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[DaBargainHunta]

From WWE.com:

Prepare to celebrate the holidays with WWE this year as Raw broadcasts LIVE on Christmas night, Dec. 25, and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

This marks the first time that WWE will present Monday night’s hottest show live on the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. These unprecedented broadcasts aim to best serve you, the WWE Universe, during the holiday season. Additionally, SmackDown will be broadcast live on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

Deck the halls and ring in the New Year with Monday Night Raw, live on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 on USA Network.

I think this is ridiculous and highly unfair to wrestlers and their families.

1. Yes, Christmas and Thanksgiving shows used to be a wrestling staple. But the thing is, it's not 1983 anymore.

2. Yes, NFL, NBA, etc. run games on Christmas too. That doesn't make it right IMO.

3. Ratings are generally lower for these WWE "holiday" episodes (which are usually pre-taped if they fall on the day) because people are enjoying the festivities instead of watching rasslin'.

Edit - 4. WWE wrestlers already work 300+ days a year away from their families. That is one of the reasons why working Christmas/New Years is such a big issue. It's not just that they're working on those holidays - it's that and everything else. Yes, they signed up for it, chose the life, etc. But I'm sure they were all blindsided by this nonetheless. WWE wrestlers haven't worked live shows on major holidays since the late '80s or early '90s, I believe.

And the backlash has already begun:

Reby Hardy‏Verified account @RebyHardy

Christmas is ruined 😔😢

(She's Matt Hardy's wife.)

Update: Looks like it's a USA Network decision, not necessarily WWE.

From Jeff Hardy's wife:

It's not the WWE's call, it's USA's call.

https://twitter.com/BethBrittHardy_/status/904846202038083585

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Lots of people have to work on Christmas and New Years.

 

[Haines]

People work on holidays. Its a thing,

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

I've worked Christmas and New Year's Day the last five years, so it's hard for me to fully sympathize. Then again I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't celebrate holidays anyway, so whatever.

 

[Rmagnus]

If my boss is willing to pay me more I will gladly work on Xmas lol.

 

[Azuran]

My heart bleeds for them. How will they recover?

 

[ngff02]

When I first read this I assumed it was optional and they got holiday pay.

Hopefully that is the case if they decide to do this.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

My heart bleeds for them. How will they recover?

With a z pack

 

[Cagey]

Five brass rings.

 

[cordy]

It's not the WWE's call, it's USA's call.

https://twitter.com/BethBrittHardy_/status/904846202038083585

That's Jeff Hardy's wife so yeah.

It's still fucked up given how many days they're normally on the road and all but still, we need to change the title because it's not WWE's call here especially given the contract stipulations. USA wears the pants in the WWE/USA relationship.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

People are failing to realize how much they are away from their families to begin with.

 

[Azuran]

Five brass rings.

Reach for that mistletoe boys.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

I'm working New Years day and i'm getting a lot less than these guys.
Boo fucking hoo.

 

[DaBargainHunta]

It's not the WWE's call, it's USA's call.

https://twitter.com/BethBrittHardy_/status/904846202038083585

Added this to OP because it's an important distinction.

But still, I don't believe for a second that WWE didn't have the power to say no.

 

[TaterTots]

I work those holidays as well. Where is my guard?

 

[Bronx-Man]

Lots of people have to work on Christmas and New Years.

People work on holidays. Its a thing,

I've worked Christmas and New Year's Day the last five years, so it's hard for me to fully sympathize. Then again I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't celebrate holidays anyway, so whatever.

I'm working New Years day and i'm getting a lot less than these guys.
Boo fucking hoo.

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

 

[GodofWine]

I can't see people watching wwe on Christmas but if they see it as an opportunity then so be it.

NBA and NFL have games this year. Which kinda makes WWE redundant at that point.

 

[Foffy]

Man, weren't those one of the few promised days they have off when touring year long in WWE?

 

[Jarrod38]

Wonder how many people that posted in this thread will be posting on Christmas Day.

 

[Leona Lewis]

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

Not to mention that these guys spend 300 days of the year on the road as it is.

I work Christmas Day too, but I'm not away from my family six days out of the week either.

Yikes at some of these replies though.

 

[Loudninja]

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

Right?

I dont get why it matter show much they make they still deserve time off.

 

[mreddie]

USA wants those ad dollars.

 

[FlutterPuffs]

A lot of entertainers work on holidays. This isn't new.

 

[SCChappy]

you shouldn't be forced to work holidays but if you want to then you should be able to

 

[Fox Mulder]

Who the hell watches wrestling on Christmas?

Do a Superbowl halftime show again.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

They sign up to work Mondays. That's arguably the biggest part of their job. New Years and Christmas fall on Mondays this year. Just like with retail, there are plenty of shitty things about their job and the way they are treated. Having to work a holiday falls pretty low on that list for me.

 

[Shamrock7r]

The problems with the WWE work schedule are so far beyond not having Christmas and New Years eve off. Plenty of 9-5 people work those days. Who cares in the grand scheme of things that are wrong with the WWE.

 

[lolmark]

Ooof. The responses excusing the decision is disgraceful. Wrestlers are on a never ending US tour and they aren't just working televised events.

 

[Rmagnus]

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

I don't get this logic so everything should just shut down and not function during Xmas? Why is it not OK to work on Xmas?

 

[TaterTots]

Not to mention that these guys spend 300 days of the year on the road as it is.

I work Christmas Day too, but I'm not away from my family six days out of the week either.

Yikes at some of these replies though.

No one forced them to choose this path. They chose it on their own. They chose to be away from loved ones for extended periods. Believe it or not, we have choices. Especially, if they're making that kind of money compared to most of us.

 

[Gaogaogao]

People work on holidays. Its a thing,

it sucks every time, unless you run a Chinese restaurant and don't want to celebrate.

 

[ZackieChan]

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

What happens when you want to grab something from 7-11, have an internet problem, want to eat out, see a movie, or any number of other things on Christmas or New Year's? No bars should be open NYE?

What you're saying is untenable.

What does the OP mean by "it's not 1983 anymore"? What has changed?

 

[Shamrock7r]

Ooof. The responses excusing the decision is disgraceful. Wrestlers are on a never ending US tour and they aren't just working televised events.

But wouldn't you say a better perspective would be to address the actual issue of wrestlers working a hellish schedule year around that doesn't allow their body and mind the time to recover? Getting up in arms about them not getting Christmas and New Years off seems like an artificial way to feel better and ignore the real problem. Again, plenty of working stiffs work on those days.

 

[abstract alien]

So what? It's Christmas/New Years, not the first day of nuclear winter. Many people have to work on those days.

 

[Syder]

Who is going to watch RAW on Christmas Day?

Who is going to go to an arena to watch RAW on Christmas Day?

 

[UltimaPooh]

Lots of people have to work on Christmas and New Years.

Yea this.

Once retail and service industry workers get the day off I'll care about pro league athletes getting the day off.

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

I have a few friends who are nurses and 2 who are physicians. There's not much you can say to argue against medical professionals needing to work holidays. Some jobs just require people to work holidays and it's alright. Their world isn't ending because of this, they just schedule around it. Also, for those who watch TV shows, stream music, or play video games, remember there are employees working holidays for you to ensure you're having a great time.

 

[Violence Jack]

Record low ratings incoming. They can't compete with NFL, NBA, and college football on those days.

 

[Velcro Fly]

Heaven forbid RAW air taped on Christmas Day.

WWE in December is normally a wasteland of shit anyway. They aren't going to waste anything good before the Royal Rumble.

 

[Leona Lewis]

No one forced them to choose this path. They chose it on their own. They chose to be away from loved ones for extended periods. Believe it or not, we have choices. Especially, if they're making that kind of money compared to most of us.

If they've taped holiday shows before so that they didn't have to work on Christmas or New Year's, I can understand their reaction.

People keep bringing up other sports and entertainment, but WWE doesn't really have an off-season. It's already its own beast as far as slavish devotion goes, so I can see why they'd begrudge being forced to work on days they had been previously promised could be spent with their families.

And then there's the production assistants, lighting, arena staff, etc. that have to work too.

I'm not saying WWE is in the wrong necessarily. Just that it's a shitty scenario.

And really, how many fans are going to want to spend their New Year's at a dingy arena? I guess we'll find out.

 

[Haines]

You guys put far too much stock into what day people tell you that you should be celebrating or whatever.

Everyday is one to be enjoyed, not just the ones they tell you.

Work is a means to enjoying life

 

[DaBargainHunta]

But wouldn't you say a better perspective would be to address the actual issue of wrestlers working a hellish schedule year around that doesn't allow their body and mind the time to recover? Getting up in arms about them not getting Christmas and New Years off seems like an artificial way to feel better and ignore the real problem.

Of course their insane schedule year-round is one of the biggest reasons why this is an issue! I'm not sure why you seem to think you're the only one making that connection.

 

[Carnby]

Wrestlers have to work holidays because Monday falls on said holidays. News at 11.

 

[Anth0ny]

Heaven forbid RAW air taped on Christmas Day.

WWE in December is normally a wasteland of shit anyway. They aren't going to waste anything good before the Royal Rumble.

Yeah it's weird that they've decided that now of all times they need to go live on Christmas and New Years.


The rating is going to be god awful, so why even bother? NBA will eat them up and spit them out.

 

[Shamrock7r]

Of course their insane schedule year-round is one of the biggest reasons why this is an issue! I'm not sure why you seem to think you're the only one making that connection.

Because you made a new thread that doesn't seem to have a proper perspective of things. So they have to work Christmas and New Years. So what?

 

[Bronx-Man]

Who is going to watch RAW on Christmas Day?

Who is going to go to an arena to watch RAW on Christmas Day?

The markiest of marks

 

[Generalpsyduck]

Radical thought: none of that shit is ok either?

I hate the "I get treated like shit so everyone should get treated like shit" attitude. It reminds me of boomers.

 

[lolmark]

But wouldn't you say a better perspective would be to address the actual issue of wrestlers working a hellish schedule year around that doesn't allow their body and mind the time to recover? Getting up in arms about them not getting Christmas and New Years off seems like an artificial way to feel better and ignore the real problem. Again, plenty of working stiffs work on those days.

I don't think that anybody thinks that Christmas time off would be considered healing time.If you want to talk about recovery, that's great and fine. I believe that WWE should have an off-season after Wrestlemania, but that's a separate discussion.

 

[FlutterPuffs]

I'm sorry, I can't empathise with them working on holidays, since I know a lot of people who do, including me.

Now working 300 days a year? That I can. The wrestlers being overworked is something worth talking about.

 

[DustyVonEric]

A lot of entertainers work on holidays. This isn't new.

Exactly.

And for wrestlers in particular, some of their biggest events were / are held on holidays for the largest audience and biggest pay days. Every wrestler knows this.

Heck, high schools have their big games on Thanksgiving, but professionals can't do holidays?

I know wrestlers grind, but working holidays is standard. Just have your holiday gathering / celebration on another day like other people that have to work holidays do.

People acting like kids don't get tickets to the show / game as presents.

We used to get tickets to the circus or Disney On Ice for Christmas Day. C'mon...