Yang voiced his support when rumors of a pro wrestling union emerged.
Whether a pro wrestling union will ever come to fruition remains uncertain. Superstars currently bear the costs of their travel, gear, and other expenses—costs that a union might alleviate. Over the years, talk of a pro wrestling union may have softened, but it hasn’t 100% gone away.
While a union could benefit many, there is a lot of money at stake, and the pro wrestling industry, having long operated under the independent contractor model, would be a difficult environment to change, especially given that many wrestlers are under exclusive contracts but not considered employees.
Do you think a pro wrestlers’ union will ever become a reality? Does it sound like a good idea, or could it disrupt the pro wrestling business? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
