Unionization within wrestling has been a topic of conversation for decades, but the sport still does not have an institution that protects the rights and interests of performers. A wresting union does not seem to be a possibility in this day and age, as the business has become so big without one, with the ‘independent contractor’ method of talent employment persisting.
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There have been occasions where people have tried to get a union off the ground, notably in the 80s when the industry was undergoing wholesale change. The story of Jesse Venture trying to get his fellow performers to unite in the face of Vince McMahon’s unchecked power is one that could have caused a meaningful difference, if it were not for Hulk Hogan.
Jesse Ventura Had A Plan For Unionization
‘The Body’ Hoped To Use WrestleMania 2 As Leverage
- Jesse Ventura led the failed unionization movement within WWE in 1986.
- Vince McMahon’s promotion experienced huge success from the first WrestleMania in 1985.
- Ventura had hoped that a union could be formed ahead of WrestleMania 2.
Ahead of WrestleMania 2 in 1986, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura saw the lay of the land and decided to pursue the idea of a union with his peers. To that point, wrestlers did not have health insurance or a pension given to them by their employers, even in WWE, who had begun to achieve unparalleled success as a brand.
Ventura thought it was a good idea to use the second iteration of the event as leverage to get a better deal from McMahon, who was steadfastly against the idea of a union. Whilst many of the other wrestlers felt that they needed the brand’s biggest star, Hulk Hogan, on board, ‘The Body’ argued that they only needed his opponent at the event, King Kong Bundy, to agree.
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The risk that wrestlers had to take in defiance of Vince would have been massive, as it could get them blacklisted from the company where they still made a lot of money. The former Governor of Minnesota was fortunate that he had other things going on, such as starring in the hit action film Predator, that somewhat mitigated the risk of him standing up to McMahon. Others may not have been able to fall back on something else had they thrown their support behind unionization, which is precisely why it did not take off.
Hulk Hogan Betrayed His Colleagues
The Hulkster Told Vince McMahon About Plans For A Union
- Many wrestlers felt they needed Hulk Hogan’s support to get a union off the ground.
- After finding out about the plans, Hogan went behind their backs and told Vince McMahon.
- Vince proceeded to call the wrestlers and individually and threatened their jobs if they unionized.
Whilst Jesse Ventura believed the wrestlers had enough power without the star of the company, many did feel a union could not get anywhere without Hulk Hogan. Somehow, the idea made its way through to ‘The Hulkster,’ who had a big decision to make between the interests of himself or the collective.
It is obvious now that the terrible human being, Terry Bollea, would immediately do what was best for him and inform Vince McMahon of the union idea. Unfortunately, Hogan used the power that he had to consolidate in his own position in the company instead of making the lives of his colleagues much better.
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Once Vince caught wind of the idea, it was game over, as McMahon typically bullied his performers into complying with his rules, or they faced losing their job. In an interview with MSNBC this year, Ventura said:
“I tried to unionize wrestling. It was Hulk Hogan who cut my legs out from under me. Hulk Hogan went to Vince McMahon, ratted me out, and subsequently, later on, cost me my job.” (h/t Fightful)
It is hard to truly say if Hogan’s support could get a wrestling union off the ground right away, but the surrounding conversation would have persisted and may have eventually made a difference in the industry. Ventura was understandably disappointed to hear later on that his friend had gone behind his back to the boss, ultimately scuppering his big idea. Almost 40 years later, Hogan’s decision still has an effect on how wrestlers work today, with there still being no sign of a union coming forth anytime soon.
Hulk Hogan’s Decision Has Had Lasting Effects
A Wrestling Union Seems Like It Will Never Happen
- A wrestling union still has not come to fruition four decades after Jesse Ventura’s failed attempt.
- Wrestlers in major companies are still considered to be ‘independent contractors’ rather than employees.
- Wrestling is one of the only entertainment or sports related industries that doesn’t have worker unionization.
It is difficult to say how others may have acted in Hogan’s position, but it is unlikely that any top star would throw their support behind unionization. Wrestling is an inherently selfish industry that has involved politics and backstabbing for as long as it has existed, especially during the 80s and 90s when there was clearly a lot of money up for grabs.
Still, the way in which Hulk Hogan, the star of WWE’s ‘Golden Era,’ sold his colleagues down the river is another level of selfishness. Whether it was some misguided loyalty to Vince McMahon, or a political tactic to curry favor, Hogan clearly would have known what the repercussions of his decision would mean.
Ultimately, not everyone will even agree on the idea of unions as it is in some ways counter-productive to the capitalistic and enterprising way that gave WWE all of its success in the first place. Many will feel ideologically against it, whilst others simply won’t care about interests other than their own.
It is hard to lambaste performers in the modern wrestling landscape for abandoning the idea completely, but the conversation is still a worthwhile one to have. There have been so many instances over the years when wrestlers could have used a union, whether it is negotiating better pay or safer working conditions.
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Almost every other major sporting association has a union of some kind for the talent, which makes it even more curious why wrestling does not. For those who think WWE should be considered within the entertainment realm, it is the same for actors, writers, and any other profession involved in media production. Wrestling is a complete outlier when it comes to unionization, and maybe it is time for the industry to catch up and protect its workers the right way.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
