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WWE has removed the name Fabulous Moolah from the new Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania after fan backlash because of Moolah’s reputation for how she conducted herself and controlled and took advantage of other women wrestlers during her many years essentially controlling the women’s wrestling circuit.
Stephanie McMahon announced on Twitter today a thank you message for fans speaking out. “Thank you WWE Universe for using your voice. What remains most important is that the “WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal” will be a historic match and is part of WWE’s unwavering commitment to our Women’s Division. #WomensEvolution #ChangeTheName.”
Thank you @WWEUniverse for using your voice. What remains most important is that the “@WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal” will be a historic match and is part of @WWE’s unwavering commitment to our Women’s Division. #WomensEvolution #ChangeTheName
— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) March 15, 2018
WWE has removed the Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal video from their YouTube Channel and there is no reference to Moolah and the battle royal announcement on their website, including the corporate section where press releases are posted. A press release does remain on WWE.com’s corporate page announcing an expanded partnership between Snickers and WrestleMania. That may have played a part in WWE removing Moolah’s name from the battle royal name.
Fans began contacting Snickers about being associated with the WrestleMania brand which included Fabulous Moolah’s name on a match. Snickers issued a statement to WrestlingInc regarding the matter: “We were recently made aware of the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc’s (WWE) decision to honor a former wrestler during the upcoming WrestleMania 34 event. As a principle-based business that has long championed creating inclusive environments that encourage and empower everyone to reach their full potential, this is unacceptable. We are engaging with the WWE to express our disappointment.”
Fans (or “Keyboard Warriors,” as Coach derisively refers to them on WWE Raw) also launched a Change.org petition which reached over 10,000 supporters. The page has declared “Victory” with the news of WWE removing her name. The petition stated: “So today WWE announced The Fabulous Moolah Battle Royal that will be taken place at the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania 34. But the big problem with that is the person who is associated with that award was an evil woman who did nothing for Women’s Professional Wrestling. Fabulous Moolah pimped out women … we are currently in the #MeToo era, are you really trying to say that you endorsed her behaviour?”
Fans are responding to Stephanie McMahon’s post on Twitter.
So, do we have to talk to @SNICKERS about getting the Warrior Award name changed, or is that too much to handle at once?
— Mike (@BiggMike508) March 15, 2018
Good start. Warrior award needs to go too. Warrior was a racist, homophobic bigot and bully who shouldn’t be associated with the inspirational award that bears his name
— Austin Hall (@auttiehall) March 15, 2018
WWE’s annual Hall of Fame “Warrior Award” is not without controversy, and could be the next wrestler’s name to be removed from WWE’s WrestleMania weekend. Considering WrestleMania is in New Orleans, and Warrior made harsh comments about Hurricane Katrina victims, another controversy could easily surface in coming days or weeks if it gains similar momentum. He also, in a 2005 speech at the University of Connecticut, said homosexual people are not as legitimate as straight people. When asked why by an audience member, he said, “Because queering doesn’t make the world work.” That drew laughter and heckling from the students. When a woman in the crowd gasped and said, “Oh, Jesus” at his comment, he said, “Don’t have an orgasm on me, honey.” Warrior was also championed during the Susan G. Komen campaign by WWE last year, despite Warrior’s vile comments about Bobby Heenan when he was diagnosed with cancer years ago.
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Instead of Fabulous Moolah, Maybe the battle royal should be named in honor of Mildred Burke. She was one of the very “First female superstar” in the early days of modern professional wrestling. She was also part of the first generation of female wrestlers that built the foundation & made women wrestling what it is today. So, it is in my opinion that the woman’s battle royal at Wrestlemania should be named after her.