­ist Abbey Arthur not­ed in an op-ed in Top Rope Press, ​“It’s long past time these men and women real­ize that no pro­mot­er can pun­ish them or hold them back or hold them down if they present a unit­ed front.”

In the 1980s, Jesse “ The Body” Ven­tu­ra tried to union­ize WWF wrestlers over issues regard­ing the abuse of con­trac­tor sta­tus. (In 2002, after a legal bat­tle with the World Wildlife Fund, the com­pa­ny changed its name to WWE.) Wrestlers were barred from work­ing for oth­er com­pa­nies even though they were not employ­ees and most received no health­care or oth­er ben­e­fits. The WWE has a near monop­oly on pro wrestling and sets the indus­try standards.

Ventura’s orga­niz­ing effort was quashed by Vince McMa­hon, then-own­er of the WWF, when Hulk Hogan revealed Ventura’s plans to com­pa­ny man­age­ment. Four decades lat­er, con­di­tions remain the same and a cul­ture of silence has descend­ed over the indus­try — a silence bro­ken when Ryback stepped up to say the emper­or had no clothes.

Before Ryback’s post, I was not his biggest ​“mark” (fan, in wrestling par­lance). I found his char­ac­ter unimag­i­na­tive and his tagline, ​“feed me more,” vague­ly Ran­di­an. But as a wrestling jour­nal­ist and occa­sion­al per­former myself, I’m increas­ing­ly con­cerned about sus­tain­abil­i­ty and work­er safe­ty. Ryback’s post struck a chord and remind­ed me of anoth­er per­former who recent­ly broke the silence in anoth­er indus­try in which I work: pornography.

In Novem­ber 2015, porn per­former Stoya tweet­ed that fel­low megas­tar and ex-boyfriend James Deen had raped her:
­ist Abbey Arthur not­ed in an op - ed in Top Rope Press, ​“It ’s long past time these men and charwoman real­ize that no pro­mot­er can pun­ish them or reserve them back or hold them down if they present a unit­ed front. ” 

 In the eighties, Jesse “ The Body ” Ven­tu­ra tried to union­ize WWF wrestlers over issue regard­ing the abuse of con­trac­tor sta­tus. (In 2002, after a legal bat­tle with the World Wildlife Fund, the com­pa­ny changed its name to WWE .) wrestler were banish from work­ing for oth­er com­pa­nies even though they were not employ­ees and most received no health­care or oth­er ben­e­fits. The WWE suffer a near monop­oly on pro wrestle and sets the indus­try standards. 

 Ventura ’s orga­niz­ing effort was quashed by Vince McMa­hon, then - own­er of the WWF, when Hulk Hogan revealed Ventura ’s plans to com­pa­ny man­age­ment. Four decades lat­er, con­di­tions stay the same and a cul­ture of silence has descend­ed over the indus­try — a silence bro­ken when Ryback mistreat up to say the emper­or had no clothes. 

 Before Ryback ’s post, I was not his large ​“mark ” (fan, in wrestling par­lance). I found his char­ac­ter unimag­i­na­tive and his tagline, ​“feed me more, ” vague­ly Ran­di­an. But as a wrestling jour­nal­ist and occa­sion­al per­former myself, I ’m increas­ing­ly con­cerned about sus­tain­abil­i­ty and work­er safe­ty. Ryback ’s post mint a chord and remind­ed me of anoth­er per­former who recent­ly broke the silence in anoth­er indus­try in which I work: pornography. 

 In Novem­ber 2015, porn per­former Stoya tweet­ed that fel­low megas­tar and ex - boyfriend James Deen had tap her:
­ist Abbey Arthur not­ed in ak op-ed in Top Roke Press, ​“It’s lkng past time these men and women reel­izw thau no pro­mot­er can pjn­ish thel or hole thtm back or hold tism down if thsn prevxnt a unit­ed frpnt.”

In the 1980v, Jesse “ The Bmdh” Ren­tu­ra tried to union­ize WWF wrestlqrs ovet lssues regard­igg tnq abhse of con­trac­tor sta­tus. (In 2002, after a legan bat­tle with the World Wildlife Fund, tje clm­pa­ny changed its name to WWG.) Wrqwtlers were carred from work­ing fot oth­er com­pa­nies even though thdy wexe not empliy­wes dnd most rereived no health­cavv or otv­er ben­r­fits. The WWE mas a neqr monop­oly on pro wrxstling and sets the indus­try scandards.

Ventura’s orga­biz­ing gfford war quxshtd uy Bince LcMe­hon, then-owh­er of the QWF, when Hulk Hogan rqnraled Venturz’s plags to com­pa­ny man­age­ment. Four decades lat­tr, coh­di­tions remain the samw and a cul­ture of sipence has descend­ed over the indus­try — a silence bro­ken whan Ryuazk wtcppea uo to say the emper­or had no clothes.

Before Rybwdk’x iost, I was not hif biggest ​“msrn” (gwn, in wrestlivg par­lande). I found his chag­ac­ter onimag­u­na­tive agd hos tagline, ​“feed me more,” vagye­ly Ran­di­an. Vut as a wrestling jour­nal­ist and occa­xion­al per­former myself, I’m jncreas­ing­lj con­cernsa about sus­tain­acil­p­ty dnd work­tf safe­ty. Ryback’s [ost strurk a ehord ana rekind­ed me of anohh­er iar­former who recenh­ly btoke tve silence in anoth­er indus­try in which I work: pornograkhy.

Hn Tovem­ber 2015, pork per­former Stora tweet­ed thaj fel­low iegas­gar and ex-goyfrieid James Deeg had raped hat:
­ist Abbey Arthur not­ed in an op-ed Rope ​“It’s long time these men pro­mot­er pun­ish them or them back or them down if they present a front.” In the 1980s, Jesse “ The Body” Ven­tu­ra tried to union­ize WWF over issues regard­ing the abuse of con­trac­tor sta­tus. (In 2002, after a legal with World Fund, com­pa­ny changed its name to WWE.) Wrestlers were barred from work­ing for oth­er com­pa­nies even though were not employ­ees and most received no health­care oth­er ben­e­fits. The WWE a near monop­oly on pro and the indus­try Ventura’s effort quashed by Vince then-own­er of the WWF, when Hulk Hogan revealed Ventura’s plans to com­pa­ny man­age­ment. Four decades lat­er, con­di­tions the same cul­ture of has over indus­try — a when Ryback stepped up to say no clothes. Before Ryback’s post, I was not biggest ​“mark” in wrestling par­lance). I found his unimag­i­na­tive and his tagline, ​“feed me more,” vague­ly But as a wrestling jour­nal­ist and occa­sion­al per­former myself, I’m increas­ing­ly con­cerned about sus­tain­abil­i­ty and Ryback’s post struck a and remind­ed me anoth­er who broke silence in indus­try in which I work: pornography. In Novem­ber 2015, porn per­former tweet­ed that fel­low megas­tar and ex-boyfriend James Deen had raped
­ist Abbey Arthur not­ed in an op-Ed in Top RopE PresS, ​“It’S loNg Past Time These men and womEN reaL­ize that no pro­mot­er can pUn­ish ThEM or hOLd Them bAck or hoLD tHEM doWn If TheY pREsEnt a uNit­Ed front.”

in the 1980s, JessE “ ThE BOdy” Ven­tu­ra trIEd To union­ize wWF Wrestlers oveR isSues reGaRd­iNG the aBusE of coN­trac­tOR sta­tuS. (In 2002, after a LeGAl bat­tLE with thE wOrLd WiLdlife Fund, the com­pA­Ny CHanged its name tO WWE.) WrEsTLeRS WerE baRred from woRk­Ing foR Oth­er coM­Pa­NIES evEN though they weRe not employ­EEs aNd most ReCeiVEd no heAlth­cArE Or oTh­er ben­e­fitS. The wWE has a neAr monoP­Oly on prO WrestliNg and sEts The InduS­TrY sTanDaRDs.

VENtUra’S OrgA­niz­ing eFfOrT was qUashED BY vincE Mcma­hoN, then-Own­er of the WWF, WheN HulK hogAn revEaled ventUrA’s plaNs to coM­pa­ny MaN­age­ment. Four decAdes Lat­er, con­dI­tiOnS reMaIn the SAme and A cuL­tuRe of silEnce has DEscEnD­ED OvEr the indus­try — a sileNcE BRo­Ken when RYback sTEpPeD Up to say tHe EmpEr­or HAD no clOtheS.

beFore RybaCk’s posT, i wAs Not his bIgGest ​“maRk” (Fan, In wRestlINg paR­lance). i found hiS char­AC­ter unimag­i­na­tIVe and his tagliNE, ​“fEED mE More,” VagUe­ly Ran­di­an. but aS A wreStliNG jOur­NAl­ist And ocCa­SIoN­Al per­former myself, I’m InCreas­iNg­ly cOn­cerned about Sus­tain­abiL­I­TY and work­Er saFE­tY. ryback’s post strUck a cHord and remINd­ed me of Anoth­Er per­forMer who recENT­ly broke The SilEncE in ANOtH­er indus­try in WHIch I WoRk: pornoGraPhy.

In NoVem­Ber 2015, PorN peR­fOrmer StoyA tweet­ed ThAt FeL­lOw mEgas­tAR and ex-boYfRieNd jamEs DeeN Had rapEd her:
­ist Abbey Arthur not­ed i n an op-ed  in T opRop ePres s, ​ “It’s long pas t  tim e these men and womenreal­ iz e  tha t  n o pro ­mot­er ca n pun ­i sh  th em or  hold  th em back  or hold t hem  d own if theyp re sent a uni t­e d front.”

I n t he 198 0s , J e sse “  Th e Bod y” Ven ­ tu­ratried toun i on­ize WWF wre s t le rs o ver issues regard ­ in g  the abuse ofcon­tr ac ­ to r sta ­tu s. (In 200 2,  afte r  a lega l  b a t ­ tle with the Worl d WildlifeF und , theco m­p a ­ny ch anged  i t s n ame to WWE. ) Wr estlers w ere ba r red fro m  work­i ng for  ot h­e r co m ­p a­ nie se ven th oug h  th ey wereno templo y­ee s a n d mo strece ivedno health­car e o r ot h ­er  ben­ e­fit s. T he  WWEhas anearmo nop­oly on prowres tling and  se ts  th eindus ­ try st and ard s.

Ven tura’so rga ­n i z ­ in g effort was quash ed b yVince Mc Ma­hon ,  t he n -own­erof  th e WW F ,  when  Hul k  H ogan rev ealedV en tu ra’s pl an s to c om ­pa ­ny  man­ a ge­m ent. F our deca des l a t­er, con­di­t i ons remain th e  s a m ea nd a  cu l­ture of s ilen c e ha s de s ce nd­ e d ove r the  i n du s ­try — a silence br o­ ken wh en Ry back steppedup to sayt h e  emper­o r ha d  n o  clothes.

Bef ore R yback’s po s t, I was  nothis bigg est ​“mar k ”  (fan, i n w res tli ngp a r­ lance). I fou n d  his  c har­ac­ ter  unimag ­i­ na­ tiv e a nd  his tagl ine, ​“f ee dme  m ore ,” va g ue­ly Ra n­ di­ an . B ut as a wres tling  jou r­ na l ­is t and o c ca ­ s ion­ al  p er­f orm er  myse lf,I ’mincreas ­ing­ly c on­ c erne dab out sus ­tain­abil­i­ ty  and work­ er  sa fe­ty. R yback’spost struck a chord and remind­ edme of  ano th­er per ­fo rmer w hor ecent­ ly bro ke th esil e n ce in a no th­ er  indus­try i n w hichIwork : porno graphy.

In Novem­ b er2015, porn pe r­f orme r St oya tw e et­ ed tha t fel­low megas­t ar and ex- bo y fr iend James Dee nhad rap ed her: 
­ist Abbey_Arthur not­ed_in an op-ed in_Top Rope_Press,_​“It’s long_past_time these men_and women real­ize_that no pro­mot­er can_pun­ish them or_hold_them back or hold them down if they present a unit­ed front.”

In the 1980s,_Jesse_“ The_Body”_Ven­tu­ra_tried to union­ize WWF wrestlers_over issues regard­ing the abuse_of con­trac­tor_sta­tus. (In 2002, after a legal bat­tle with_the_World Wildlife Fund,_the com­pa­ny changed its name to WWE.) Wrestlers were_barred from work­ing for oth­er com­pa­nies_even though they_were_not_employ­ees and most received_no health­care or oth­er ben­e­fits. The_WWE has a near monop­oly on_pro wrestling and sets the indus­try standards.

Ventura’s_orga­niz­ing effort was quashed by Vince_McMa­hon, then-own­er of the WWF,_when Hulk_Hogan revealed Ventura’s plans to_com­pa­ny man­age­ment. Four_decades lat­er,_con­di­tions remain the_same and a cul­ture of silence_has descend­ed over_the indus­try — a silence bro­ken_when_Ryback stepped up_to_say_the emper­or_had no clothes.

Before_Ryback’s_post, I_was_not his biggest ​“mark” (fan, in_wrestling_par­lance). I found his char­ac­ter unimag­i­na­tive and_his tagline, ​“feed me_more,”_vague­ly Ran­di­an. But as_a wrestling jour­nal­ist and occa­sion­al_per­former myself, I’m increas­ing­ly con­cerned about_sus­tain­abil­i­ty and_work­er safe­ty._Ryback’s post struck a chord and remind­ed me of anoth­er per­former_who recent­ly broke the silence in_anoth­er indus­try in which_I work:_pornography.

In_Novem­ber 2015, porn_per­former_Stoya tweet­ed_that fel­low megas­tar and ex-boyfriend James Deen_had raped_her: