When you hear about the unhappiness of many of today's WWE Superstars and the grueling travel schedule, Vince McMahon's recent comments seem odd.
McMahon sat down for a recently-published interview with Variety. He discussed a number of topics, among them the topic of WWE Superstars getting time off. In Vince's words, "Anybody who wants time off can get time off."
He added that it's easy for WWE to weave talent and performers in and out of storylines based upon injuries or family situations. He said, "Our characters are real people with real problems." He then called WWE place where "this talent will work these dates, that talent will work those dates."
Vince also spoke of the new upcoming deals with FOX and NBC, the long-term success of WWE and comparing himself to someone who wins military honours but has to realize every morning his medals are gone and he has to prove himself all over again.
What This Means
Unless Vince is flat-out lying, it's hard to know what to think of Superstars who complain about their travel schedules or the constant debate that there should be off-season in wrestling. If a Superstar can take time off when needed, the idea of an off-season is pointless because WWE employs enough stars to give anyone their own off-season should they need one. For example, if Ronda Rousey wants to take a year to start a family, WWE seems willing to give her that time.
That said, for wrestlers who take time off due to injury, it appears WWE counts that time away as time unserved. Luke Harper, Dash Wilder and others have seen time added to their contracts because they missed time. In that light, it's not really an off-season. It's simply putting a hold on your contract.
How much advanced notice or the hoops stars might have to jump through to get time off wasn't revealed but the assumption has to be here that not everyone can have it whenever they want it. So in that respect, Vince's comments might be a touch misleading.