WWE’s recent directive of changing their perception from a quasi-sport to a scripted entertainment show could come to cost them far more than the regulatory athletic commission taxes they are trying to avoid. The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) may well insist upon WWE’s entertainers, since they are no longer classified as professional athletes, joining their union. Michael Schiavone, labor studies professor at the University of Illinois, said “With Vince McMahon arguing that WWE is entertainment, it clearly falls into the area AFTRA represents. Why the union has not (gone after wrestling already) is open to debate, but my own personal opinion, sad as it is to say, is that it is `only wrestling’ and as such is considered beneath the union. However, the union and other entertainment unions have been pushing to a much greater extent to cover reality TV stars. Thus, it is certainly possible that if some wrestlers made discreet inquiries to the union, that AFTRA may look into representing wrestlers.” WWE wrestlers covered by AFTRA or the Screen Actors Guild would get union health benefits. The last legitimate attempt at making a union for pro-wrestlers was in 1985 when Jesse Ventura’s plan fell through and was revealed to Vince McMahon by Hulk Hogan.

Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 24 November 2008 (subscribe here)

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