WWE: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
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- čas přidán 30. 03. 2019
- John Oliver discusses how the WWE takes care of its wrestlers - and how it doesn’t.
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After watching this, I realize how Incredibly Lucky Dwayne Johnson is that he found such success as an actor, he managed to Get out of Wrestling before it killed him too
Agreed and same with Batista. I'm just happy for them.
Fuck I thought about it too. I even started to think that's the case for most superstars.
@@whitesoxrules and John Cena is moving into the acting career too now
@@tomhill3248 Mark Calaway (Undertaker) almost broke character because he was genuinely worried that Mick Foley was seriously hurt.
@@caseykendall5506 He was seriously hurt, but he's Mick Foley, he didn't give a fuck.
"I'm not gonna make 65"
Still hurts me today when Piper said that.
Alex rest in peace Roddy, I watch They Live annually in his honor
R.i.p. piperq
Yeah.... My childhood was filled with kids who loved him and all those guys who began wrestling on local TV. I think the first time I saw him I was 9 or 10, around 1977 or so, screaming at the camera, inside a broadcast booth, with chicken a wired window to fend off beer bottles being flung inside.... when I was a teen, the WWF began and that's where he went. I thought he'd "made the big time" but wow. He even did some acting..... It's just sad.
It's a punch in the gut. Every. Single. Time.
Watching him portray "The Maniac" on Always Sunny makes it even sadder.
I'm not even a wrestling fan, but the guy being amazed at the money raised and saying "I guess those years really meant something" genuinely made me emotional
That’s Jake Roberts. It’s worth watching the documentary about his recovery.
Same but I felt that way when I saw rody rody piper.
Yeah that was from the film The Resurrection of Jake the Snake. It’s about Jake the Snake fighting his addiction and trying to get healthy. Fantastic documentary and brought tears to my eyes.
I became emotional too. You could feel his pain and joy.
@@paolaquiroz581 why don't you make like the WWE and get the F out? ayyyyy
What a perfect time to make a part 2 of this segment.
I have a feeling that's coming this season now that the new season starts in a few days. There's no way they're letting the Vince scandal slide by.
I would like an update. This one was so good and with Vince and the treatment of women wrestlers, it'll be interesting to see how he tackles it.
Yes, God yes yes!!
Your reply has me looking for the suggestion box lmao.
Let’s hope so… cuz the shit Vince has done is horrible. No pun intended
Jake The Snake saying "I guess all those years meant something" utterly broke my heart.
he's alive and well on aew
I love Jake, thats so sad
Literally made me cry
He certainly made it mean something again when he joined AEW
Eirika Stokes Hey Jake is a damn trooper still being his bad self on AEW.
People keep commenting like "wow, a non-political episode!" seemingly unaware that just because something doesn't mention a politician's name, doesn't mean there aren't politics. This is totally political, workers' rights are a very valuable political issue to discuss, including workers whose job is punching each other.
As a huge LWT fan, I was kinda happy to watch an episode that didn't feature an ugly ass politician like Pelosi, or McConnell or AOC.
Fake punching but you got the jist.
politics is life
Add in that Oliver's boss lost the Monday Night Wars to a man who put Trump in his hall of fame, and this is Kayfabe News.
Considering Vince's wife is part of Trump's cabinet, it's actually very political.
Here after Vince McMahon’s resignation, this episodes segments about Vince have aged like a fine wine.
Legit. This popped up as a suggestion and I thought, "oooh how does it hit now McMahon is gone?"
Who took over?
You need to do a follow up story to this. In the past two years they’ve blocked wrestlers from having twitch accounts and more, and have released wrestlers due to “budget cuts” during the pandemic despite being the most profitable they’ve ever been. Also, the Saudi blood money deal. So many ways you can go. A truly horrific company.
👀👀
No kizzy
Just make one in general about combat sports/combat entertainment being monopolies that exploit their workers with no real security (UFC and WWE)
Didnt you watch the vid lol. Wwe already is blood money. Why all americans lack self awareness
@@souleymaneadellah1176 😭 ok guy
"While the character Vince is an arsehole is important to know that the real Vince is also an arsehole..."😂😂
#Facts
Yeah I think we’re all figured out that Vince McMahon was a bit of a scumbag but now🤷♂️I just accepted the fact he’s been a punching bag for every wrestler coming his way since forever talk about “pitching”ideas😈.
And apparently got some intimate time with a Mirror at one point.
He’s actually not an asshole in real life he’s not that bad of a person
Oh it's true-- it's DAMN true!
While the “character” Vince is an asshole, it’s important to note that the real Vince is also an asshole.
-John Oliver, 2019
Never has a more perfect phrase been uttered. Thank you, John.
couldn't believe how bloody true he is
I was watching the video and then went into the comment and he said that right at as I read that lol
He has Trump lips. Just sayin'.
Ian Nedved It’s also important to note that Vince’s face has also been deep in the actual asshole of one of his wrestlers so if you need any solace out of any of this, there’s one.
He's so good at it, isn't he? 😂
Remember how the wwe still calls them independent contractors while: Having exclusive contracts, not letting them have youtube or twitch without getting a cut, LITERALLY OWNING THEIR NAMES AND IMAGES
Yep. God bless America, eh? This is about the only country on earth I can imagine a company like WWE getting away with these types of business practices. It’s not at all surprising that Vince McMahon is good friends with Trump. Good enough friends that Vince’s wife Linda was able to score a position in Trump’s cabinet. Birds of a feather 🪶
@@Pretermit_Sound Well, Linda and Vince have been separated for years, and they only haven’t divorced for the benefits. And honestly, Linda was one of the few people in Trump’s extensive history of cabinet appointees who wasn’t a complete boob.
@@redjed100 oh, I didn’t know they were separated. Interesting.
You’re right though, about her being one of the more “adult” figures in the Trump admin. I don’t think she lasted the whole term either, probably because she had at least SOME scruples.
WWE get paid every time John Cena is in a movie or TV show because they literally own the name John Cena. Y'know, The name he was born with.
Yeah i can see trademarking something, even like Kevin Owens (real name Kevin Steen) but someone's ACTUAL birth name? There's a reason wrestlers use aliases and gimmicks
I love how much of a genuine fan John Oliver is, and we don't have to sit here and listen to him make fun of us for being so stupid for enjoying this sport
You obviously mean "sport" cuz without competition, it's just really bad actors doing their own dangerous and ultimately unrewarded stunts for your entertainment with not so meritorious (predetermined) outcomes. Historically whichever ones Vince McMahon thinks will keep you buying merch, pay-per-views and tickets to the cartoonist crap.
All that said, do you, buddy. I mean you're being had haha but the concussions, broken backs and lacerated organs ARE REAL (cuz the performers are also being had 🤑) so fuck it, ENJOY! 🤘😆
@@ryand8293 I'm just a stupid wrestling fan I don't understand your big words
@@ryand8293 One of the douchiest replies I've seen in a long time.
@@ryand8293 I love how the continuous argument against pro wrestling fans is "it's predetermined", as if we're completely clueless to the notion. At least kayfabe is openly dead. If you've ever seen referees with Tom Brady, you'll know the NFL is pretty close to predetermined, too, lol. The wrestlers are athletes AND entertainers. It's just that simple, yet just that hard. But I'm sure their success in Hollywood shows how inept (I obviously mean "inept") they actually are at that 😉
@@ryand8293 ten dollars says this guy smells like the brown gunk that grows in an unwashed cup.
It's incorrect to say they're treated like circus animals. Most circus animals are treated better by law.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE UNDERTAKER SAID TO JOHN CENA!
Ohh man, that's a brutal truth.
Exactly! When's the last time we let circus's explode tigers through a table?
So humans are the real animals...
@@HeilRay
No. It's the unending human greed. That is the real problem.
This is just a promo to John Oliver taking over and reforming WWE by defeating McMahon in a hell in the cell match
Wrestlemania 36 Main Event. BOOK IT!!!!!
I wish.
If they did a match, they would do like they did in the Trump angle and have John and Vince use surrogates to fight for their causes.
"OH MY GAAAAWD!"
Wrestlers should do a walk out with the fans.
I always assumed they received really good health care, surgeries needed, physical therapy, etc. I've been to one live show and holy smokes they definitely need health coverage.
Oh sure, they’ll pay for their surgeries if it gets them back in the ring quicker. But once you can’t perform, you’re screwed. You get kicked out the door. Oh and other health care and benefits, not ever. I can only hope it will improve with Vince McMahon gone but I doubt it. His daughter and that greedy thumb Nick Kahn will do the same.
Nothing. It's the most brutal job I know of and there's no safety net at all.
Afaik the company has a policy of voluntarily providing good medical care and paying the bills of their currently active non-employees but doesn't accept any legal commitment to do so.
WWE make billions per year, absolutely no reason to not pay health insurance. This is similar to UFC, and also how the NFL treats cheerleaders. In all honesty though, if I was paid millions, I'd definitely set money aside for health Insurance. Many wrestlers, mma fighters don't make that much though, especially outside of these corporations.
As a kid I believed this too. When I got into the insurance industry did it upset me knowing they aren’t provided this by WWE because it easily would be too expensive.
Expensive meaning they just don’t want to pay it.
Fun fact: while not in the WWE, Lincoln is very much enshrined in the wrestling hall of fame. Apparently the gangly lawyer was defeated only once in nearly 300 matches.
Well, lawyer are rager in law profession albeit polite ones.
He was NOT gangly lmao, Lincoln was jacked!
@@caseking3656 I meant gangly in the terms of having a massive reach advantage due to his height. He's also quoted concerning the cultivation and enjoyment of cannabis.
That moment Roddy Piper says I am not going to make 65 :(
Arko heartbreaking
Shit he's lucky he made it to 50. Most don't
@@Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa669 good point...wrong tone lol idk
@Stephanie Logan I'm not your boy toy! 🎶
So sad 😞
How he reacted on that real sports interview tells you everything you need to know about the guy.
It’s not really a trait exclusive to him. It’s an old school mentality whenever someone outside of the business criticizes it. A wrestler by the name of Vader got arrested back in the 90s in Kuwait because he assaulted the interviewer for calling wrestling fake
And the undertaker was there too just watching. Doing nothing.
He was just playing you and the interviewer. That's his character. You're a mark.
Kinda. He legit wants the fans to think the people actually act the way they act. But yes I would absolutely put all my money on him acting that way in his personal life. Legit psychopath
@@BigBadJerryRogers sure but he isn't an asshole.
Why doesn't he provide proper care/pension etc for his wrestlers?
Scott Hall just passed away at the age of 63, Roddy's words of not making it to 65 are haunting even to this day
Wasn’t he a crackhead
Contrary to how OP’s comment unintentionally might make it seem, Razor Ramon did not die due to complications for having spent his youth in professional wrestling, he died after falling in his home and then them fixing it caused a blood clot, which then lead to him suffering *three* heart attacks that finally killed him. He did not leave this world at 63 due to the direct fault of WWE like Owen Hart at 34, or Chris Benoit at 40, or Eddie Guerrero at 38.
Yes, but everyone knows how much of an alcoholic he was in the 90s. Even his coworkers back then knew it. There were attempts to help him, but sadly it didn’t work until the 10s when DDP helped him with yoga. Even WCW didn’t do much either. Let me remind you that even an AA program didn’t exist back then.
His past of alcohol abuse did diminish his years. It was an indirect cause, but it still hurt his body.
@@dannyhargreaves1326AA was founded in 1935,so I reckon that a program existed in the 80's 😂
@@rockarola55 I meant for wrestlers, mostly in WWE. They didn’t have a rehab program I meant.
WWE fans will ALWAYS choose the wrestlers first, whether from the 80's or now, the wrestlers truly have a committed and loving fanbase and I hope they know that. They made tens of millions people's childhoods incredible and we never forget that as adults.
Wrestling fans have absolutely no loyalty to WWE whatsoever, if it collapsed tomorrow and a new company took its place, no fan would really mind, wrestling fans are only loyal to the wrestlers
Playing the role of the evil villain while being the evil villain is som pretty meta stuff..
The fun part is that he will get booed and signs are being held up during the tapings and he can attribute all of that not to his actual person but the villain persona. It's actually genius.
Playing an asshole character while being an asshole IRL, yeah. It's a move we like to call the "Doug Walker."
@@apollorainer1991 It's a prophylactic for his ego.
*Kevin Spacey left the group chat*
That is the only thing I give Vince any credit for
It was a total eye opener for me. I had no idea that all of my favorite childhood heroes have suffered and/or are suffering as I enjoy watching them go in the ring. Thanks John.
Majority of the well-known wrestlers from the 80s are almost becoming extinct. That is scarily concerning.
They could always get real jobs!
@@nightlightabcd They have real jobs.
^Or they could've been given the means while wrestling to support themselves once those days were done. Most of these wrestlers aren't able to get traditional 9 to 5 jobs, and many are so physically damaged from wrestling that they can't easily do manual labor or anything too strenuous. Like Piper said, many go back literally because they have no other choice and desperately need the paycheck
@@nightlightabcd like what genius?If ya can't stand for more than an hour,do what?McDonald's?What Real job pays for Extreme medical expenses accrued from the Previous Real Job?You fuckin shithead
I'd so love a follow up to this one, Vince's hush money payments, releasing 180 people during a pandemic, the Saudi blood money, and how AEW was essentially started in spite of WWE as a true alternative, or how just last week they fired a superstar (who's whole gimmick was that she's sexy) because her fantime page got leaked and she was being too sexy (it's the whole not actually an independent contractor bit).
Also apparently Vince stepped down last year and now his daughter is in charge. Nepotism, ain't it great?
And now Vince tries to sell the company, Steph steps down as CEO. And all that when the product is objectly better now
I really want to see how this goes.
Was never into wrestling as a fan, but knew a few wrestlers and/or their loved ones. Many start careers here in Louisville at Ohio Valley Wrestling.
This was a great episode but it does need an update. Especially with all the recent news. 👍
After all this, we better get a WWE II this season.
I don’t even watch wrestling, and even I know you could make a full video on just Vince
Not only was Owen's death an avoidable accident, there is also the Montreal Screw Job... so yeah, that Brett Hart has reason to be pissed at Vince is a massive understatement.
bret’s gripe with how vince handled owen’s death was that the show continued, which was unbelievably digesting and disrespectful. he’s said “what if it was shane, austin” would the show have continued? vince has no capability for emotions im sure
I'm genuinely surprised that John Oliver is into professional wrestling. I just expected him to be into whatever Puffins do.
That got a chuckle from me.
greatest comment on youtube, well done sir
@@ricksanchez6777 but I thought puffins loved wrestling!
This comment sounds like it was written by John Oliver somehow.
Fun fact: They wrestle.
7:55 And Owen Hart didn't just die from health complications. He died by falling nearly 80 ft into the ring because the WWE thought it was a good idea to not only force him to do a stunt that he only performed a couple times before, but to use a quick release harness that couldn't properly support his weight.
Over the Edge, May 23 1999, Kemper Area, Kansas City Missouri. Thanks Vince. 😡
also they penny pitched when it came to hiring the Rigging company. if WWF used a professional Rigger, Owen would still be alive.
@@HarbingerOfBattle McMahon, and more pointedly, Vince Russo
And McMahon went on with the pay-per-view telecast after the paramedics wheeled Hart's corpse away. "The show must go on...and no refunds!"
Yep, he was 34 by the way. We still get sickened by that. Obviously.
Given how WWE has been treating its stars, and the rise of AEW, I would love John to revisit this.
yeah expose aew for joining and not making the change
yeah damn. WWE has been killing it and aew is likely to die soon
@@thenycestmc apparently AEW ain't any better.
I'm from 2030, and wwe just released The Rise and Fall of Aew
Wwe still on top
Not a big wrestling fan, but that's just insane that they don't provide full lifetime healthcare considering what the wrestlers have done for the WWE
Absolutely agree! Not a fan either, but this is just WRONG! 😡
Seriously, what is wrong with Vince No Man?
How is the job of wrestler any different (economically) than logger, oil rig worker, cop, or commercial fisherman?
Replaceable employees doing (voluntarily) a dangerous job.
@@krakenmetzger when was the last time you saw a logger RKO a fucking tree with another logger?
@@ricksanchez6777 have you met loggers? They might not be on the level of the WWE but damn are they fun to watch XD
As weird as it is, a British guy who talks about politics might just be the guy to make enough noise to change WWE's worker related issues
☝️👏👏
I hope so
I mean, he did assist in the sponsor boycott of FIFA for Blatter to resign
@cpk1994 The good ol cinism.
@cpk1994 yet he has more relevancy then you'll ever get in your lifetime.
This type of "independent contracting" is actually a crime here. It's called "disguised employment". Those who caught doing this pays a huge fine and must end the practice. In case of workplace accidens, must be full responsible.
Where?
@@leebarbs7176 I don't know where GT is from, but in Sweden this type of arrangement wouldn't be allowed. A company can't replace employees with independent contractors in order to avoid liabilities as an employer.
It's also illegal in the US...
@@TheEternalVortex42how come? its happening? genuinely asking
@@felinemoonchildthis is fact, just throw money at politicians and then they can pass laws that deregulate the rich people business so they make more money.
"Morally subterranean" is a perfect phrase. John Oliver is timeless.
yeah i'm adding it to my vocab
Seeing Jake get teary when he realized his fans still care really pulled my heart strings.
Same. I don’t even watch wrestling and I almost cried. It was powerful.
Jake gave the people everything he had to give.
Me, too, and I don’t know anything about the guy.
I was just sitting there: "I'm not crying...I'm not crying...I'm not crying...I'm not crying"
@@Casey5693 same here.
18:37 No the crowd isn't saying "BOOOOO!" They're saying "BOOOOOOOOOY Do we love that Roman Reigns!"
To anyone who gets this reference, I legitimately love you.
Booooourns!!!!
They're not saying "BOOO!" They're saying "Huuugh!" having made the common mistake of confusing Roman Reigns with Hugh Grant. What with his dashing looks and charisma.
I love it when John makes a "Call to Action" because sometimes it works, but always raises awareness.
Vince McMahon's response: they will create a heel caracter based on John Oliver and mock him for a year or two...
LeCaktus sadly this has a 99.9999% of coming true
LeCaktus he brings back Wade Barrett to do this
You actually are not far off. The kicker will be no one will find it funny other than Vince. Vince will find it hilarious.
Possibly John Oliver himself. I mean, Jon Stewart did it.
He would really do that
I'm just a random person, reading the comments, admiring the fact that John Oliver was able to shine a light on an issue that both wrestling fans and non-fans can appreciate. 👏👏
Agreed.
The bad pan to the melon actually gave McMahon a concussion from what I've heard over the yrs. Stone Cold straight cracked him with it 🤣
Makes sense, it's not an opportunity most people get , to hit their boss in the face and try to make it look real, so why not put your back into it?
Couldn't've happened to a nicer guy.
😊🎉🎉🎉🎉
“Wrestling is better than the things you like.” - John Oliver 😂😂😂
Well said John, well said.
Just when I thought I couldn't think any higher of John Oliver, he shows pro wrestling love AND he takes WWE to task on their "independent contractor" bs.
Same here John is good in my book!!
I'm not going to lie I really thought we would see Oliver exploding through a table by the end of the episode
agreed.
Right?!
But then he'd have to change the name of his show a second time...
The show was just renamed to "unfortionatlly not a man exploding through a table" so you know he wouldn´t do it.
As awesome as it would be, hes not a trained professional. Wresting is staged yes obviously, no doubt, but the things they do are still very dangerous and can very much hurt a normal person that doesnt bust through tables for a living.
So with some recent Vince McMahon stuff coming out, perhaps a part 2 is warranted?
Edit : So now there's MORE stuff.
I agree
Fuck yes
He Has Just Announced His Retirement Because Of That.
God I hope so
What happened
“Wrestling is better than the things you like”
That’s the universal tagline right there. You’re either gonna really enjoy it, or you’re gonna cringe at how campy it can get until you really enjoy it.
The accuracy of this is both astonishingly high and hysterical at the same time XD
Even in as a huge wrestling fan. I cringe at some of the campy moments especially with women over the years. But I just can’t stop watching.
@@goodvibes4459 in 15 years of watching, I’ve had one complaint, and it was that it made no sense for an injured Daniel Bryan to beat 3 men twice his size all in one night. Other than that I just keep my fingers perpetually crossed that Jeff Hardy stays clean long enough to have a real last run.
I stopped watching wrestling when I was 12. Last few months, I can’t get enough pro wrestling, from 1950s to now, Japan, Mexico and American.
I seriously expected that by the end John would be slammed into a table, with a graphic that said:
LAST WEEK TONIGHT, NOW WITH A GUY EXPLODING THROUGH A TABLE with John Oliver
There should be a follow up show to show what happened at the WrestleMania. And John, please do this in that.
Exactly! I'm highly dissapointed!
I was about to write that. good that I saw the comments first
To be sincere, Oliver doesn't have the balls to take a decent bump. I mean, even David Arquette has wrestled. Jim Cornette is not a true wrestler, and he has taken massive bumps.
Oliver is a comedian, not a wrestler.
I would’ve paid real money to see that ..
Sad Jake is getting emotional over $7k from fans, he helped make McMahon rich, he should be living more than comfortably. Vince sucks
Jake blew all of his money on drugs. He said so himself. It's not all on Vince.
@@thebigtimechannel9927 Painkillers he became addicted to due to the necessity of long term use directly posed by his career. Which is still on Vince. Just for clarification.
@@smoketnt5290 Ah, I'm impressed. The vast majority end up with opioid addictions. If what you say is true, congrats on finding a good exception.
@@saradanhoff6539 Jake was addicted before he was with wwf, just like so many wrestlers were. 80's wrestling were full of tragic stories like Jake's.
@@thebigtimechannel9927 What comes into play there is why wrestlers get addicted to drugs. You'll find stories of wrestlers using drugs (prescription or hard) and even alcohol to try to numb the pain from what they're going through. Jake was popular during a time where wrestlers were really putting their bodies through the grinder. So popping pills or doing some sort of hard drugs because for a little amount of time it causes whatever pain you're experiencing to go away wasn't uncommon.
Like John mentioned, these wrestlers work through the year. Multiple shows a week and no off season like you see in other sports. There's no time for them to have their bodies rest and recover naturally. So they end up reaching for drugs to help them through those times.
As an American who has been a wrestling fan for my whole life, I cannot stress how much I love the UK wrestling audience. They are the greatest fans ever.
16:51 In a whole segment of depressing reveals, for a brief moment I swear you could just feel the air leave the studio when John revealed Roddy's untimely death.
That man reacting to the 7000 dollars fans raised for him genuinely made me cry.
I was even more sad that it was only $7000! People back the dumbest crap with thousands more than the goal amount, and this poor guy needs something actually important.
Humans Zuck I mean it was $7,000 on just the first day of a 30 day Indiegogo campaign. He was asking for $9,000 which means it was a resounding success. I don’t know how much he got in the end but if he got 7 out of 9 thousand on day 1 of 30 I’m willing to bet that crowdfund ended way over the minimum they were asking for.
I had a pretty emotional response, also.
@@humanszuck5155 He wound up raising $29,547, so no worries.
Same. I had to fight back the tears cause its too early for that.
John Oliver, I think you should do a follow-up on this story. Two more wrestlers died this week.
Who?
@@spider-keithasmr7688 The Silver King and Ashley Massaro.
@@cedmondsdragonwing oh right
4more
Should've done real wrestling. Pins and submissions are more fun.
I used to hate fake wrestling but as I learned more about history and how gruesome humanity can be just for entertainment ... I began to appreciate wrestling entertainment. This new information is mind blowing, these wrestlers deserves better rights
You say the butt thing is cathartic, but knowing Vince approved that bit beforehand kinda gives it a different meaning...
😂😂😂
Don't ruin it!
My thoughts exactly 😆 he loves the 🍩
@@Nicole-in5od it's all kayfabe
This shines a whoooole new light on that clip
I'm surprised there was no mention of Chris Benoit. One of the main reasons they banned chair shots to the head.
They banned chair shots to the head but not the flying headbutt thing Chris Benoit used to do.
That’s a lot of ground to cover. There probably should be a part two just about that.
Probably has more to do with the fans disgust after Mick Foley's THIRTEEN unprotected chair shots to the head by The Rock.
Might have been a purposeful omission because what he did went way beyond the scope of what John is talking about.
You mean Crispen Waaaaahhhhh!?
Vince plays the evil business corporate heel so well on WWE because it really fits him. In some ways he's just adding to his act.
I’ve heard/read that the WWF name change was intentional, that prior to that they were classified as a traveling sports show and that came with requirements for referees and drug tests for athletes; reforming as WWE they reclassified as an entertainment show, which used performers that didn’t require testing, could use extras as refs, and meant FAR less overtime for most staff
nah that's just the WWE doing damage control, the company loves bullshitting about itself and has been a problem for as long as vince was in power. The company essentially circlejerked for 20 years straight after wcw and ecw died, especially after 2017. in fact they were classified as entertainment all the way back in the 80's in order for vince to avoid taxes, hence the term "sports entertainment"
I would like to humbly suggest as a chant, for people attending RAW and particularly Smackdown today and tomorrow, "GIVE THEM HEALTH CARE *CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP*"
We can also tweet #GiveThemHealthcare to @VinceMcMahon and @WWE and @WrestleMania . There's enough of us following across different WWE social media pages that our voice can't be ignored if we can mobilize even 0.1% of the followers
That’s a catchy protest chant. I love it!
Good God, they deserve it.
daverboy17 DUDE!!!! If every arena does that it will be amazing
I can guarantee that you are getting to see this echo at WrestleMania
Once again Jon Oliver sheds light on an issue that nobody is talking about. WWE needs to be held accountable for their actions
Jerminator 356 what do you mean “held accountable”?
Kurt S You really don't know what the phrase "held accountable" means?
@@stevemygoodman7809 How is that unclear
@cpk1994 what is your issue with Oliver, you made a very similar comment on another part of the comments section for this video. are you being a smarmy little cynic because you need attention??? Are you an ex- wrestler named chad who had a dream and it didn’t come true? Not in the way you’d hoped and now your just being cynical toward J.O. because at this point you just dare not hope, because that would be another little death...?
MechaMew2 it’s a broad statement. Do you want them banned? Do you want them fined? Do you want them to fire Vince?
How is it clear to you what that vague statement means? There is only one way to hold someone accountable?
With all the news on Vinnie Mac, this calls for a Part 2.
Was thinking the same thing.
Fully agree. Give it a year or two for that whole situation to play out further. Maybe just an episode of McMahon in general
I'd like to see an update on this ever since Vince "resigned" his spot at the company.
Vince writing a script: " i should get my face plunged between two robust cheeks... yea, for the storyline."
Christa Carol I hope those cheeks were very showered...
After a 20 plus minute match, even if those cheeks were well showered I doubt it mattered
@@bradcarver8127 timing is a everything!
My mistake I assumed this referred to DX shoving Vince in Big Shows ass. I’m sure Rikishi showered prior to this segment
I know right😂😂
One of the most troubling things is the fact that the wrestlers John featured in this piece were very high profile, legendary wrestlers, and were still treated incredibly poorly. Imagine the more mid-tier wrestlers who commit just as much and are even LESS valued by the WWE. This issue has been well documented for years, hopefully Oliver's piece finally shines enough light on it to see something get done.
Imagine living in a country where you can't afford healthcare even if you're a famous wrestler...
Lol we seen it where because someone looked at Vince a bad way he got fired oh and yes he was a mid card
If you're interested in seeing some of their harrowing stories, the 2015 documentary "Prescription thugs" by Chris Bell depicts some lesser known wrestlers struggles with drug abuse, and ultimately, deaths (as well as drug abuse in other sports).
@@LordDragox412 being famous doesn't mean you are paid well. It's pretty obvious with these wrestlers.
@@davidboniface858 I think they ARE paid well, it's just that having to pay for their own health care eats up practically everything they make.
Who's ready for part 2 coming this February?
Wait, will there be a part 2?
I keep coming back to this video, again, and again, and again hoping he'll cover WWE again cause as of 2023 the situation is only crazier
God help the entirety of WWE if Vince McMahon does more than just "sell the shares" from his end, which I hope is nothing to concern about for the moment.
RIP Bray Wyatt
Can't wait to how this is handled on Raw and Smackdown if fans start chanting for health insurance
"Health in-sur-ance" would make a pretty good chant tbh
I suspect that most fans are also Republicans, so that probably won't happen.
My brother is going to a live event and I am going to force him to take a healthcare sign!!
@@AnexoRialto that's actually not true. Most wrestling fans actually tend to be more left-leaning in their views. There's studies that back this up, but I can't remember where I found them off the top of my head.
Greg K you would be surprised. New York, LA, Chicago, and Philadelphia are the biggest markets for wrestling.
The near prophetic words of Roddy Piper about his death brough a tear to my eye. John rightly ripped Vince and WWE to shreds. The tiny segment involving Bret Hart was equally important. Brilliant episode.
Damn, I was wondering why he was no longer appearing on its always sunny, so sad to hear.
Relevant documentary: 'Hitman Hart - Wrestling with Shadows'
czcams.com/video/L3wZhA5s3kI/video.html
Wasn't that clip he showed of Bret Hart from before Owen died? I thought the clip he showed of Bret was from after the Screwjob?
All along during that bit i was thinking about Kurt Angle. SO glad he's finally retiring but it might already be too late for him...
Brilliant episode from a brilliant man!
I have and will watch this many times, because it's another great episode, but almost exclusively to hear him deliver the line: "Wrestling is better than the things you like.". The joy. The glee.
Describing the territory system as a 'series of fiefdoms' is the most apt metaphor i've ever heard
When I started watching this I was like "really? a show about wrestlers?" and now I feel that this is something I'll never forget. These people clearly need to get better conditions from their EMPLOYER
The Rowdy Roddy Piper bit hit me really hard. 16:10
I had no idea WWE was so popular or that they had these conditions. I hope for a good result this Sunday.
Thanks for that. I was wondering where they were going to go with the show. I always dismissed wrestling as a joke and that the fans were idiots. This made me see that they are people, many struggling to earn a living. I hope the fans revolt and the wrestlers are treated fairly.
@@LeSethX their contract are practically illegal, one thing they have in their contract is no complete cause for 90 days if released or if you let your contract expire. You can not put a no compete clause on a independent contractor, unless their employees then yes but yeah that is illegal
For all the snobbish sophistication people assume of TV and Hollywood writers, a significant portion of them love WWE.
"What are you doing you weird weird man?!" John... that is something WWE fans have been asking for decades and we STILL have no idea!
samuraitiger19 best comment 😂 hell, he could have talked all day about Vince McMahon and his stories in and outside of the ring- that guy is weird
This was a good report!
The wet hair thing is to protect the wrestlers from the piro during their entrance into the stage and also to keep them cool under the heat of the lights over and around the ring, the heat there is extreme!
I think it's time to do another exposé like this on Vince
He is an evil Ceo who plays an evil Ceo on his storylines? That's some serious self-awareness there.
Some people revel in the role of a villain...
It lets him ignore any criticism and deflect from actual problems.
>"He's a piece of shit"
>>>"oh, but that's just a character, it's all a script"
>"No, he's like, *actually* a piece of shit. Like, he's worse IRL"
>>>"He's a heel, it's just a wrestling thing"
Because he knows the fans will eat it up like candy. And he's right. Long as they get their daily dose of sweaty men and even sweatier women they couldn't care less.
I remember not too long ago WWE made a documentary where everyone close to Vince tried to make the distinction between Vince McMahon and the "Mr. McMahon" character on TV. The general consensus of his family and former employees was they were the same guy despite Vince believing otherwise. If anything, Vince isn't self-aware that his character on TV and the man behind the camera are one in the same.
It’s easy to not get pissed off at someone being a shit person if right before you would the Man has one of his own “independent Contractors” shove His Face into Another one of his “Independent Contractors” Asses.
As a diehard WWE fan, this is so true. John, you are a beast. This is truth.
Spread the word...
it's true it's damn true
Aaaand today mcmahon sues
ashuhleaaa I want to see these people chant and have signs.
Ramen.
I'm really hoping AEW will provide some good competition that provides most/all these needed benefits and force WWE to re-evaluate how it does business. Because unfortunately as the Saudi deal shows us, Vince is happy to listen to fans, right up until he thinks it will get between him and money.
(Also stop treating Asuka so poorly goddammit...)
Ayyyy yooo we need an update on this
came here as as soon i remembered this video and skit/coverage
Thanks for explaining how remembering works
For those non-wrestling fans, when Ventura says, "they control your life" he means it. They control your hair and if you change it, they punish you.
Rollin Kocher poor ru ru
Also if you want a tattoo you need to run it by them first to see if it's ok.
In a way I feel bad for the wrestlers but then again not so much. They went into this career knowing the health consequences and how their health coverage was going to not work for them. The wrestlers should refuse to work if their medical needs aren't taken care of since it is on job injuries that are sending them to the hospital. This is why Dwayne Johnson left the wrestling world.
People who like to put down pro wrestling fans and pro wrestling in general don’t seem to get how much crap these wrestlers go through. We as fans know and appreciate the work they put out.
@@831mrscardoso You can't just leave the wrestling world. What else are you gonna do? Who's gonna hire someone with no job experience other than being a wrestler? It doesn't really qualify you for much. Johnson got incredibly, incredibly lucky, and not everyone of them can become a Hollywood actor. Especially many of the lesser known ones.
And yeah they entered knowing the health risks, but they didn't enter knowing that NO MATTER WHAT the WWE won't be held accountable for their injuries, that they have no health insurance, etc. Yeah, it's in their contract, but at that point, it's too late. This really should be illegal - and in fact, it is, it's just not being enforced properly.
I really mean it: Thank you John Oliver
Adel Sayadkooh we should rlly thank him for making fun of donald largegassyorb alone
@Adel Sayadkooh Fuck you, Gaza is under the bombs, babies are dying and you worry about wrestlers...
You oughta be ashamed of yourself...
@@robcoIncorp Shut up
@@robcoIncorp If I ever see a person get hit by a car I'd imagine you would just walk up to me and shout "WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT THIS PERSON THAT WAS HIT BY A CAR, THERE ARE CHILDREN DYING AROUND THE WORLD YOU INCONSIDERATE ASSHOLE"
You don't have to be a genius to find out why that logic is flawed.
@@Fojabass if they joined a industry where one of the job requirements is getting hit by cars, I wouldn't feel too bad.
The follow-up to this video is going to be insane
Recent events with Vince McMahon have made this timely again.
Seeing that Rowdy Roddy interview in this context was like a knife to the gut.
So sad. Great wrestling personality gone way too soon.
I don't even watch Wrestling and that bit really got to me..
madpuppet He was my guy, ya know? 😔
You should watch his interview about sodomy, than. It'll make the tightest of ButtHoles feel victimized. (It IS a thing)
I am crying
As a wrestling fan I truly do want WWE to give recognition that the talent are Employees and not Independent Contractors
I disagree. For the most part they're replaceable, like baseball players (economically).
@@krakenmetzger What do you mean? Please elaborate.
@@krakenmetzger but the baseball players aren't independent contractors.
@@krakenmetzger and the players aren't beating each other with the bats in a death match every game.
@@ricksanchez6777 don't you think they should be?
After the latest vince mcmahon scandal, i really feel like this video needs a part 2 sometime soon
Thank you for spotlighting this horrible situation. I watched wrestling for many years, but I had to stop when so many wrestlers I admired starting dropping dead. It broke my heart. And Vince has a lot of blood on his hands. The way he treats his wrestlers is like a slave driver. He uses them up and spits them out. Even creating seasons, and dividing wrestlers into the seasons would better. So they get some down time to heal and be with their families. Fans are not the monsters. Vince McMahon and his all consuming need for power and money is breaking his best wrestlers and he doesn’t even care.
Gotta say man, I'm not usually the biggest John Oliver fan. You did a lot of work here man, showed heart and stood up for the performers and the industry. I respect the hell out of this.
are you an ex wwe wrestler by any chance..?? just curious
Naw mang. Just a dude.
Ultimo Bot idk, he basically told the fans to shit on the biggest show of the year for the wrestlers and to some wrestlers, the biggest moment of their career. They are trying to put on a show and it’s going to be ignored because this guy told them to hijack the show.
@@stevemygoodman7809 considering those moments of stardom may very Well lead to An early Grave i think they are still going to be better off in the long-term if this actually chances something.
Akshat Bajpai you think Kofi wants his moment to be hijacked? Becky Lynch? Seth Rollins? He wrestled in the Indys. He knows how much better WWE is compared to the Indys. What about AJ Styles. He knows how much rougher it is in the independents.
Instead of hijacking the show, just don’t show up. Stop watching, but don’t ruin it for everyone else.
"Maybe this company will be better after Vince McMahon's dead"
~ CM Punk 2011
the world will be better!
a line written most likely by mcmahon himself since he admitted to writing most main event storylines. so maybe even he knows he's an asshole.
@@ikhalid1418 Nah, that was all Punk, they basically let him go off in that infamous promo
@@ikhalid1418 Punk was nearly to quit WWE hours before that happen, those minutes with Open Mic made him to stay a few more years.
R R echoed by Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley on Talk is Jericho
“For the love of mankind” I see what Cole did there lmfao
Glad someone else noticed that
Update: he has now resigned from the WWE after a lawsuit was brought up accusing him of sex trafficking.
I love how Jake is wearing a shirt that says "Failure Is Not an Option", while being in tears. A prime example, showing us that expressing real emotions is not a failure, even for the bravest of men.
That's a helluva good quote. Did you come up with it, or read it somewhere? Love
Or maybe that the american and capitalistic creed of disqualifying people who fail or who don't achieve the most prominent goal is wrong and that we should accept failiure as part of life and learning process.
Wow, somehow you simultaneously got me into wrestling and hating the people who run it at the same time...
No problem, that's pretty much standard for the average wrestling fan.
@@CarlMarxPunk But the average wrestling fan still puts money into McMohan's pockets. They're participating in the exploitation.
@@ariaalexandria3324 So are the people who eat meat, drive gasoline based cars, watch porn, and so on and so on. It's very complex, as the video showed.
It's not perfect, true, you are right, but as Oliver said WWE fans are ridicously vocal so it's not a passive relationship.
Just like FIFA and football
It's pretty usual for any wrestling fan to have a love/hate relationship with WWE. xD
19:59 I could see he was on the verge of tears, and now so am I damnit! 😭
19:42 This moment is so heartwarming to see
The NFL's plan for retired players has been a literal lifesaver for my grandfather. They pay for most of his nursing home expenses and he has a pension from them.
who is your grandfather? if I may ask.
Anthony Peyton Manning
@@anthony639 Ernest Clark, linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals in the 1960's.
@@ReapTheWhirlwind I have his ultimate legend card in Madden Ultimate Team.
Their PLAN for retired players? Lol they don't even give them financial advisors when they're in the NFL they don't give a fuck about the players after they leave. There have been so many cases of players with brain injuries getting NO treatment and killing themselves or someone else, people ending up dirt poor and homeless. Just look at all the state money the NFL gets from contracts with cities where stadiums are. Its a multi billion dollar mafia
CONFIRMED : Wrestlemania 35
VINCE MCMAHON V/S JOHN OLIVER
I’LL FUCKING BE THERE, MATE!
Why do I picture Vince being being bitch slapped by John for an hour as the cheering gets louder? XD
Jeff Sian don’t worry I picture that too
Oliver could be the new Andy Kaufman of Wrestling.
i hope Oliver gets slammed on a table and legitimately get hurt to show us that wow wrestling is real
This still hits hard. Great segment.
I literally spit my tea when he said "and while his character is an asshole, it's important to note that the real Vince is also an asshole"
"When you've lost the moral high ground to the NFL, you are morally subterranean."
There is something seriously wrong with Vince. I hope this report makes things better for wrestlers. 👍
to the *fucking* nfl
I can assure you it will do absolutely nothing
I hope so but that may not even happen. When Jesse the Body Ventura attempted to start a Wrestler's Union, he stated that Hulk Hogan snitched on him to Vince McMahon, so Vince stamped it out. With unions, health insurance, benefits and off-seasons, wrestlers could get more benefits and possibly more money, but those who make tons of money take a pay cut. If Jesse was able to establish a wrestler's union, Hulk Hogan would've made a lot less money, and he was making millions of dollars per pay-per-view. The SummerSlam event with Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth's "wedding" (God rest their souls), Elizabeth made $50,000, and Macho Man made $75,000 for holding a fake wedding. Those who wrestled at that Summerslam and risked injuries didn't make anywhere near that amount of money.
@@job489 wow! Thanks for this great info. Ya, it'd be tough to start a union if some people, especially the ones with the biggest voices and paychecks, don't want it. Hope the small time wrestlers come up with something, or the more successful ones join them anyway. 👍
Can say how happy it makes me that John covered this..
He is only scratching the surface of WWE’s dark underbelly, so I’m glad the public gets a glimpse of it.
This was awesome. I love pro wrestling and John nailed it!
@WhoDatUniverse John should also tackle the recent string of horse deaths in California too.
I never get tired of the shots he takes at Dr. Oz.
You need to do an update on Vince!
Facts
Seems like people covered most of the good comments already so I’ll just point out how nice John’s tie is in this. Great color choice.
How perceptive. Thank you for pointing this out.
Great perspective, man! 😁
You could've brought up trump on wwe
He's British so it's colour.
Just noticed he is dressed.
Having only independant contractors also mean McMahon does not pay any payroll taxes. He is stiffing FICA (social security and medicare) out of taxes he should be paying.
Ooo who can fix that?
@Cinnabar Island wow I didn't know that. Dear God help us !!!! Voting for me is worthless, my vote never counts. I'm in a red stupid state
Eat the rich!
@@beeonthyme5760That's when your vote matters the most.
Yeah. But since the wrestlers are independent contractors, they pay for FICA via the self employment tax.
Every time I see the video and he says 'I guess all those years meant something' it is emotional 🥺