RVDis someone who values his own beliefs in life and isnt tied down by what others feel is the norm in society. That is exactly why he believes a union wont work in pro wrestling and explained his reasoning behind it.
A union in professional wrestling has been a controversial topic for many years. The likes of Andrew Yang even tried to get wrestlers to unionize.Hulk Hogan also squashed that idea years ago when Jesse Ventura tried to bring it up within WWE.
While speaking on his 1 of a Kind podcast, RVD believes a union would not work in the professional wrestling industry due to its unique structure and challenges. Wrestling operates differently compared to traditional professions where unions are common. The industry is small, with only one major company, possibly a second, and a few smaller promotions. Unlike state-regulated sports like boxing, wrestling lacks clear career paths and is rarely seen as a standard career option.
Many advocates of unions in wrestling focus on top companies, overlooking the impact on smaller promotions. Requiring compliance from smaller promotions, which might only run a few shows a year, could jeopardize their ability to operate. Standard union practices, like pay raises based on seniority, do not align with the wrestling world. Success in wrestling is determined by marketability, charisma, and audience connectionfactors that are highly subjective and intangible.
According to RVD, negotiations for benefits such as buses or health insurance are better suited for independent contractor agreements rather than union mandates. Wrestlers essentially lease their brand and skills, allowing for personalized contracts that reflect their unique contributions and needs.
While crew members, like stagehands and camera operators, might benefit from unions due to their standardized roles, the same logic does not apply to wrestlers. The subjective nature of wrestling talent, combined with the industrys limited size, makes unionization impractical.
In traditional sports like the NFL or NBA, performance and skill directly influence value. Wrestling requires not only athletic ability but also charisma, personality, and appearance. With only one major company and a few smaller ones, the industry lacks the scale and resources to support unionization in the way Hollywood or major sports leagues can.
A union in professional wrestling is more difficult now than it would have been to establish a couple of decades ago. Therefore, many fans would likely agree with what RVD had to say about a union in the business and simply accept the fact that it will never happen.
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