PWInsider: Morale down backstage after Rumble show

[The Rick Jericho]

If you were among those disenchanted with the WWE Royal Rumble PPV, you were not alone.

We've heard from a number of sources in the company who were frustrated with the constant changes in the Rumble matches over the course of the last week and felt that was a direct cause for the quality (or lack of) for the Rumble matches themselves. As we reported earlier, one source noted the Men's Rumble alone changed "20 times" over the course of the days leading to the Rumble matches between spots that were devised, changed and discarded, changes in eliminations, order of entrances and even interactions between talents. We have since heard that was the experience for the Women's Rumble match as well. All of the changes led to a frustrating day for talents with a lot of moving parts that kept shifting, so for some, it just turned into a confusing hodgepodge of things they needed to remember or dispose of mentally. It all came down from Vince McMahon as he had his fingers deep in every aspect of the PPV.

The morale after the show was very down compared to most recent WWE PPVs because as one talent (who commented under condition of anonymity) stated, "We were all in a whirlwind. Just as you had your role and spots down, everything started over and over and now most of us were back to square one. It changed again and again and again. It wasn't an easy night even before we hit the ring."

WWE President Nick Khan was at the Rumble, arriving to the building with Shane McMahon.

www.pwinsider.com/article/155356/why-wwe-talents-were-so-down-after-the-rumble-ppv-and-more-notes.html?p=1

[holyshida]

It must suck busting your ass in the ring week in and week out only for a couple of part timers (one of which hasn't been seen in nearly 3 years) get all the glory and win the Royal Rumble, not to mention half the particapints in the Women's match just coming in for a 1 night payday and still looking stronger than most of the full time talent. My moral would be down too if I worked there.

[The Rick Jericho]

Jan 30, 2022 21:58:01 GMT -5 holyshida said:

It must suck busting your ass in the ring week in and week out only for a couple of part timers (one of which hasn't been seen in nearly 3 years) get all the glory and win the Royal Rumble, not to mention half the particapints in the Women's match just coming in for a 1 night payday and still looking stronger than most of the full time talent. My moral would be down too if I worked there.

I feel terrible for the likes of Sasha, Big E, Drew, etc..... the ones who worked through the Thunderdome era.

At least Lashley is still getting the spotlight. But it's dire for everyone else.

Even someone as hot as Seth is right now is pushed aside and management isn't listening to the crowd reactions.

Terrible.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Bruce Prichard is quickly typing up a "MORALE = HIGH" message as we speak

[Mecca]

The more Vince is involved the worse it is.

[Nosnorb]

Jan 30, 2022 22:01:35 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

Even someone as hot as Seth is right now is pushed aside and management isn't listening to the crowd reactions.

Seth is in a storyline with Roman at the moment and the match at Royal Rumble ended in a DQ. He might be pushed aside this Monday or Friday, but a finish like that doesn't point to that happening - quite the opposite.

Plenty of people are being pushed aside, but Seth isn't one of them.

[chazraps]

Is it possible morale is down because The Mighty Mighty Bosstones broke-up?

[mistery]

Probably the most obvious thing after last night. When your Wrestlemania Main Events are locked in with Brock/Roman XXVI with the men, and Charlotte/Ronda with the women, where neither woman is even remotely likable in kayfabe or not.

And with the women especially, imagine being booked weaker than a bunch of one off appearances. And then putting women like Io Shirai backstage to put Cameron and Sarah Logan out there, neither of whom deserved to be in the match.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Jan 30, 2022 22:11:32 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Is it possible morale is down because The Mighty Mighty Bosstones broke-up?

Well shit now my morale is, thanks Chaz

[fw91]

Jan 30, 2022 22:11:32 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Is it possible morale is down because The Mighty Mighty Bosstones broke-up?

that's the impression that I get.

[berlynwright]

I said the same when Edge came back and won the rumble and he's one of the likeable guys.

[asuka007]

Yeah no crap. Sounds like it was a chaotic mess backstage.

And yet again most of the full timers get shoved aside for the same old people at the top AND whatever part timers they bring back.

I’d be low in morale in that spot as well.

The whole show made me LESS interested in Mania.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'm sure the talent is used to the hierarchy. They know Brock and Ronda are the stars. But the frustrating thing has to be working on this long and complicated match which is part of your craft and having upper management constantly meddling. I can do my job at work no problem. Tell me what to do and I'll gladly do it. But it gets annoying when I start getting micromanaged. The people there know they're capable of more and it sucks when you're not able to reach that level for reasons outside of your control.

[Jonathan Michaels]

Jan 30, 2022 22:05:07 GMT -5 Mecca said:

The more Vince is involved the worse it is.

With his mom dying I don’t think he was in the right frame of mind to book it right.

[fw91]

Thing is, and this is not defending management here at all... but I can't imagine that Brock winning wasn't the plan all along. I guess the frustrations had to do with the logistics of the match itself. I wonder what was supposed to happen.

[Deleted]

Jan 30, 2022 22:11:32 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Is it possible morale is down because The Mighty Mighty Bosstones broke-up?

No, can’t be that. Sami Zayn just signed a new contract and is apparently very happy.

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

If you are looking for anything but a payday in WWE, you've signed with the wrong company.

The only people I feel bad for are the ones who ask for their release and don't get it.

[asuka007]

Jan 30, 2022 22:01:35 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

Jan 30, 2022 21:58:01 GMT -5 holyshida said:

It must suck busting your ass in the ring week in and week out only for a couple of part timers (one of which hasn't been seen in nearly 3 years) get all the glory and win the Royal Rumble, not to mention half the particapints in the Women's match just coming in for a 1 night payday and still looking stronger than most of the full time talent. My moral would be down too if I worked there.

I feel terrible for the likes of Sasha, Big E, Drew, etc..... the ones who worked through the Thunderdome era.

At least Lashley is still getting the spotlight. But it's dire for everyone else.

Even someone as hot as Seth is right now is pushed aside and management isn't listening to the crowd reactions.

Terrible.

Sasha got that massive pop and has been super popular for, well
Ever. And it looks like she’s once again being shoved aside so that Omni-Flair can get ANOTHER big title match at Mania.

And then there was how Bayley was treated at last year’s Mania as well.

[chrom]

There will be another mandatory Talent Show soon

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Jan 30, 2022 22:11:32 GMT -5 chazraps said:

Is it possible morale is down because The Mighty Mighty Bosstones broke-up?

It'll reform when we see the formation of the Mighty Molly Bosstones