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World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has reportedly implemented a new social media policy for its wrestlers, explicitly addressing the sharing of images related to injuries. According to Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline, WWE talent has been instructed not to post photos of their injuries on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
Wrestlers often share these images as a testament to their resilience and dedication, showcasing their ability to continue competing despite injuries sustained during a match. This policy change was brought to light following Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne's brutal grudge match on this week's NXT, which left both competitors covered in blood.
Alvarez stated, "There were two segments on this show where somebody ended up covered in blood, and apparently, there is a new rule that WWE talent are not allowed to take pictures of their injuries, and there is an absolute prohibition on taking pictures of any blood whatsoever" (h/t WrestlingNews.co).
Reason for Policy Change
The exact reason for this policy change remains to be determined. Still, it could be aimed at maintaining a more family-friendly image on social media or protecting fans from the harsh realities of the physical toll taken on wrestlers during competition.
In the past, when WWE matches became particularly bloody, any replays or images posted online would often be in black and white. Interestingly, UFC, the mixed martial arts organization expected to merge with WWE to form a single company shortly, must share WWE's cautious approach to sharing images of blood and injuries.
During Wednesday's quarterly conference call, WWE CEO Nick Khan was asked if UFC or Endeavor—the soon—to—be—formed corporation's parent company—would influence WWE's creative decisions. Khan expressed enthusiasm about working with UFC and Endeavor, stating, "We're all excited about everything that should and will happen with UFC and the folks from Endeavor.
Keep in mind; we've known these folks for a long period. They're not strangers to us. Their style is not strange to us. It's something that we give a full embrace to." Furthermore, Khan emphasized that neither Endeavor nor UFC would interfere with WWE's creative direction, adding, "I can certainly represent emphatically to you on the creative that there's no one at Endeavor or the UFC that has any interest in trying to interfere with that, in any way whatsoever." He also noted that UFC President Dana White would likely confirm that Endeavor has rarely tried to dictate match outcomes or creative decisions in the UFC.