Unionization in professional wrestling has always been a taboo subject. After Jesse Ventura’s attempted efforts were left behind, former independent wrestler David Starr tried revitalizing that same fight in 2019. His voyage caught some mainstream success, including collaborating with the British Actors’ Equity Association to form We the Independent. This organization fought for fundamental rights like healthcare and better pay to independent wrestlers. His efforts opened new wounds for Vince McMahon, who ceased booking opportunities for him from Progress Wrestling and Westside Xtreme Wrestling, who WWE sponsored at the time. According to Bischoff, efforts from stars like Ventura and Starr were controversial and maybe not best for business.

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“I’m not a big fan of unions,” Bischoff pointed out. “I don’t think that’s the end-all be-all. There’s a lot of advantages in being in a union, but there’s a lot of businesses that are no longer around because of being in the union as well. I’m not sure how I feel about it today, to be really fair about it. I don’t think that business would have grown to the extent that it is had there been a union involved… I don’t know that; it’s just an opinion.”

Since the quarrels between Hulk Hogan, McMahon, and Ventura, it seems WWE and and the pro-union wrestler have turned over a new leaf, with talks of Ventura inking a WWE Legends contract. Regarding Ventura’s relationship with McMahon, he has mentioned the two weren’t always so adversarial, even if they didn’t always see eye-to-eye. Hogan and Ventura’s relationship, however, remains turbulent.

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If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.