JBL Defends Kevin Nash’s WWE Union Push

On the latest episode of Something To Wrestle With, JBL talked about the comments from Kevin Nash that there should be a WWE union. Nash made the comments in regard to TKO pushing talent to take pay cuts. You can check out some highlights below:

On the Idea:

“I think there’s a possibility. And to defend Kevin, he played within the rules of the system. The Favored Nation clause [that Nash used in WCW] was in the rules of the system. What Kevin is arguing is change the rules. And you know, he’s a smart guy. He’s gonna play within the rules of the system. If you change the rules, he played within the rules of that system. So I don’t think that contradicts what Kevin believes. What it tells you is that he’s a very smart guy. Got a Favored Nation clause.”

On Being Against a Union In the Attitude Era:

“They tried to unionize several times. I was there back at the Montreal Screwjob, when several people were talking about it, and I was dead set against it. And the reason was, I’m making more money than I’ve ever made in my life at the time. I’m sitting there, and I’m thinking, ‘I know that the higher-ups don’t want this. I’m not going to cross them, because I’m making so much freaking money compared to what I had made elsewhere.’ And Vince was always a great payoff guy, a terrific payoff guy. So I never had a desire to say I was mistreated because I wasn’t mistreated. I was treated wonderful. I was treated wonderfully.”

On His Own Experience:

“I tore my bicep one time, and I already made my downside guarantee. And I think it was JR I was talking to. He goes, ‘Look, we’ve already paid you your downside.’ Which means they didn’t have to pay me a dime the rest of the year because I’d already made my downside. And he goes, ‘Ah, we’re going to forget we paid your downside already.’

“And they sent me a check every single week for six months when I was not wrestling. And they didn’t have to do that. They paid for all my surgeries. I mean, maybe people could say I was an exception. I don’t think I was. I got treated incredibly well.”

On the Difference Between Then & Now:

“That was under a different regime, and now your question is about TKO. I think there’s a chance it could be. Everything’s becoming so corporate. You know, unions are ideological. You know, I’m more of a free market-type person that’s not in favor of unions. I think there are times that unions are very beneficial to people when people have been mistreated. I don’t think we have as much in society now, but a person that wants a union would argue against me on that point. Because ideologically we disagree about free markets and how things should be. I have no problem with unions.”

On Previously Being Part of One:

“I was part of the SAG union until they tried to take some of my video game money. Told them where they could go, and dropped out the SAG union because they certainly had no right to that. And I dropped out, but I kind of wish now I was. Because yes, they have access to different stuff, so it’s very self-serving.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Something To Wrestle With an h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.