I never thought that Lance Cadeâs release from WWE would be such a prominent story. But in this day and age of open communications and semi-full disclosure from the fed, a story such as this gets legs and starts to run.
Okay, everyone knows that Lance Cade is no longer with WWE. But seemingly, no one outside the people making the decision knew why. Let me reiterate that.
Seemingly (and likely) no one outside the people making the decision knew why.
Herein lays the problem with wrestling journalism and where said journalists can so easily fall into a trap.
There are two types of wrestling news sites out there. Those that report news (rarely without a âpremium membershipâ) and those that relay that information through their own websites while crediting the source. Thereâs a third category of those that just steal news, but that is fodder for another column.
Rarely is there a site that gives you the best of both worlds. Oh wait, Wrestlezone does that. Call me biased, but the roster of writers/reporters is impressive and there is a decent smattering of exclusive news.
Hmm. So what am I doing here?
Anyway, the immediate reason given for Cadeâs release is that he was bounced out for having a bad match when he teamed with Chris Jericho against Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Apparently that is the death knell. Working with the companyâs World Champion, WWE champion and âIconâ and stinking up the joint gets you fired.
Frankly, the story didnât make much sense. Every wrestler has good nights and bad nights. Cadeâs star was rising. Why would one match result in his pink slip?
The answer is simple. It didnât. According to Jim Ross (someone who would know), Cade was released because âlike many humans, he made a major league mistake while utilizing bad judgment that cost him his job.â JR cited a major seizure on a plane. Draw your own conclusions.
My problem with wrestling journalism is the constant educated guessing that goes on. Two plus two is added and even if it equals five, it is reported as four. Speculation should not be the foundation for a news item. Instead of looking at where Cade slipped up and making assumptions, why not try to find the actual answer?
Speculation and educated guessing is more convenient. It allows a journalist/webmaster to immediately post an âexclusiveâ without getting to the facts. They want to be first, as opposed to being right.
As someone who has worked for a newspaper, I can tell you that most stories that are reported in this industry would not get past an editorâs desk of a publication in the smallest of towns. I recognize that there is a different standard for wrestling journalism. Itâs not better or worse. Just different. Reporting on a city council meeting and citing a backstage source regarding a sudden departure are two different things.
However, the Cade story is a result of this form of journalism. It creates a slippery slope. Educated guesses do not a story make. Reliable, first-hand sources and facts do.
To me, there are too many internet wrestling âexpertsâ offering their news and âinsightâ for a price. Me? I know Iâm full of crap 99% of the time and my readers call me on it. Yeah, I have insight and opinions. But so does everyone. I just have the honor of posting them on a high-traffic website and get paid for it. Doesnât make me any smarter or more insightful.
I would like to think that there is a lesson learned in the disinformation about Lance Cade. But I know thereâs not. My hope is that, at the very least, Lance Cade learned his lesson.
