Jonathan Coachman believes the real problem with N3on accidentally exposing Penta without his mask wasn’t the mistake itself—it was that WWE invited someone backstage who, according to him, never should have been there in the first place.
Speaking on 2 Count Tuesday, the former WWE broadcaster ripped into the company’s growing relationship with internet streamers, arguing that WWE is chasing online engagement while giving backstage access to people who don’t understand professional wrestling or the traditions that come with it.
“These streamers have become multi-millionaires… Neon… he walks in with his cameras backstage at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Whoopsie. Who’s that over there in a Penta outfit without a mask on? Oh wait… it’s actually Penta. What do you make of Neon exposing Penta? WWE in bed with the bottom of the barrel streamers, the reaction streamers, the in-real-life streamers. First of all, I don’t even know why this guy is popular or what he does.”
JD wasn’t any more forgiving. He said the entire situation was the predictable result of inviting influencers backstage simply because they have large audiences.
“It’s just ridiculous that this is the length that they have to go to to generate any sort of interest for this terrible program on Saturday night… He was backstage at Madison Square Garden… streaming on Kick… and all of a sudden he starts to film backstage and Penta’s got no mask on.”
To explain why the incident bothered him so much, JD compared it to his own role with House of Glory Wrestling. Even after spending nearly a decade with the promotion, he said he’s deliberately stayed out of the locker room because he doesn’t believe it’s his place.
“I work for House of Glory… do you know how many times I’ve been in the locker room for the wrestlers backstage? Zero… I have no business being there. I don’t belong there. It is sacred and I respect the sport and I love the sport. He’s got no respect for Lucha Libre. You don’t know who Penta is. He’s got no respect for pro wrestling… Why is he even there? So you invite people who have no respect for the business and then this is the result that you get.”
Coachman then claimed the confusion continued after the clip had already been recorded. According to him, WWE immediately began asking who had authorized N3on to be filming backstage.
“They asked him who gave him permission. He said Paul Heyman. So he throws Paul Heyman under the bus. They then had him out in a seat and a guy named Sean Selman, who I adore—I worked with for many, many years. He’s the head of all the production setup and everything. He’s been there for 30-some odd years. He comes out, he’s like, ‘Who gave you permission?’ So whoever did literally did not follow up.”
Even while criticizing WWE’s handling of the situation, Coachman acknowledged why companies are eager to work with creators like N3on. He pointed to the streamer’s earning power, claiming N3on recently paid NFL star Maxx Crosby $1 million for a livestream collaboration.
“This is the same guy… He paid Maxx Crosby $1 million for two or three hours on a live stream… That’s how much money this little kid is making.”
Coachman argued that WWE sees numbers like that and wants to tap into the same audience, but believes the company is overlooking who it’s bringing behind the curtain. He pointed to N3on’s reaction after the controversy, saying it perfectly showed why the streamer never understood the seriousness of exposing a masked wrestler.
“That’s what this world is about. And WWE is trying to lean into it, but they’re leaning into it with, you said it, bottom of the barrel. And they don’t know what they don’t know. He did another video… he was like, ‘WHY ARE THEY SO MAD? I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY.’ Well, clearly you don’t understand because you don’t understand the business. They’re trying to get as much attention as possible. Very loosey goosey. Very, very loosey goosey.”
The comments offer a very different perspective on an incident that was initially viewed as an unfortunate accident. N3on apologized and deleted the footage after Penta asked him to, but Coachman believes the controversy never would have happened if WWE had been more careful about who it allowed backstage in the first place.
Do you agree with Jonathan Coachman’s criticism, or do you think WWE is right to work with creators like N3on? Let us know in the comments below.
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