Vince McMahon Has Banned WWE Superstars From Using Third-Party Services

Talent in the WWE has been given an ultimatum by Vince McMahon. He has banned WWE superstars from using third-party services like Cameo and Twitch. Those who don’t comply could be hit with fines, suspensions, or even termination.

The announcement came via a report from Wrestling Inc. on Thursday with WWE issuing an official statement hours later. Many former WWE superstars and alumni have taken to social media to voice their opinion on the matter. The announcement comes at an alarmingly weird time as WWE Superstars are already experiencing a pay cut due to the lack of live events and merchandise sales. Many of them have amassed large followings on other social media channels, and as such have carved out additional sources of income for themselves.

WWE’s statement makes it very clear that the company feels like these services are “detrimental” to the brand. According to their official statement “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.”

While the cause sounds noble, it’s mostly corporate fluff. All WWE Talent is considered independent contractors, meaning they don’t get guaranteed money, they don’t get healthcare, and they don’t have any real rights to their on-screen personas. The deck is completely stacked against the talent, and with this latest announcement, things aren’t going to get much better. This isn’t the first time WWE has been chided about their business practices though. Last Week Tonight dedicated a segment of the show to exposing WWE’s mistreatment of their talent.

There have been rumors that WWE is developing its own competitor to Cameo, which would operate like a virtual meet and greet. While good for fans, it greatly diminishes the Superstar’s ability to control their own booking.