Vince Russo Calls Out “Cult” Wrestling Fans that Expect Stars to Eat, Sleep, Breathe WWE

Pat McAfee’s break from WWE RAW has sparked major hate from hardcore wrestling fans—and now, Vince Russo is calling it exactly what he thinks it is: a cult mentality.

During his appearance on WrestleBinge, Russo unloaded on the so-called “Internet Wrestling Community” for turning on McAfee simply because he dared to have a life beyond pro wrestling. Russo pointed out that McAfee acknowledging wrestling as only part of his life was enough to set the diehard fans off.

“That’s the thing with these marks. Wrestling has to be your life — 100% more important than anything else in your life. And all of a sudden, when you’re somebody that says, ‘Wait a minute, it’s a part of my life, no question about it, it ain’t the whole enchilada,’ now they’ve got a problem with you because they — they can’t understand why wrestling isn’t your everything.”

Russo compared the backlash to his own experience, saying the same hardcore fans rejected him for not being obsessed with the business 24/7. The former WWE writer also broke down McAfee’s own frustrations, citing the exhaustion and burnout that led to him stepping back in the first place.

“I was getting pretty exhausted… I produce and host a five-day-a-week show, have been on the go every week since Dublin last year before college football, plus I run my growing company with 14 employees, have a two-year-old daughter…”

McAfee, never one to shy away from trolling, fired back at critics with a sarcastic post calling out the online hate.

“You’re not enough, you’re not exhausted enough, need you to take a dirt nap. The IWC — Internet Wrestling Community — laugh emojis. Thank you all so much. Excited for the future of my life.”

But Russo saved his harshest words for the fans who expect McAfee—and anyone else—to eat, sleep, and breathe wrestling or get out.

“That’s what McAfee is saying — I needed a break from this, I’ve got a lot of things going on, I got a real life. But when it comes to that, those people that are so entrenched in the business… if wrestling isn’t your be-all, end-all… you can’t be part of the cult.”

While McAfee’s future on RAW remains unclear, Russo made it clear—the problem isn’t McAfee’s schedule. It’s the fans who expect their favorite stars to never unplug from the business.

What’s your take—do you agree with Russo, or should McAfee make WWE his top priority? Sound off in the comments and let us know.

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