This was bizarre. Last night, Brandi Rhodes, the brand boss no less, tweeted this:

This might start some shit, but let’s talk. I see a lot of people complaining on here that there aren’t enough black talent featured in wrestling…YET…when black talent is out there busting it in main events and holding championships…where’s the love?? Am I just missing it?!

What is she talking about? Lashley, Sasha, Bianca, Kofi, New Day, Big E. Is she accusing AEW fans because they rejected Scorpio Sky? Did they really reject Scorpio Sky? Does AEW have a diversity problem?

I remember Brandi brought this topic up randomly last year on some red carpet as well and seemed to be working in character?

It seems odd because Lashley (WWE), Kingston (WWE), Bianca (SmackDown Women's), Sasha (Raw and SmackDown Women's) and Keith Lee (NXT) were all well received when they won their respective titles. People don't like the product but they like their work.

In AEW, only one person of colour was Scorpio Sky who was one half of their inaugural tag team champions. However can you blame the fans for not caring when he was presented as an after-thought? They lost the titles to a makeshift tag team who spent 9 months threatening to break-up and Scorpio rarely wrestled on television. Then when he did get some television time they put him in a cluster of a ladder match with a ridiculous looking brass ring as a prize. Fans actually liked the match he had with Darby and the heel turn but then they made him Ethan Page's partner and he's virtually played a backseat role in that partnership.

Now he has a right-wing white guy speaking for him.

I don't know, maybe have a chat with TK, QT or whoever is booking Scorpio and lodge your complaints there.

Don't point the finger at the fans. They've been incredibly patient with talent like Red Velvet and Jade Cargill. Who else is there? Lee Johnson? Fans were high on him but you basically present him as a job guy. Private Party? Their one big win on the Bucks was more about the Bucks losing than Private Party winning. Now they're being openly swindled by a middle aged white guy. What are the optics there?

Also notice Jade also has to have a white guy speak for her as well. I like Mark Sterling on Zack Ryder's youtube page but please...it's jobs for the boys.

Wait did I just get worked into a shoot? I can't see anything on Brandi's twitter.

She deleted it after she got predictably killed for it.

Must've got hacked. <_<

Also "working in character" is such a weird wrestling thing we give passes to for heels. Like you're not gonna see Cena excusing bad behavior because he was TOTES promoting Peacemaker. Just kind of a weird gray area pass we give wrestling to justify carnies LOL.

Aug 28, 2021 13:22:11 GMT Todd said:

She deleted it after she got predictably killed for it.

www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/pd03gf/tweet_brandi_rhodes_this_might_start_some_shit/

That's what I figured, I was just surprised that it wasn't front page of SC or on any news websites.

She was a big part of the hiring of women for AEW for a long time along with Omega yet they struggled to find Black female talent until Red Velvet & Jade Cargill came over. There has yet to be a black women's champion in any capacity in AEW. I don't even think there has been a black singles champion either for the male side either for AEW. Ricky Starks who is mixed? Even then it's those two, Rhodes herself and Big Swole. Recently, Keira Hogan too. Maybe 1-2 others but WWE has more black women's talent around. Naomi, Bianca Belair(Who just lost her big title), Sasha Banks is mixed, Ember Moon in NXT, couple of recent signees like Zayda Remier. This falls on deaf ears when WWE just had a all black women's title match main event the first night of Wrestlemania this past April. 

This is shameless pandering and it's embarrassing. Especially when one of the last time Brandi was on TV, she was doing an over the top black female stereotype impersonation because her opponent was Jade Cargill.

Aug 28, 2021 14:17:32 GMT Blindy said:

She was a big part of the hiring of women for AEW for a long time along with Omega yet they struggled to find Black female talent until Red Velvet & Jade Cargill came over. There has yet to be a black women's champion in any capacity in AEW. I don't even think there has been a black singles champion either for the male side either for AEW. Ricky Starks who is mixed? Even then it's those two, Rhodes herself and Big Swole. Recently, Keira Hogan too. Maybe 1-2 others but WWE has more black women's talent around. Naomi, Bianca Belair(Who just lost her big title), Sasha Banks is mixed, Ember Moon in NXT, couple of recent signees like Zayda Remier. This falls on deaf ears when WWE just had a all black women's title match main event the first night of Wrestlemania this past April. 

This is shameless pandering and it's embarrassing. Especially when one of the last time Brandi was on TV, she was doing an over the top black female stereotype impersonation because her opponent was Jade Cargill.

Nyla Rose is also considered a person of colour, although I thought her background was purely native american?

Aug 28, 2021 14:36:02 GMT Big Pete said:

Aug 28, 2021 14:17:32 GMT Blindy said:

She was a big part of the hiring of women for AEW for a long time along with Omega yet they struggled to find Black female talent until Red Velvet & Jade Cargill came over. There has yet to be a black women's champion in any capacity in AEW. I don't even think there has been a black singles champion either for the male side either for AEW. Ricky Starks who is mixed? Even then it's those two, Rhodes herself and Big Swole. Recently, Keira Hogan too. Maybe 1-2 others but WWE has more black women's talent around. Naomi, Bianca Belair(Who just lost her big title), Sasha Banks is mixed, Ember Moon in NXT, couple of recent signees like Zayda Remier. This falls on deaf ears when WWE just had a all black women's title match main event the first night of Wrestlemania this past April. 

This is shameless pandering and it's embarrassing. Especially when one of the last time Brandi was on TV, she was doing an over the top black female stereotype impersonation because her opponent was Jade Cargill.

Nyla Rose is also considered a person of colour, although I thought her background was purely native american?

Native American. 

And AEW just threw a black wrestler under the bus because editing didn't catch it nor did Tony Khan oversee it in Max Caster and his rap. 60 days no pay. How can you expect an audience to love black wrestlers back if the company doesn't do it first?

You have one of the most fun and entertaining people on your show in Sonny Kiss who is gay, black and young who can barely get airtime and at best, on Dark Elevation or what not. Push her.

Aug 28, 2021 12:38:12 GMT Big Pete said:

Also notice Jade also has to have a white guy speak for her as well. 

What?

Aug 28, 2021 15:10:04 GMT nazzer said:

Aug 28, 2021 12:38:12 GMT Big Pete said:

Also notice Jade also has to have a white guy speak for her as well. 

What?

Mark Sterling cuts the bulk of her promos, she barely gets a word in edgewise.

Aug 28, 2021 15:15:00 GMT Big Pete said:

Aug 28, 2021 15:10:04 GMT nazzer said:

What?

Mark Sterling cuts the bulk of her promos, she barely gets a word in edgewise.

He's talking about her. He's building Jade up. That's like saying Lesnar is somehow less than because Heyman talked for him. 

If you don't got the gift of gab you are lesser to be honest.

She's just mad because Malakai BLACK murdered her husband on live TV.

Aug 28, 2021 15:19:15 GMT nazzer said:

Aug 28, 2021 15:15:00 GMT Big Pete said:

Mark Sterling cuts the bulk of her promos, she barely gets a word in edgewise.

He's talking about her. He's building Jade up. That's like saying Lesnar is somehow less than because Heyman talked for him. 

Big strong white guys aren't exactly under-represented on WWE television.

If we're going to talk about representation then that's an easy place to start. One of your biggest stars who is a person of colour has to have a white guy do most of the talking. Maybe it wouldn't be an issue if that person was as gifted as Paul Heyman on the microphone, but they're not. 

It's absurd to suggest that Mark Sterling being associated with Jade Cargill and cutting the promos is racist, or holding down black people in some way. It's a normal manager-wrestler relationship. Why turn it into a race thing?

Brandi's implication is that we should love all black wrestlers just because they're black? No. Not how it works. If they're good, they they will get the praise they deserve, and as far as I have seen Jade Cargill (just to name one example) has received a lot of praise, because she's good, in spite of her inexperience. Most people will shit on a bad black performer as equally as they will as a black white performer.

Non-issue.

Aug 28, 2021 16:53:30 GMT Emperor said:

It's absurd to suggest that Mark Sterling being associated with Jade Cargill and cutting the promos is racist, or holding down black people in some way. It's a normal manager-wrestler relationship. Why turn it into a race thing?

Brandi's implication is that we should love all black wrestlers just because they're black? No. Not how it works. If they're good, they they will get the praise they deserve, and as far as I have seen Jade Cargill (just to name one example) has received a lot of praise, because she's good, in spite of her inexperience. Most people will shit on a bad black performer as equally as they will as a black white performer.

Non-issue.

I think it has more to do with a separate conversation honestly aka jobs for the boys - but if we're having a conversation about representation than it absolutely is relevant to the conversation because he has taken some of the focus away from Cargill and the community she represents.

AEW plays strongly to a certain type of demographic and it isn't too hard to figure out which one.

I agree that it isn't racist per se but it is alienating. I'd suggest it's in AEW's best interest to appeal to the African American community considering they're on the same station as Basketball which has a massive following in that community. You never know if a person of colour does become a superstar NBA players may want to associate with them and it creates that overlap and gives their fans somebody to identify with. It's a much better advertisement than a bloated Chris Jericho.

Aug 28, 2021 16:53:30 GMT Emperor said:

It's absurd to suggest that Mark Sterling being associated with Jade Cargill and cutting the promos is racist, or holding down black people in some way. It's a normal manager-wrestler relationship. Why turn it into a race thing?

Brandi's implication is that we should love all black wrestlers just because they're black? No. Not how it works. If they're good, they they will get the praise they deserve, and as far as I have seen Jade Cargill (just to name one example) has received a lot of praise, because she's good, in spite of her inexperience. Most people will shit on a bad black performer as equally as they will as a black white performer.

Non-issue.

Thing is Cargill isn't that bad of a promo, she showed it in the feud with Brandi Rhodes that she has personality. I think it's giving Mark Sterling something to do more so than anything else. I don't think it is racist either, I assume Cargill could have picked whoever available. 

Matt Hardy is managing Private Party because Hardy is a tag team success maker and is apart one of the best tag teams in recent age and it is the hook, line & sinker on a young upcoming team like Private Party to do. 

Cody and Brandi just virtue signal more than anything else. They are easily the most pretentious wrestling couple today, they somehow surpass Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis. Don't know how that was even possible. 

Aug 28, 2021 17:00:10 GMT Big Pete said:

Aug 28, 2021 16:53:30 GMT Emperor said:

It's absurd to suggest that Mark Sterling being associated with Jade Cargill and cutting the promos is racist, or holding down black people in some way. It's a normal manager-wrestler relationship. Why turn it into a race thing?

Brandi's implication is that we should love all black wrestlers just because they're black? No. Not how it works. If they're good, they they will get the praise they deserve, and as far as I have seen Jade Cargill (just to name one example) has received a lot of praise, because she's good, in spite of her inexperience. Most people will shit on a bad black performer as equally as they will as a black white performer.

Non-issue.

I think it has more to do with a separate conversation honestly aka jobs for the boys - but if we're having a conversation about representation than it absolutely is relevant to the conversation because he has taken some of the focus away from Cargill and the community she represents.

AEW plays strongly to a certain type of demographic and it isn't too hard to figure out which one.

I agree that it isn't racist per se but it is alienating. I'd suggest it's in AEW's best interest to appeal to the African American community considering they're on the same station as Basketball which has a massive following in that community. You never know if a person of colour does become a superstar NBA players may want to associate with them and it creates that overlap and gives their fans somebody to identify with. It's a much better advertisement than a bloated Chris Jericho.

It's why they have brought in Mike Tyson, Shaq and this week, Giannis.



NBA twitter were even laughing at how Jericho looked and said what the hell happened. NBA fans will watch AEW when they bring in superstars like the aforementioned Greek Freak to the fold. 

Brandi sounds so out of touch here.

You can't be in management if you aren't.

Its such a weird sentence to make, there's first "not enough" and there's "black wrestlers busting their asses in the main event"

So which one is it?

Does she relise she's married to the walking embodiment of white privilege?

The strange part is, when you're in that position to make a difference, you should, if that's what you want to do. Why be on the attack? The WWE has Black representation ie; Lashley is World Champion. Kofi has been Champ, Big E has MITB, Crews was recently IC Champion. New Day are they tag team of the decade. Noami is a former Champ, as is Belair. Omas is a former Tag Team Champion and I'm sure there's countless others.

Similarly, its like when WWE promoted its 'women's revolution' when it was WWE who chose to represent women as divas and strippers and then patted themselves on the back for ushering in change - when the rest of the industry did 10+ years prior.

Brandi's a crackpot.

Not sure what she is going on about. People are loving Lashley as champion with MVP helping on the mic, New Day is one of more popular tag teams, Kofi's winning the title has people going nuts, people love Banks no matter how many times she wins then loses the title.

This is not a wrestling problem, but a very visible AEW problem.

When the Rhodes family randomly decides to do race based promos always seems to back fire on them. No wonder she liked his promo that most hated. And if black talent needs more exposure it isn't a WWE or Impact problem who feature black talent in high position frequently. The Hurt Business, Sasha vs. Bianca main event a Wrestlemania night, Impact world title unification match, Fire n Flava, and etc. It is an AEW problem.

Aug 28, 2021 17:00:10 GMT Big Pete said:

Aug 28, 2021 16:53:30 GMT Emperor said:

It's absurd to suggest that Mark Sterling being associated with Jade Cargill and cutting the promos is racist, or holding down black people in some way. It's a normal manager-wrestler relationship. Why turn it into a race thing?

Brandi's implication is that we should love all black wrestlers just because they're black? No. Not how it works. If they're good, they they will get the praise they deserve, and as far as I have seen Jade Cargill (just to name one example) has received a lot of praise, because she's good, in spite of her inexperience. Most people will shit on a bad black performer as equally as they will as a black white performer.

Non-issue.

I think it has more to do with a separate conversation honestly aka jobs for the boys - but if we're having a conversation about representation than it absolutely is relevant to the conversation because he has taken some of the focus away from Cargill and the community she represents.

AEW plays strongly to a certain type of demographic and it isn't too hard to figure out which one.

I agree that it isn't racist per se but it is alienating. I'd suggest it's in AEW's best interest to appeal to the African American community considering they're on the same station as Basketball which has a massive following in that community. You never know if a person of colour does become a superstar NBA players may want to associate with them and it creates that overlap and gives their fans somebody to identify with. It's a much better advertisement than a bloated Chris Jericho.

Are black people really so fragile to be bothered by a black person being managed by a white person? This seems a bit much

Aug 29, 2021 4:09:53 GMT nazzer said:

Aug 28, 2021 17:00:10 GMT Big Pete said:

I think it has more to do with a separate conversation honestly aka jobs for the boys - but if we're having a conversation about representation than it absolutely is relevant to the conversation because he has taken some of the focus away from Cargill and the community she represents.

AEW plays strongly to a certain type of demographic and it isn't too hard to figure out which one.

I agree that it isn't racist per se but it is alienating. I'd suggest it's in AEW's best interest to appeal to the African American community considering they're on the same station as Basketball which has a massive following in that community. You never know if a person of colour does become a superstar NBA players may want to associate with them and it creates that overlap and gives their fans somebody to identify with. It's a much better advertisement than a bloated Chris Jericho.

Are black people really so fragile to be bothered by a black person being managed by a white person? This seems a bit much

Not so much bothered, just disengaged/alienated because it's still a very 'white' way to present these talents.

For full disclosure, I'm also a white guy so I certainly don't speak on their behalf. It just stands out as an issue and something that could be addressed. Not necessarily for Jade, but for other talents to express themselves and their culture.

Aug 29, 2021 4:27:53 GMT Big Pete said:

Aug 29, 2021 4:09:53 GMT nazzer said:

Are black people really so fragile to be bothered by a black person being managed by a white person? This seems a bit much

Not so much bothered, just disengaged/alienated because it's still a very 'white' way to present these talents.

For full disclosure, I'm also a white guy so I certainly don't speak on their behalf. It just stands out as an issue and something that could be addressed. Not necessarily for Jade, but for other talents to express themselves and their culture.

Bothered/offended/alienated seem like synonyms here. Seems a little racist if you cant enjoy something just because there happens to be white people. I dont find football alienating just because its mostly blacl people. Seems a little weird

Aug 29, 2021 4:51:18 GMT nazzer said:

Aug 29, 2021 4:27:53 GMT Big Pete said:

Not so much bothered, just disengaged/alienated because it's still a very 'white' way to present these talents.

For full disclosure, I'm also a white guy so I certainly don't speak on their behalf. It just stands out as an issue and something that could be addressed. Not necessarily for Jade, but for other talents to express themselves and their culture.

Bothered/offended/alienated seem like synonyms here. Seems a little racist if you cant enjoy something just because there happens to be white people. I dont find football alienating just because its mostly blacl people. Seems a little weird

I don't think it's strange at all, especially in the industry that Pro Wrestling is in when the backbone on the industry was built around minorities that wrestling fans related to like Bruno Sammartino and Antonio Rocca. It's just about representation and people of colour would engage more in the product if their culture was celebrated more.

It's not a weird or difficult concept to grasp and it's an area AEW could be better in.

If black wrestlers aren't loved enough, Kofimania wouldn't have been a thing. Enough is the complicated word here. What's enough for some people may not be enough for others.