[PWInsider] CM Punk Incident Underscores How Vulnerable WWE Talents Were at Their Own Hotel WrestleMania Week
This past Thursday 4/16, PWInsiderElite.com noted, "There's already been some concerns among talent about the company hotel this year. Last night, there was no additional security beyond the hotel itself and since the hotel is part of a major casino, there was no real ability to restrict the flow of fans. We are told there were tons of fans in the lobby and camped out by the elevators who mobbed everyone they saw, even referees, trying to get photos and autographs. The hope among the talents we heard from is that there will be some additional measures taken tonight to assist them when they are coming in and out."
So, there's video of CM Punk smacking some dudes phone out of his hand on TMZ, and PWInsider's Mike Johnson has written yet another somebody is going to die article about fans.
TKO basically threw the talent to the wolves, booking them in a Casino hotel where they would have zero ability to avoid these obsessive crazies, talent were followed and harassed all weekend, culminating in the video of Punk knocking the dudes phone while he's stalking/filming Bayley and AJ Lee. Apparently shortly before this another talent was being harassed until Damien Priest stepped in. TKO should be ashamed, they need to get the talent real security now, hotel security didn't step in until after Punk went at the dude, that's sad, and I think Mike Johnson is right, somebody is going to get hurt if something isn't done to take talent security serious.
PWInsider Story: CM PUNK INCIDENT UNDERSCORES HOW VULNERABLE WWE TALENTS WERE AT THEIR OWN HOTEL WRESTLEMANIA WEEK
I'm going to toss some of the quotes in on this, but the whole thing is worth turning on your best adblocker then clicking the link and reading.
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CM PUNK INCIDENT UNDERSCORES HOW VULNERABLE WWE TALENTS WERE AT THEIR OWN HOTEL WRESTLEMANIA WEEK
CM Punk Incident Underscores How Vulnerable WWE Talents Were at Their Own Hotel WrestleMania Week
By the time the Punk video was going around I had forgotten about the reports of there being no security so I thought it was just grumpy Punk being grumpy. I would have thought Vegas hotels would have plans in place to keep any big games staying there safe.
It does make you wonder how they protect "real" sports stars and celebrities, because Booker T said he was mobbed too, to the point people were trying to video him in the bathroom. It was apparently brutal.
Of course most celebrities, sports or otherwise, typically have their own personal security as well. But they have Players Unions or SAG/AFTRA unions that fight to get them money they are worth to afford that, unlike wrestlers.
This bit right here is key. WWE/TKO probably just tell the talents "just hire some security" not understanding (or caring) how expensive that is.
Someone picked a fight with Big Vito at Wrestlecon too. Fucking wrestling fans.
Turns out pumping up the price of tickets to attract only the absolute marks, has the downside of attracting the absolute marks