Wrestlers should have unions
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Unions should NOT be a controversial conversation, especially when people put their lives on the line. WWE is no exception to this rule. They should be held responsible for the safety of their workers.
Every week, millions of people purchase tickets to their nearest stadiums, and families gather around their televisions to watch some of their favorite wrestlers perform in the ring. Whether these families choose to watch World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA Impact), or other popular wrestling companies, all of these athletes have one thing in common: they put their bodies on the line just for the sake of it. Sometimes, it comes at the cost of their physical well-being and, in the worst cases, their life.
WWE kicked off 2025 by announcing that Monday Night Raw (1993- ) would debut on Netflix Jan. 6, 2025. They decided to bring their favorite superstar— Hulk Hogan —who was promptly booed by thousands of WWE fans refusing to hear his speech. One could argue that WWE fans intensely dislike Hogan because of his recent companionship with President Donald Trump. He even went as far as doing his ‘signature’ ripping off a measly t-shirt to show his sign of approval of Trump’s campaign. Amongst other controversies that Hogan has, including racist and homophobic remarks, something looms in the past of Hogan’s early career that many fans refuse to forget.
The life of a professional wrestler is not all that it seems to be. The resistance of unions in the professional wrestling world has caused significant challenges for wrestlers who, under WWE, are classified as “independent contractors,” which is a serious problem. As independent contractors, these superstars must acknowledge that WWE is not obligated to provide any medical, disability, or workers’ compensation. Their contract also states that wrestlers are responsible for their costumes, makeup, wardrobe, transportation, and more.
During the 1980s, Jesse “The Body” Ventura garnered a lot of attention at Wrestlemania II, where he urged other wrestlers to consider unionizing, which was met with attention and controversy from his peers. In the early 1990s, many wrestlers were struggling with drug or alcohol addiction whilst also sustaining weekly injuries to their bodies and mental health. At the time, the WWE’s promoter and owner, Vince McMahon, was caught in a scandal for allegedly distributing anabolic steroids to his wrestlers. He was acquitted of these charges, but it raised questions of how far these wrestlers were willing to go to enhance their bodies along with their performance.
Ventura, a WWE Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Governor, has been an opponent of wrestlers’ independent contract standing because, at the time, a lot of wrestlers were struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Hogan made more than almost every superstar in the locker room by being McMahon’s right-hand man. It wasn’t until Ventura sued McMahon that he found out that Hogan—his trusted friend—told McMahon that there were attempts to unionize other wrestlers. After Wrestlemania II, Ventura left the company and was cast in movies such as Predator (1987) and The Running Man (1987). Ventura left WWE behind and now receives retirement and healthcare benefits from SAG-AFTRA.
The reality is that Hogan was not willing to put his position or his wages at risk over a wrestler's union. Possibly without realizing the gravity of the situation, he managed to put future wrestlers at risk, especially those who retire from the business. A lot of older wrestlers who managed to have long careers depend on their popularity to keep them afloat; some even make guest appearances on wrestling podcasts or have their own segment on an episode of Raw (1993- ) or Smackdown (1999- ), but that is not guaranteed for every wrestler who decides to step down and pursue a different profession.
The wrestling business is brutal and cutthroat. Not everyone will be able to make a name for themselves, and in the ‘80s, it was just as difficult to win over the crowd. Back then, a union would have provided a lot of resources for wrestlers, especially those with growing families. Hogan’s selfish remarks doomed the future generation of wrestling as there is still no union, and there may never be a chance for a wrestling union to form. After years of normalizing these behaviors, wrestlers have become conditioned against and scared of unionizing—knowing they will be out of a job if they try.