WWE wrestlers have been making some extra cash on the side by creating videos for Cameo and streaming live on Twitch. However, it seems as though the company is putting an end to that soon, as Vince McMahon has ordered WWE wrestlers to stop promoting themselves through these third-party media sites. Since WWE wrestlers are technically independent contractors and don't even get health insurance, the decision has been met with significant backlash, causing other wrestlers and even politician Andrew Yang to speak out.
WWE's chief rival, All Elite Wrestling, wasted no time to take a shot at WWE for its Twitch ban controversy. In a segment during the AEW All Out pay-per-view, wrestlers Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford cut a promo backstage. The main point of the promo was to announce that Ford and Sabian are now engaged to be married, with Kip set to reveal his best man during the next episode of AEW Dynamite on Wednesday night. However, the promo also included a clear swipe at WWE.
At the end of the promo, Ford held up a sign encouraging viewers to watch Kip Sabian's Twitch channel, TheKipSabian, and join the "Superbad Sub Squad." Sabian then snapped his fingers, and a message appeared at the bottom of the screen that read: "THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY ALL ELITE WRESTLING." Clearly, this is to show that AEW supports its wrestlers' other endeavors, in stark contrast to WWE's Twitch ban.
While AEW was quick to poke fun at its competition over the recent Twitch ban controversy, it has also been the target of criticism since the All Out pay-per-view. At All Out, Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara wrestled in a Broken Rules match, which was basically a Last Man Standing match. One of the first spots in the match saw Guevara spear Hardy off a raised scissor lift and through a table. Unfortunately, Hardy fell in a way where the table didn't completely break his fall, and the back of his head smacked on the concrete.
Matt Hardy was clearly injured after this stunt, with referee Aubrey Edwards trying to call off the match. Hardy refused to stop, however, and the two wrestlers went immediately to the final spot of the match so Hardy could beat Sammy. The match's stipulation was that if Hardy lost, he would have to leave AEW, which could explain why Hardy was so adamant that he see the match to its conclusion. AEW allowing Hardy to continue with the match and even climb a tall structure mere moments after hitting his head on concrete has generated significant controversy and criticism online.
Despite this blemish, the All Out pay-per-view was otherwise well-received, with particular praise given to the Jon Moxley and MJF main event match, as well as the Women's and tag team title matches.