The general rule of wrestling politics is that you can only really play the game if you're a top star.

And in an increasingly brand-dominated era, there are very few of those left.

These days, especially if you are a known eagomaniacal maniac,

WWE won't even look at you.

And besides, there are plenty of wrestlers desperate to join the Fed to pursue their dreams of winning

world titles and headlining WrestleMania.

Even if, like Blake Monroe, you are already pushed heavily by another major league well-paying

outfit capable of promoting its own stadium shows, W.

WWE might still be your childhood dream.

Wrestlers can challenge WWE booking.

They can be passive-aggressive and moan about their place on the card doing a podcast.

But wrestlers can no longer be what is known in wrestling circles as a shit-disturber.

Consider CM Punk in the context of Paul Lavex, W.

Punk placed a pipe bomb under the bridge in AEW set it ablaze and then

legged it, which might explain his current disposition. The new CM Punk must be careful.

The new CM Punk said upon returning to WWE in 2023, he had changed, which was a sharp and sad

pivot away from his legendary 2011 pipe bomb promo.

The new CM Punk will happily apologise to the nation of Saudi Arabia ahead of a PLE.

The new CM Punk can't really play politics.

Somebody far more powerful than him has already won the game.

Politicking very obviously still happens, albeit on a much smaller scale, but the stars

of today simply cannot compete with the cut-brope monsters of old.

...