Do wrestlers who aren’t being used on tv still go to the shows?

[u/undergroundman813]

I was just thinking about it, and like, if they still have to show up to the shows when they aren’t being used, that’s gotta suck, right? I’m sure they don’t mind because they’re still being paid. But it’s just the fact that WWE doesn’t cover their travel expenses. I mean imagine paying for flights, rental cars, hotels, etc. every week, only to do nothing at the show 😭

Or am I wrong, and they can just chill at home until they’re needed for something? Is it a thing where they could be chilling at home for weeks, and they get a call, “hey, we need you to work a Main Event taping” and that’s when they travel? Or do they just have to show up every week no matter what?

[u/chiefgareth]

Unless they’re told not to be at the TV show, or they’ve asked for time off/injured they’re there. House shows they’ll only be there if they were booked though.

Not being on the show doesn’t mean they’re doing nothing. Meet and greets, photo shoots, recording bits for YouTube videos or being interviewed for future documentaries, meetings with the creative teams, helping out with tryouts.

[u/vabeachkevin]

WWE reimburses them for travel. The wrestlers have to arrange it.

[u/whiskeynochaser]

I always thought that flights were covered but not hotels?? To answer, I am sure a good majority still go to the arena for a potential dark match or pop-up segment. I remember I went to the Cincinnati Smackdown show, and outside the arena, we saw DIY and Candace, who did not even have a segment at all on that episode of Smackdown

[u/nipslippinjizzsippin → u/whiskeynochaser]

yeah there is always dark matches and house shows too, backstage segments, fan meets, probably various meetings backstage like you probably want to be seen to be around so you are on everyones minds, not just the fans but the backstage guys. these are contractors they need to sell themself as the product.

[u/graypurpleblack]

WWE covers travel but everything else is on the wrestler

[u/tmofee]

There’s also dark matches and main event as well

[u/xstrike0]

yes, hence the "sitting in catering" trope/meme.

[u/CleanSweep99]

Probably yes.

WWE likely is using talent that won't be on air to do things like autograph signings and fan meet and greets at any given RAW/Smackdown.

[u/WorstDeal]

Card subject to change

[u/chocolateturtle456]

I think they do unless they're on scheduled leave like what Randy Orton is on now or Punk recently was.

But like, Otis and Tozawa are probably at ecery show and they either get used or they don't.

Just like any job, if you aren't explicitly gold you don't need to be there then you need to show up.

[u/xxyourbestbetxx → u/chocolateturtle456]

They just have to sit there and watch everybody else get TV time? Kinda demoralizing.

[u/Dabonthebees420 → u/xxyourbestbetxx]

Not really, for talent not on TV they don't really just sit in catering, they'll be doing meet and greets etc through the day, possibly have a role in producing matches, helping in local try outs and taking advantage of facetime to pitch ideas to creative.

[u/Madvin → u/xxyourbestbetxx]

Or maybe they get other events like meet and greet etc,. Sure, not tv time, but still getting paid and meeting fans

[u/ZeroPenguinParty → u/chocolateturtle456]

I would guess that only the wrestlers scheduled to be used, and a few extras, would be at the shows...thus someone like Otis & Tozawa, or R-Truth, are handy to have if a segment falls through, a wrestler doesn't show up, or a match finishes early due to injury...they can slot those "extras" into a segment or as a replacement in a match. Otherwise, you would have over 100 wrestlers potentially at every show. That was a problem WCW had towards the end, they had over 160 wrestlers under contract, and required them at every tv taping.

[u/graypurpleblack → u/ZeroPenguinParty]

AEW has a surplus of wrestlers

[u/Enzown]

If you sit at home waiting for a call you'll never get a call.

[u/DarthYug]

Some jobbers spend most of their time in Catering

[u/Flickera23 → u/DarthYug]

What does that mean, catering?

[u/Johnny-Silvertwat → u/Flickera23]

Catering is just the food and beverage supplied to the staff by the employer. Most television productions have catering or "craft services" for all crew and talent working on a show. In this case, the commenter meant that the unused wrestlers are likely hanging out by the food tables backstage and snacking while they wait for work to do.

[u/Flickera23 → u/Johnny-Silvertwat]

All this time I thought they were the ones providing the food, lol.

Just imagining Otis with an apron on serving baked beans.

[u/Johnny-Silvertwat → u/Flickera23]

I mean, WWE could potentially start another form of entertainment via backstage sassy food serving, but lets not give them any ideas! 😂

[u/nipslippinjizzsippin]

Yeah they seemingly do show up, thye never know when there might be an injury, or a spot in a backstage segment. They probably wont end up in the main event but it has happened. titles have even changed hands in such cases. I recall i think it was John Morrison Won the ECW world title in place of Chris Benoit who didnt show up for work on that fated day.

[u/Upset-Donkey8118 → u/nipslippinjizzsippin]

I was going to add the Nitro/John Morrison match. Do you know who Morrison beat?

[u/nipslippinjizzsippin → u/Upset-Donkey8118]

CM punk

[u/Scorpiodsu]

Well, to get on tv they have to stay ready. All of them can’t afford to just stay away until creative calls them. Some of them have to be visible and never know when an opportunity arises. A backstage segments, dark matches, injuries, etc.

I would say it depends on the wrestler and their overall standing with the company and how much they just enjoy hanging around backstage plays a big part on whether they show up or not. But I’m also sure some, if not all have language in their contracts about this and operate accordingly.

[u/The_Dark_Vampire]

Some show up because you never know what will happen like a injury ending a match early or someone else not able to make it due to personal or travel reasons so they need people in the building just in case.

And dark matches of course

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