WWE has recently experienced a shift in its verbiage regarding the terms “wrestling” and “wrestler.” Under the leadership of Paul “Triple H” Levesque as WWE’s Chief Creative Officer, these terms, which were previously downplayed and replaced with “sports entertainment” and “sports entertainer” during Vince McMahon’s tenure, are once again being utilized more prominently.
On a recent edition of their “Talk’n Shop” podcast, The Good Brothers (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) stated that they are now allowed to identify themselves as wrestlers instead of sports entertainers.
Referring to themselves as “Triple H guys,” Gallows said,
“We don’t have to say sports entertainment anymore. You’re allowed to be a WWE wrestler. Wrestler. Wrestler. You can say, ‘I wrestle for the WWE.’ You’re not going to get in trouble if you don’t say ‘I’m a sports entertainer.’ I remember Stone Cold saying, ‘Are you a wrestler or sports entertainer?’” Anderson responded, “When did Stone Cold say that?”
Anderson noted, “I think he asked on a podcast and at that point we had drank all the Stone Cold IPAs. We said, ‘Hell yeah, we’re wrestlers.’”
Gallows and Anderson returned to WWE in October 2022.
Karl Anderson also appeared on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast to reflect on his Bullet Club run and the group’s formation in NJPW.
Anderson was a founding member of The Bullet Club alongside Finn Balor, Bad Luck Fale, and Tama Tonga.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On coming up with the name: “Finn Balor goes, ‘They asked me what [we] think the name should be. What do you think?’ I said, ‘I don’t care, Ferg. Tell me.’ He said, ‘I think Bullet Club.’ I said, ‘Beautiful. I love the sound of it.’ That was it.”
On having creative freedom with the group: “[We were] able to just be who we are, and talk crap, and say anything we wanted. I remember I got a DM from Bray Wyatt, messaging me like, ‘This Bullet Club stuff is crazy. You guys look like you’re having the greatest time of your lives.’ And it’s like yeah, we were. We were having a lot of fun, but we wanted to make a lot more money. We wanted to come to WWE at some point.”
On the group taking off when AJ Styles, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks came in: “That’s when the new shirt came out and — bam. This thing exploded. All of a sudden, all of us just started to feel like this is kind of crazy.”
WWE Wrestlers Allowed to Use the Term “Wrestler” Again
In a recent development, WWE has made a significant shift in its language by allowing its performers to use the term “wrestler” once again. Under the leadership of Paul “Triple H” Levesque as WWE’s Chief Creative Officer, the company has decided to bring back the traditional terminology that was previously downplayed during Vince McMahon’s tenure.
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, known as The Good Brothers, revealed this change during an episode of their podcast, “Talk’n Shop.” They expressed their excitement about being able to identify themselves as wrestlers instead of sports entertainers.
Gallows stated, “We don’t have to say sports entertainment anymore. You’re allowed to be a WWE wrestler. Wrestler. Wrestler. You can say, ‘I wrestle for the WWE.’ You’re not going to get in trouble if you don’t say ‘I’m a sports entertainer.'”
This change in verbiage marks a departure from the previous emphasis on “sports entertainment” and “sports entertainer” that WWE had adopted. The company had moved away from the term “wrestling” in an attempt to position itself as more than just a traditional wrestling promotion.
The Good Brothers, who returned to WWE in October 2022, referred to themselves as “Triple H guys,” indicating that this shift in language is a result of Triple H’s influence within the company.
Karl Anderson further discussed their time in the Bullet Club, a popular faction in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Anderson was one of the founding members of the group, along with Finn Balor, Bad Luck Fale, and Tama Tonga.
During his appearance on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Anderson shared some insights into the formation of the Bullet Club. He revealed that Balor came up with the name and mentioned that they had creative freedom within the group, allowing them to be themselves and speak their minds.
Anderson also highlighted the pivotal moment when AJ Styles, Kenny Omega, and the Young Bucks joined the Bullet Club. This influx of talent led to the group’s exponential growth and popularity.
The return of the term “wrestler” within WWE reflects a renewed focus on the company’s wrestling roots. It signifies a shift in the company’s approach and may resonate with fans who have longed for a return to the traditional wrestling terminology.