RVD Outlines Why a Pro Wrestling Union Would Be Difficult to Implement

RVD is someone who values his own beliefs in life and isn’t tied down by what others feel is the norm in society. That is exactly why he believes a union won’t work in pro wrestling and explained his reasoning behind it.

A union in professional wrestling has been a controversial topic for many years. The likes of Andrew Yang even tried to get wrestlers to unionize. Hulk Hogan also squashed that idea years ago when Jesse Ventura tried to bring it up within WWE.

While speaking on his 1 of a Kind podcast, RVD believes a union would not work in the professional wrestling industry due to its unique structure and challenges. Wrestling operates differently compared to traditional professions where unions are common. The industry is small, with only one major company, possibly a second, and a few smaller promotions. Unlike state-regulated sports like boxing, wrestling lacks clear career paths and is rarely seen as a standard career option.

Many advocates of unions in wrestling focus on top companies, overlooking the impact on smaller promotions. Requiring compliance from smaller promotions, which might only run a few shows a year, could jeopardize their ability to operate. Standard union practices, like pay raises based on seniority, do not align with the wrestling world. Success in wrestling is determined by marketability, charisma, and audience connection—factors that are highly subjective and intangible.

According to RVD, negotiations for benefits such as buses or health insurance are better suited for independent contractor agreements rather than union mandates. Wrestlers essentially lease their brand and skills, allowing for personalized contracts that reflect their unique contributions and needs.

“Here’s an interesting question from Instagram: ‘Why doesn’t Rob Van Dam like unions?’ A wrestling historian even donated Canadian $2 to ask. Well, I wouldn’t say I dislike unions. When I talk about them, it’s usually in the context of pro wrestling, where I’ve worked for over 35 years. I just don’t see unions working well in this industry. Wrestling is unique. It’s not like other professions where unions are common.

Think about it. Pro wrestling is such a small industry. There’s really only one big company, maybe a second one, and a few smaller ones. It’s not like boxing, which is state-regulated and has clear career paths. Wrestling is so rare that most people don’t even consider it a career option when planning their futures.

Some people think a union could improve wrestlers’ working conditions, but they’re often only thinking about the top companies. Would smaller promotions, which might only run a few shows a year, have to comply too? That could put them out of business.

Another issue is that unions often standardize things, like pay raises based on seniority. But wrestling doesn’t work like that. Success isn’t just about time on the job; it’s about marketability, charisma, and connection with the audience—intangibles that are hard to quantify. Some wrestlers might work for years and never improve, while others have a natural “It Factor” that makes them stars immediately.

Take something like buses for talent. Should every wrestler get a bus just because John Cena or Rey Mysterio has one? That doesn’t make sense. These are things that should be negotiated individually as independent contractors. Wrestlers lease out their brand and skills, and their contracts can include specific benefits like buses or health insurance.

While crew members, like stagehands and camera operators, might benefit from unions due to their standardized roles, the same logic does not apply to wrestlers. The subjective nature of wrestling talent, combined with the industry’s limited size, makes unionization impractical.

In traditional sports like the NFL or NBA, performance and skill directly influence value. Wrestling requires not only athletic ability but also charisma, personality, and appearance. With only one major company and a few smaller ones, the industry lacks the scale and resources to support unionization in the way Hollywood or major sports leagues can.

“Crew members, like camera operators or stagehands, might benefit from unions because their work is more standardized. But for wrestlers, it’s different. The subjective nature of talent and the industry’s structure make unions a poor fit.

In traditional sports like the NFL or NBA, your talent and performance determine your value. Wrestling involves not just athletic ability but also charisma, personality, and look. It’s so subjective. And unlike Hollywood, which is a massive industry with unionized actors, wrestling has only one big company and a few smaller ones. It’s just not sustainable for wrestling in the same way.”

A union in professional wrestling is more difficult now than it would have been to establish a couple of decades ago. Therefore, many fans would likely agree with what RVD had to say about a union in the business and simply accept the fact that it will never happen.

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