WWE: The Fabulous Moolah and Trial by Social Media

The Fabulous Moolah controversy is still a hot topic of conversation for WWE fans. The legendary women’s wrestler was an inspiration to many that followed in her footsteps and an icon to those that respect the history of the business.

That respect has led many to openly question why WWE would remove Moolah’s name from the Women’s Battle Royal Match set to take place at WrestleMania 34. The company apparently made the move to appease its sponsors and silence outraged critics, but that explanation seems shallow at best.

The biggest problem is that the stories of Moolah’s alleged misconduct are not easily proven. She was a ruthless businesswoman, that much is certain. But how far did her shrewdness actually go? Many believe she was a bully and even a pimp. But are the stories true? Did she mistreat the girls that she mentored in the business?

The Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal to debut at WrestleMania 34

More importantly, who in WWE is qualified to make the judgment call on the issue? What member of Vince McMahon’s locker room has the truth regarding Moolah’s supposed wrongdoings? Could it be that this has less to do with Moolah and more to do with WWE’s reputation?

From the moment that WWE became a publicly traded company, there has been a focus on maintaining a positive corporate image. Fans know this and understand it. Not only does WWE have sponsors to please; the shareholders’ concerns are surely always at the forefront as well.

Rather than risk further scrutiny, WWE instead chose the path of least resistance. The controversy had to be dealt with. However this issue is indicative of the much larger social media problem that is currently plaguing the company.

Social media has a definite impact on the business of professional wrestling. Every major company feels it and that is especially true of WWE. Though WWE has embraced it and constantly promotes its social media sites, that does not mean the company cannot be a target.

Stephanie McMahon Speaks On Removing Fabulous Moolah's Name From Wrestlemania Battle Royal.

The court of public opinion is alive and well on the internet. WWE is under fire everyday for its booking and for its direction. Fans are overly critical of the product and make their voices heard all the time. Social media is important to WWE because it can connect with the world but leaving the door open means everyone can get in.

The interesting part as it pertains to the Moolah controversy is that while WWE listens to public outcry in some instances, there seems to be no cause for concern with others. If it means the company looks bad, then steps are taken to rectify the problem. However for other complaints, often no one seems to care.

When did WWE ever truly care about what the audience thought? This is a company that is notorious for trolling the fans and does so on a regular basis. The advent of social media has only exacerbated this, as every week there seems to be a reason for Vince McMahon’s company to openly mock its loyal audience.