Ryan Garcia’s WWE appearance didn’t just spark backlash online. It also created problems behind the scenes, with several wrestlers wanting no part of the controversial boxer during RAW.
Fightful Select states that Garcia’s involvement was not welcomed by everyone inside the company.
“There were a number of wrestlers internally who wanted nothing to do with Ryan Garcia on WWE Raw.”
Garcia appeared during the July 27 episode of RAW, where he smashed Joe Hendry with a guitar before joining Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh in attacking Hendry, Danhausen and the Minihausens.
WWE didn’t treat Garcia like a celebrity sitting in the crowd. He was placed directly into a featured angle heading into SummerSlam and stood alongside members of The Judgment Day during the beatdown.
That decision came despite Garcia’s history of racist comments and other public controversies. WWE still gave him a major role because his boxing name carries attention outside the wrestling business.
Dave Meltzer previously addressed Garcia’s appearance on Wrestling Observer Radio and argued that WWE is willing to overlook serious baggage when a celebrity is famous enough.
“If you’re not in jail, you’re fair game for WWE. It’s a consistent policy if there’s not a conviction. I think if you’re a big enough star, even if there is a conviction, you’d be okay.”
Meltzer said WWE viewed Garcia as a way to generate mainstream coverage and help promote his upcoming boxing fight.
“They’re promoting his fight, and that was their idea of getting publicity, getting him on SportsCenter and getting them into the mainstream, because to them, a guy like Ryan Garcia is mainstream.”
He then claimed fame is the biggest factor when WWE decides who gets access to its television platform.
“That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Are you famous? Are you an influencer? If you are, cool. If you’re not, you can be a great person and it doesn’t matter because you’re not famous enough.”
Garcia still received the guitar shot, the beatdown and a featured position on RAW, but his appearance clearly didn’t sit well with everyone backstage.
Do you think WWE should have listened to the wrestlers who wanted nothing to do with Ryan Garcia, or was the company right to use him for mainstream attention? Leave your feedback in the comments.
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