ROH Champ Austin Aries Says Wrestlers Need Union Protection in WWE and TNA

Ring of Honor champion Austin Aries presented a strong argument that wrestlers in WWE and TNA should have union protection as actors since they're being slotted for roles in a TV show. Aries based his argument on WWE and TNA changing the characters and personalities of wrestlers coming from Ring of Honor or the independent scene to fit a certain role.

"This new idea that you’re going to come into our company and we’re going to change everything about you – I guess that’s the mentality that we’re all just kind of actors and we’re playing a part," Aries told Alfonso Castillo of Newsday. "I’ll follow that, but if that’s the way we’re going to do the business, let’s do it across the board. If we’re actors, then let’s be actors – and get the benefits of actors and be taken care of like actors. They kind of found this crack. I don’t know. It’s really interesting."

Aries added that it bothers him that WWE and TNA "discount" wrestlers coming up from the independent ranks as if what they do prior to joining the Big Two promotions "didn't mean anything."

"We (referring to himself, Bryan Danielson, and Nigel McGuinness) busted our a-- to make our names mean something, to be recognized in the wrestling business. And for them to just try to erase it so that they can feel like they’re the creator, it doesn’t much make much sense to me," Aries said. "Just because we’re on TV for another promotion doesn’t mean all the stuff we did here didn’t mean anything. Then why do they want me?"

reported by: pwtorch.com