Truth Behind WWE Stars’ Morale Under TKO

There has been some insight given into the true state of backstage morale in WWE under the leadership of TKO.

Endeavor completed its takeover of WWE in September 2023, putting the sports entertainment giant under the TKO umbrella alongside UFC.

Vince McMahon was initially embraced in the new organisation and named as Executive Chairman of TKO, but that did not last long. McMahon left his position after the uproar caused by a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against him that, crucially for TKO, had sponsors threatening to withdraw their support and money.

Triple H has officially led the company creatively ever since, and he enjoyed something of a honeymoon period with fans and WWE stars alike seeming happier with the product than ever before.

But that honeymoon is over.

WWE Morale Deteriorating

In recent months, more and more questions have been raised about WWE’s creative direction with the aborted heel turn of John Cena being seen by many as symptomatic of what is wrong behind the scenes. But how are WWE stars feeling?

Sean Ross Sapp noted in a Fightful Select Q&A that morale in the company “Isn’t the over-the-moon, everything-is-lovely way that things used to be.” He noted that there were now more criticisms of creative from inside the company, with growing unrest that WWE stars are having to field questions on uncomfortable topics such as certain business practices and lawsuits.

Sapp did note, though, that he no longer receives messages from talents complaining about how miserable they are. Something that he noted was common between 2017 and 2022 – a time in the company when Vince McMahon was still very much in charge.