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Post by G✇JI☈A on May 5, 2006 20:45:07 GMT -5
Vince should establish "WWE Airlines" ;D Thats a killer idea. Maria will be your hostess today ;D I don't know about International Flights but don't the wrestlers (except Main Eventers and Ring Veterans) have to buy there own domestic airfares?
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therob
Hank Scorpio
Mcginley to Slim's O'neil
Posts: 7,257
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Post by therob on May 5, 2006 21:32:00 GMT -5
Its not fair to Bitch at Kidman. I think its a completley fair complaint.These guys are going out there every night to hurt themselves. Yet they have to take up to 14 hour long flights in coach. then lets not forget the jetlag. and how big these guys are. and that if it wasnt for the wrestlers vince would not be making any money at all.
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nisi
Vegeta
Da Bears
Posts: 9,868
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Post by nisi on May 5, 2006 21:38:13 GMT -5
I don't know about International Flights but don't the wrestlers (except Main Eventers and Ring Veterans) have to buy there own domestic airfares? A lot do, and I would actually be a little surprised that Kidman was in the class of free-ticket-provided. But I think this was referring to the international flights for overseas WWE events, thus 10-12 hours on the plane. I agree with Karisma that combining a dress code with economy class just looks weird and silly; in an ironic way it almost makes pro wrestling look "even more fake" when you see a gigantic hulk of a guy dressed in a suit sitting in coach surrounded by people in shorts and flip flops. It sure doesn't make them look like professional athletes.
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messiah
Don Corleone
Wobbly.
Posts: 1,871
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Post by messiah on May 5, 2006 22:22:30 GMT -5
I fully endorse this post.
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Post by royboy8 on May 5, 2006 22:26:54 GMT -5
I don't know about International Flights but don't the wrestlers (except Main Eventers and Ring Veterans) have to buy there own domestic airfares? A lot do, and I would actually be a little surprised that Kidman was in the class of free-ticket-provided. But I think this was referring to the international flights for overseas WWE events, thus 10-12 hours on the plane. I agree with Karisma that combining a dress code with economy class just looks weird and silly; in an ironic way it almost makes pro wrestling look "even more fake" when you see a gigantic hulk of a guy dressed in a suit sitting in coach surrounded by people in shorts and flip flops. It sure doesn't make them look like professional athletes. If its that big of a deal to Kidman, with the money hes making why couldnt he just buy the upgrade for first class? How many long flights do they go on a year to Europe, Australia etc? Its not that big of deal to upgrade a few times a year out of the wrestlers pocket especially when they make the money they do.
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ThePhantom86
Bubba Ho-Tep
Used to be reliable in my unrealiabilty. Now you can't even rely on that anymore.
Posts: 608
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Post by ThePhantom86 on May 5, 2006 22:56:38 GMT -5
My Dad flew on the same airplane as Mark Henry once down in Texas. It was coach.
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Hiroshi Hase
Patti Mayonnaise
The Good Ol' Days
Posts: 30,755
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Post by Hiroshi Hase on May 5, 2006 22:58:41 GMT -5
A lot do, and I would actually be a little surprised that Kidman was in the class of free-ticket-provided. But I think this was referring to the international flights for overseas WWE events, thus 10-12 hours on the plane. I agree with Karisma that combining a dress code with economy class just looks weird and silly; in an ironic way it almost makes pro wrestling look "even more fake" when you see a gigantic hulk of a guy dressed in a suit sitting in coach surrounded by people in shorts and flip flops. It sure doesn't make them look like professional athletes. If its that big of a deal to Kidman, with the money hes making why couldnt he just buy the upgrade for first class? How many long flights do they go on a year to Europe, Australia etc? Its not that big of deal to upgrade a few times a year out of the wrestlers pocket especially when they make the money they do. I heard a former WWE referee did that, I believe his name was Billy Silverman and I think he got in trouble for upgrading on his own money from what I recall, I could be mistaken.
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Post by angryfan on May 5, 2006 23:01:31 GMT -5
If its that big of a deal to Kidman, with the money hes making why couldnt he just buy the upgrade for first class? How many long flights do they go on a year to Europe, Australia etc? Its not that big of deal to upgrade a few times a year out of the wrestlers pocket especially when they make the money they do. I heard a former WWE referee did that, I believe his name was Billy Silverman and I think he got in trouble for upgrading on his own money from what I recall, I could be mistaken. That was what led to, according to Silverman, the "wrestlers' court" appearance, wherein ref Silverman was tied naked to a stretcher and "hazed". This led to him quitting and suing, though it's been a few years, so no idea how that all turned out.
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Dr. T is an alien
Patti Mayonnaise
Knows when to hold them, knows when to fold them
I've been found out!
Posts: 31,375
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Post by Dr. T is an alien on May 5, 2006 23:16:30 GMT -5
All these posts and no one noticed that Kidman suggested downgrading the continental fights instead of the occasional transoceanic flight? That would have saved a hell of a lot more money over the year, and made more sense.
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Post by sexualvanilla on May 6, 2006 0:04:10 GMT -5
Only in WWE could you get in trouble for reaching into your own pockets to make you feel better
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Post by HMARK Center on May 6, 2006 1:00:16 GMT -5
A lot do, and I would actually be a little surprised that Kidman was in the class of free-ticket-provided. But I think this was referring to the international flights for overseas WWE events, thus 10-12 hours on the plane. I agree with Karisma that combining a dress code with economy class just looks weird and silly; in an ironic way it almost makes pro wrestling look "even more fake" when you see a gigantic hulk of a guy dressed in a suit sitting in coach surrounded by people in shorts and flip flops. It sure doesn't make them look like professional athletes. If its that big of a deal to Kidman, with the money hes making why couldnt he just buy the upgrade for first class? How many long flights do they go on a year to Europe, Australia etc? Its not that big of deal to upgrade a few times a year out of the wrestlers pocket especially when they make the money they do. First off, it was already mentioned what happened to the guy who DID upgrade his own seat. Secondly, do you know how much money most WWE wrestlers have to spend on travel every year? It's a pretty sick amount (rental cars, some domestic flights, hotel rooms, etc.), and it all comes straight out of the paycheck. See, you can make six figures working for the WWE, but it's not like most guys are gonna last in the company more than, what, five years? Most guys would like to be able to save at least a little money for when their releases inevitably come, and they're already getting squeezed pretty tight with having to provide with their own transportation and board. Also, like it was said, Kidman DID say "Why not make us sit coach on domestic flight?", so it's not like he was complaining about sitting coach in general, just in the case of overseas tours. God, I agree with some of the guys here (though not on the "lowest forms of humanity" point): the MINUTE somebody, including a GUY WHO WORKED THERE, says something negative about the WWE, it's as if somebody just smacked your mother or something. God. If a fan critiques them, you say "You don't work there, you don't know how it really is." A wrestler critiques them, and it's "Oh, they're just bitter." Newsflash: Vince McMahon is a not a good man. He's a downright scummy one. So are most wrestling promoters. Accept it.
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Post by tamuthetongantiger on May 6, 2006 1:21:34 GMT -5
I totally buy Kidman's explanation as it seems to jive with the current corporate environment that effects pretty much anyone who works for a living, whether they work as televised talent or as annonymous office folk. Public companies cut costs wherever they can, for non-executive workers. Check out WWE's SEC filings and you'll see that Vince McMahon and family use investor money to pay for their housecleaning and for their own better-than-first-class travel. WWE isn't unique in that. Lots of companies grant such perks to their executives. But, for the workers, the people who perform the tasks that generate the profits... whether you're a WWE wrestler or an employee of Intel, you feel the effects of cost cutting, even if it amounts to the rounding error between an economy and first class plane ticket.
One mistake Kidman made, in his argument, is that he asked "what other professional athletes fly coach?" He's right in that the answer is, likely, very few. BUT, most professional athletes, especially in baseball, football and basketball, work for teams that are privvately owned. WWE is a public company. Athletes in football, basketball and baseball also have unions that are strong enough to stop a season of programming while wrestlers are left to fend for themselves. Wrestlers simply lack the influence to demand what other big-time athletes in the US can take for granted.
WWE is a public company with a non-union work-force. If Kidman got fired for complaining about being on the receiving end of "cost saving measures," I'm not shocked in the least, and I bet that anyone who's been laid off by a large, profitable company over the last five years isn't shocked either.
I'm not saying it's right for him to have been let go over that (it isn't) just that it's a credible claim.
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Post by hil on May 6, 2006 8:02:55 GMT -5
Dang that took place about 1.5 miles from where I live, but was sick and couldn't go!
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Post by tardis99 on May 6, 2006 8:05:36 GMT -5
I dont suppose also that over the past four years whenever he went out into an arena he was greeted by 8,000 people sitting in complete silence had anything to do with it either?
He'll be one of those bitter, old and twisted ex-pros who will pop up everywhere proclaiming how evil the sport is through what boils down to his frustration to be a success at it.
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Post by David Troy a.k.a legendmythman on May 6, 2006 8:55:02 GMT -5
To all the people who say Kidman is bit(hing, here's the deal, as an aritist, most times restrictions do warrant you time off. Especially when restrictions turn to stiffles. I see where he's coming from and don't blame him for what he's saying
P.S. who cares if he's banging Torrie now. That's like banging Sable in 2001
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Post by Scooter on May 6, 2006 10:08:26 GMT -5
Big Show and Khali wouldn't be comfortable in business class, either. I would argue that you could gut a section of all its seats, put in two abnormally large futons and both their heads would still scrape across the top of the plane. I've flown economy next to big people in suits and didn't think twice about how they looked like businessmen or athletes and belonged in business class instead. That's not a big deal.
However, I understand why 12+ hours could suck. Wrestlers are no more eligible for more comfortable seats because of the nature of their profession, though. What it really all boils down to is how Vince wants to treat his employees. There's no union, there's no competition, so Vince is making decisions to save money rather than to build morale.
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Post by Banned Member on May 6, 2006 12:22:56 GMT -5
So Kidman joins the likes of HTM, and Z-Man on the bitter ex WWF wrestler tour hitting several big name foreign citys. Where they have to fly coach!
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Post by Thomas Powers of Paine on May 9, 2006 16:27:36 GMT -5
I drove by John Wayne airport today and saw a WWE plane. I thought it was odd because it was just a little prop-plane instead of a big jet. If this is what the superstars have to travel in, then I don't blame any of them for complaining.
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