If the story that broke yesterday afternoon (Sept. 4) about Vince McMahon informing WWE wrestlers they had 30 days to stop engaging “with outside third parties using your name and likeness” has you confused, you’re not alone. Coverage of it has included some retractions, and exposed almost as many questions as answers. Talent is said to be pretty unclear on the details themselves.
One thing we can report on is this exchange between Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer and CJ “Lana” Perry. On the site’s message board, Meltzer wrote:
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was CJ Perry’s Bang Energy drink commercials.”
If you look at the commercial, it’s logical to think it was a part of WWE’s decision-making process:
That’s more than playing video games and answering fans’ questions. It’s promoting a brand WWE isn’t affiliated with under the fictional name of the character you portray on WWE television.
Still, Perry denies Meltzer’s claim. By sub-tweeting him:
I am not the straw that broke the camel’s back. You know who you are and that is false ....... but thank you for writing about me.... all of you. I am your escape goat
— CJ “Lana” Perry (@LanaWWE) September 5, 2020
This is a very serious matter, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t crying laughing at “escape goat.” We’ll give Lana the benefit of the doubt and say it was an Office reference or autocorrect. But I digress...
Whatever role Lana played in this new WWE rule, it’s prompted an interesting discussion about intellectual property, labor rights, and other issues. If those arguments are going to be resolved, everyone involved will probably need more clarity about McMahon’s edict.
In the meantime, don’t blame Lana. Or do. I don’t know.