Big Johnny keeps showing up to the party
Since the news dropped that John Laurinaitis is lining up another fan meet-and-greet, the internet has essentially become a digital mosh pit. It feels like every time we turn around, the former Ace of the WWE executive suite is back on a flyer, and the fan base is nowhere near ready to let the past go.
If you have been living under a pile of steel chairs, Laurinaitis remains a lightning rod for criticism. His previous appearances have sparked intense debates about whether disgraced figures from wrestling history should be allowed to profit from their tenure, regardless of how messy the exit was.
The defenders make their case
Some fans are riding the contrarian wave, arguing that the guy is just trying to make a living in a post-corporate world. One user on the subreddit pointed out that if you start purging every controversial figure, the convention circuit would be awfully quiet.
There is a segment of the fan base that truly does not care about the office politics or the legal headaches trailing his name. They just want the autograph, the handshake, and the story for the basement shrine. To them, he is simply the guy who did that weird power-walk entrance in 2012.
The skeptics are drawing lines in the sand
Then you have the vocal majority who view these bookings as a direct insult to the changing culture of professional wrestling. One user noted that seeing him on a promotional poster for a fan event feels like a blatant disregard for the internal investigations that stained his final run with the company.
It is not just about the morality of the thing, either. Many fans think it is a booking mistake by the event promoters who pick him up. Why attach your brand to someone who carries that much baggage? You are inviting an internet pile-on for a guy whose biggest contribution in the last decade was eating a pedigree at Extreme Rules.
My take: The juice is not worth the squeeze
Look, I get it. Wrestling fans love a relic, and there is a weird fascination with the guys who kept the gears turning while the product was stale. But this borders on masochism. You are bringing a guy into a room full of people who collectively hold deep-seated grudges against his entire era of management.
The promoters chasing this heat are playing a dangerous game. Sure, you get the curiosity seekers, but you alienate the sponsors and the casual fans who just want a weekend of high-flying spots and championship gold. It is like hiring a guy who burned down the warehouse to come manage your new inventory.
Let’s call a spade a spade: this feels like a desperate attempt to stay relevant in a business that has moved on to better things. With WrestleMania 41 looming on April 19-20, the focus should be on the future and the current crop of talent carving out their legacies. Dwelling on figures like Laurinaitis feels like eating crusty, day-old catering food while there is a steakhouse open across the street.
If you are heading to these conventions, fine. Get your picture. But let’s stop pretending this is some legendary appearance. It is a guy trying to stay in the loop, and frankly, the loop has officially moved on without him. The best thing he could do is retire the suit, pack away the microphone, and let the rest of us enjoy the current product without constant reminders of the bad old days.
