As noted before, WWE is currently facing a racial discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit by a former WWE creative writer. Several controversial and offensive creative pitches were given as part of the lawsuit’s claims of WWE officials had committed acts of racial discrimination towards African American and other minorities employees and talents in the company.
Fightful Select reported that their sources provided some new details regarding the controversial and offensive creative pitches mentioned in the lawsuit.
In regards to WWE executive Ryan Callahan’s creative pitch for Mansoor’s “keeping a secret that he was behind 9/11” for a love triangle storyline, it was reported that those spoken to stated that talent were shocked and baffled when they learned of this creative idea. It was reported that Mansoor and Callahan had maintained a good work relationship in the past and this creative pitch did not make its way back to Mansoor until after the lawsuit became public. Those spoken to reportedly stated that this was a joke in poor taste and not something that had been seriously pitched as an idea.
Besides Mansoor, there was an equally offensive creative pitch reportedly made by Vince McMahon for Mustafa Ali in late 2021. This pitch reportedly was “something that Mustafa Ali would have never done” and “it was just as bad as the Mansoor pitch” based on those spoken to. It was reported that it is currently not known exactly what this pitch was for Ali.
In regards to Apollo Crews’ Nigerian accent gimmick, it was reported that those spoken to stated that this was something that had been originally pitched by an active wrestler and not someone in creative.
In regards to the creative pitch for Shane Haste to have a Crocodile Hunter style gimmick but would hunt a black person for fun instead, it was reported that Haste stated that while he does not know how the idea was pitched to McMahon, the version he heard did not have any racial connotations and would have involved him hunting the entire 24/7 Championship division. Haste reportedly confirmed that the part of the pitch involving Reggie constantly escaping his traps was true.
WWE officials reportedly spoken to stated that the company currently does not have any plans to give an official comment regarding these allegations nor any legal matters related to the lawsuit going forward.