WWE is looking to squash John Oliver's criticism of its business practices — and the company has now extended him an invite to WrestleMania.
The comedian on Sunday criticized WWE in the main segment of his HBO show Last Week Tonight. After highlighting the "troubling trend" of wrestlers dying young, Oliver argued CEO Vince McMahon has "shielded himself from responsibility for his wrestlers' welfare" by dishonestly classifying them as independent contractors and not paying for their health insurance. He called the company "morally subterranean" and said that McMahon himself is an "a--hole."
WWE in a statement on Monday pushed back on what it called a "one-sided presentation" from Oliver, saying it "responded to his producers refuting every point" but that he "simply ignored the facts," per Pro Wrestling Sheet. The company said that its performers' health and wellness is "the single most important aspect of our business" while pointing to its "longstanding Talent Wellness program." WWE did not actually refute any specific points from the show, though; Oliver had mentioned this wellness program in his segment and criticized it as being inadequate.
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WWE also invited Oliver to attend WrestleMania on April 7 in order to "learn more about our company." On Last Week Tonight, Oliver called on fans attending the event to make signs and chant in favor of WWE classifying its wrestlers as employees and paying for their health care. Now, it sounds like Oliver may be chanting right alongside them.
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