The autograph vulture problem is getting out of hand
Every time I think the wrestling community has hit a high point, someone reminds me that a segment of this fanbase has the social awareness of a caffeinated toddler. Take the recent footage involving Oba Femi outside his hotel. We are sitting days away from WrestleMania 41, the biggest weekend on the calendar, and instead of letting these athletes breathe, some people treat them like vending machines.
Oba Femi deserves better than being swarmed
Oba Femi is a force of nature in an industry that needs genuine stars. He is currently being hounded by autograph scalpers, a group that honestly makes me miss the days when being a wrestling fan meant staying quiet and not showing other people your action figures. It is not a job for these people; it is an obsession that crosses the line into basic harassment.
We saw the videos surfacing online recently after Ringside News confirmed the incident involving Femi. It shouldn’t be a radical concept that a human being, regardless of their profession, shouldn't have to navigate a gauntlet of Sharpie-wielding creeps before hitting their hotel lobby. Imagine trying to prep for a high-stakes match while a 50-year-old dude tries to flip your signature on eBay before you’ve even reached the elevator.
The booking stakes are higher than ever
WrestleMania 41 is right around the corner on April 19. These performers are working through insane schedules, managing injuries we probably don't even know about, and trying to stay focused on the biggest stage in the world. The pressure on their bodies is real; the pressure on their nerves should not involve setting up a perimeter patrol outside their rooms.
There is a blatant lack of boundaries here that reflects poorly on all of us. If you’re the guy camping out at a hotel just to shove a stack of glossy photos into a wrestler's face, ask yourself why you aren't doing something more productive with your Tuesday afternoon. It is embarrassing. These performers work their tails off to provide entertainment for us to debate on Reddit or catch at the pub, so maybe leave them alone when they aren't on the clock.
Let’s look at the reality of the situation. Some fans believe that buying a ticket entitles them to 24/7 access to the roster. That mentality is why we get situations like the one Femi dealt with. If WWE and other promotions have to start treating their talent like rock stars behind guarded cordons because a handful of people can't act like civilized adults, we all lose. The accessibility that used to define the intimate connection between wrestlers and fans is being destroyed by people who can’t tell the difference between a fan and a stalker.
Ultimately, Femi is one of the most exciting talents in the company. He deserves to walk into WrestleMania 41 with his head on straight and his focus on his opponent, not worrying about whether he’ll be cornered between his room and the exit. If you see someone doing this at an event, stop cheering for your favorite wrestler and start holding the idiots in the parking lot accountable. It is time to retire the autograph-scalper culture for good, especially when the card is this stacked and the stakes for the performers are so high.
