Why professional wrestler David Starr risked his job to unionize

[@kecward78]

Pro wrestling is like being a stuntman... without the protections of a union, yet being forced to pay for travel, accomodations out-of-pocket. Plus, little to no revenue from their likeness being used in commercial sales (dolls, shirts, etc.). These people love their craft, but owners like Vince McMahon have made $$$ billions from the work by the laborers.-

[@zeonmx]

Reminds me of the story from wrestlers during the Attitude era, where each and everyone tried to share a hotel room and crashing on couch or even on floor just so they can save much spare changes as they can during their tour.

[@Kazekoge101]

Wow I knew Vince was a heel when I used to watch in my middle school days but didn’t know he was this much of a scumbag in real life

[@gaming6feetunder925]

Stuntmen who sexually harrass women and get canceled

[@The_General_Zubas]

4:25 Because ever Since Jesse Ventura tired to Unionize, and then got snitched on by Hulk Hogan (the main reason for Hulks mega push), Vijce has been working tirelessly, since the 1980s, to make the WWE? Impossible to Unionize. And That's why no one cares about the product. Bevause Vince made is about the Company. Not the wrestlers

[@willnelson9906]

@David Stephens vince pays his workers well, but there's a long standing history of wrestlers who's had medical troubles with wwe, from legends who basically get no help after breaking their body for decades, to constant slews of injuries that seem to plague wwe specifically, and that doesn't even begin to talk about how wwe traps their wrestlers in contracts that last years for a time, while not even doing anything for them, why they're not considered a monopoly yet idk

[@steveericson9137]

Of course David Starr - the self proclaimed Bernie Sanders of professional wrestling - would make his way onto The Hill. I love it! Keep speaking truth, Ace! Politics and Pro Wrestling have more in common than I'm comfortable admitting, given Trump basically used wrestling promo tactics to get where he is. EDIT TO ADD on 6/18/20: Fffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...... I used to think David Starr was a great wrestler and a good advocate for Progressive ideals on a larger stage. It's super disappointing to find out he's a rapey hypocritical douche-nozzle. At 44 you'd think I'd have learned to stop believing in people. Got me again, universe 😢

[@daviderwin4705]

I would love to see an announcer open Trump press events with "Lets get ready to rrrrumble!" . Other than that, yeah, I agree. Politics has become all heroes and heels with very little of substance being shown to the people. Except by organizations like The Hill.

[@liamdunphy7496]

Do you feel stupid now?

[@steveericson9137]

@@liamdunphy7496 Yes and no. There was no way *I* could have known Starr would turn out to be a rapist .... I'm pretty disgusted with him.

[@wuben101]

Krystal, thank you so much for following up with David and providing this platform. It's utterly shameful the extent to which wrestlers are exploited in the pursuit of their passion - performing for their fans and expressing themselves creatively. One would hope that broader labor movements will welcome these organizing efforts into the fold.

[@lawsonj39]

This whole "independent contractor" shuck needs to be outlawed.

[@matthewmcclain1316]

Seriously. They would not have a company if it wasn't for their EMPLOYEES. Then they screw them. It's sick really.

[@MrTeamGuy]

yeah, basically worked sales door to door. For ADT security, selling alarms. Made few sales, didn't got paid, said have to wait 90 cancelation period. Pyramid scheme, good thing i left. Waited the period out, knew they won't pay (find a way). Also, have in mind I was searching for a job because I just moved into the country. No proof lol, naive me

[@onephatdude]

Good interview. Thanks for shining a light on the seedy underbelly of pro wrestling.

[@cursedfanatic6160]

This is great to see wrestling unionization being taken seriously by atleast someone in the media, there are so many more issues worker wise that need to be revealed as well

[@thelinedrive]

This did not age well.

[@TimBradleyFromOz]

80%+ for the wrestlers!

[@cameronmachado1774]

I asked a ROH wrestler about unionizing and he hit me with a human shrug emoji.

[@utterlyviolet]

Sorry, Mr. Starr, but "Indie Schmucks" sounds like a badass union name to me.

[@briandruckenmiller6562]

Or at least a great on-screen stable.

[@RDSArcade]

Isn't that what Vince McMahon called independent wrestlers at one time?

[@nomnomgoblin8901]

John Oliver did a great piece on pro wrestling a few months back if anybody wants to learn more about the wrestlers under the thumb of the company they're technically not even employees to because they're " independent contractors " but they're still contractually obligated to not go to other companies(what few the WWE doesn't own, they have a virtual monopoly) and their likenesses are brought under the copyright of WWE. Vince gets more money off the John Cena toys than John Cena, but he's an "independent contractor".

[@joananthony6323]

@Thoreau His special reports are. He did one of the best reports on private prisons. Also about the arrangement police unions made with police departments to prevent investigations into police shooting from starting until 48 hours has passed. On politics generally, he is very establishment both on US and British politics but still worth watching for the special reports.

[@sjbock]

@Thoreau You are entitled to your minority incorrect opinion about John Oliver.

[@bg5469]

Thoreau i am very smart and very stoic. i have a statue for my profile picture because everyone must know how smart and stoic i am.

[@nickverbus1494]

Jesse Ventura almost got it done in the 80s but Hulk Hogan ratted him out to Vince McMahon.

[@RDSArcade]

And Hogan got pushed to the moon for years because of it.

[@kingofthecommentsection8056]

4:13 Really funny to hear him call David Starr "the product" by accident. Also, #UNIONIZE

[@The_General_Zubas]

6:50 Unsubcribing from the WWE network. Right now.

[@brauljo]

Lol I stopped watching when as a kid, I found out it was all fake.

[@The_General_Zubas]

@@brauljo Yup. Its.athletic acting

[@Dave_ja_vu]

@@brauljo just documentaries for you now is it?

[@brauljo]

Pony Montana among other things, just not reality shows

[@mfwest11]

Braŭljo *predetermined

[@miguelvaldez444]

Thank you to Krystal and Saadar for giving David the chance to talk about this topic. I am a big fan of pro wrestling, but am turned off by the corporate practices of the big companies. I hope that here in the U.S. we can pass Medicare For All, so the performers can at least have that piece of mind when they work for our entertainment.

[@DamianB]

Shoulve had jesse ventura in on the interview as well!!!

[@MinkytheMinkY]

Been a long time independent contractor, it's demoralizing to not be valued enough. I only get paid when the work is completed, not time spent. This leads to lower quality work as there's no point in spending more time on tasks.

[@WrecklessEating]

Wish him the best. Gotta be tough.

[@The_General_Zubas]

7:50 Tried too? After 2000? They succeded. That was Vince's plan from the 80s. Monopolize Pro Wrestling. And he did it.

[@The_General_Zubas]

3:30 Yea....Vince does A good job at distracting from the real problem. I mean, yea you can go to Vince with your issues, sure. But you are still 100% at Vince's Mercy.

[@nickkinney2950]

Time to smack down those corporations. No pun intended

[@joananthony6323]

Yes, the problem stems from the monopolistic nature of the industry. Not all candidates think that monopolies are a problem.

[@Leo-nine]

The pun may not have been intended but it's surely appreciated! Lol

[@The_General_Zubas]

6:52 I am done with the WWE expoiting people.

[@MBM1117727]

Are you done with David Starr exploiting people too now?

[@MinkytheMinkY]

This a very important issue, thank you for bringing this to light.

[@theinfamousmrsleep]

Didn't Bret Hart, RAVEN and Jesse "The Body" Ventura speak publicly about unionizing professional wrestling? EDIT: After the releases, I think there needs to be a union in professional wrestling

[@kcstar1518]

2 words, hulk hogan

[@ktay2124]

Andrew Yang wants to help UFC fighters unionize and he is a big wrestling fan. I know he supports the new wrestling company of Chris Jericho, which I think is wrestler owned. Will someone tweet this interview out to Yang. I don't have Twitter.

[@joananthony6323]

He is also pro monopolies which is the main problem so Yang is not the answer.

[@ktay2124]

@@joananthony6323 If you are referring to his stance on breaking up big tech then, Yang is not against breaking companies up so much as he feels that doing so would be largely ineffective.

[@joananthony6323]

@@ktay2124 They just need their intellectual property rights reduced. His reason for saying it is in effectual is that 'it's all about the app' which is BS. They buy out any apps that challenge them as every monopoly does to build its monolith. Zuckerberh should not have been allowed to buy Instagram or What's App. He doesn't acknowledge the problems of monopolies. It is not something that can just be shrugged off.

[@platinumpeyton]

Remember when some of the boys in the business tried to unionize in the 80s and Hulk Hogan was “LOL NO BROTHER”

[@BoliveiraNTPW]

And now he was fired from wXw because of the WWE...

[@timontran4728]

When the focus of cooperation is revenue instead of the people, this is what we get. We need to change the measurement. I don't like GDP.

[@adampark..]

David Starr was a terrible man with great ideas

[@davidcwitkin6729]

Kudos to this man for being a hero and taking on the incipient Fascists at Sinclair Broadcasting and the WWE. Also, he is my imaginary babydaddy.

[@Leo-nine]

Yeah, this guy is fine! I can see the whole imaginary baby daddy thing.

[@TCt83067695]

Yang has a policy specific to this industry and this problem doesn't he? Or am I mis-remembering?

[@albelvalentine8983]

TCt83067695 yup for mma fighters I believe

[@TCt83067695]

@@albelvalentine8983 oh yeah thats it. Thanks 👍🏾

[@MinkytheMinkY]

Works well with his initial supporter demographics. It's very specific and something recognizeable for said supporters.

[@sjbock]

This guy is very impressive.

[@JonathanPer_JackHammerSalm]

He needs to talk to Jesse ventura

[@The_General_Zubas]

5:50 They did whatever it took to make Kurt Angle look like a tired old fart. Then he goes to an Indie Show A month later and rocks the house! WTF?!?!?!?!

[@RDSArcade]

A damn shame.

[@SonyJimable]

Go Tulsi. Love what you said today.

[@hushedtones7168]

What are your opinions about the gig economy workers and freelancers unionizing? or starting a coalition? To stand up togheter and agree on work standards after the new law in California for freelance journalism. It seems a broader issue that affect deeply all industries of the gig economy not just journalism

[@GustaveTheSteelXIII]

They should invite Bernard on the ring.

[@rajithfernando6200]

This is one of those risky "gimmicks" that are too real, that it leaves a bad taste on some people who can't relate to it. Well, I'm lovin' it!

[@prestonbryant1438]

Can anyone direct me toward articles that support his mention of how much the average contract for tv is.

[@Iliketoeatallday]

Fun fact, Jesse Ventura tried to unionize, Hogan ratted him out.

[@earthandstraw]

As long as we have a private for-profit money system things will be like this becasue it is the root of the problem. It creates the greedy for-profit mindset, the psychological consequences of usury. Money should be issued only by government for the care of the people of the nation. That is the purpose of our government, according to the Constitution, but big money bought most of our government at the very beginning and now owns it all. Money originated publicly for care creates a generous caring mind-set. Unfortunately as the create economist Paul Simon said, "The biggest mistake is fearing money while trusting debt."

[@kevinfightsbears]

Lol he's career is pretty much over now

[@CVHFitness]

This is soooo relevant after Black Wednesday

[@DestroyYouAlot]

Implying that professional wrestlers are highly paid

[@chloebeary]

Fight the fight

[@The_General_Zubas]

8:00 And don't forget about the Rooms too, the corporation doesnt pay for shit.

[@Nastyleroyakathatman215]

I think Pro Wrestlers Should get unionized I agree with David Starr

[@hammersreviews]

Jealousy would rear it ugly head

[@CVHFitness]

Wrestlers are always constantly away from their families.

[@byronstjames]

Porn, politics and wrestling are all the same. A bunch of people pretending to be people they're not for a living. Well done David Starr, there is no excuse for the treatment that wrestlers get, particularly at the corporate level.

[@The_General_Zubas]

6:25 Yup. You break your leg in Vince's ring? "Not my problem. Thats why I pay you money" This reminds me of a story by Percy Pringle (yes that was his real name) But you all know him as Paul Bearer, the Undertakers manager. I was listening to an old "Shoot Interview" between him and Jim Cornette. Was 3 hours long. Was good. ANYWAYS! so they get to when they brought back Paul Bearer for WM 20. And he is talking about how he needs this surgery, or else he can't get into the ring. So Vince worked into the contract, that the WWE would pay for Paul Bearers Surgery. A kind gesture, but thats not the point. The point is? That the WWE finds that Doing things lile that, is bettet than providing insurance from the get go. Which is why Oro Wrestlers die so soon. And are lucky to last till 60. They jave to spend their meager salarys on healthcare, that the company that puts their body on the line for? Doesnt provide any.

[@erniez7443]

Nice moustache man😊...the ladies love it too wink wink...and keep on fighting!!!

[@The_General_Zubas]

7:45 but the wrestlers have to take on all yhe travel costs, and othrt things. They foot the bill for everything. "Paying dues" MY ASS

[@BronzeSilverGoldPlatinum]

@David Starr - Have you talked to Andrew Yang about your movement? I know he wants to empower (allow to unionise) MMA fighters & your struggle seems similar

[@crotchman]

Well, shit.

[@SCANLZ]

He got that idea from one of Andrew Yang policy about unionasing the MMA! Yang is opening everyone's eyes #Yang2020 #Math #YangGang #VeteransforYang

[@MinkytheMinkY]

Do you really think Yang came up with this? Think. This topic has been around for quite some time. This guy is no erudite, seems to me he's been at this for years. He's very knowledgeable about union ins and outs. Yang just came on the scene and addopted this talking point in the last couple of months. Too Yang knew paying college athletes was an issue that had been making the rounds and a decision was in the works in California, so he jumped on it. Yang knows his initial supporter demographics, what they like and dislike, his market research makes him take politically expedient positions. Yang's data analytics team probably knows you better than you know yourself.

[@SCANLZ]

@@MinkytheMinkY But if it wasn't for to bring it up it wouldn't have any recognition so you know that's the Truth!

[@joananthony6323]

@@SCANLZ That wasn't the point you made. Starr and Jesse Ventura has been arguing about this for years, well before Yang was a thing. If Yang has been talking about it, he hasn't been doing it very loudly.

[@MinkytheMinkY]

@@SCANLZ you do realize union have a strong presence during elections? Candidates pander to them, typically for endorsement. However, Bernie is offering the most union protections, he wants to overturn anti-union laws and is supporting unions across all sectors. Not just wrestling, but I guess that doesn't sound as sexy or relevant unless it's spelled out the way Yang does?

[@renodickerson7545]

Interesting topic as always! But yall got to get in on this Hillary vs Tulsi beef asap! Because their is some real WWE S!#: going down right now !!!😂😂