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How WWE Can Turn Titus O’Neil Suspension Into A Positive For Everyone

My Friday column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is all about how WWE can turn the Titus O’Neil situation into a positive for everyone. Here’s an excerpt:

WWE got the Titus O’Neil situation wrong, but they can make it right if they embrace reality.

In the final seconds of the WWE Network stream of Daniel Bryan’s farewell celebration, you could see O’Neil playfully grabbing Vince McMahon by the arm and McMahon aggressively resisting. The result was an initial 90-day suspension, which was reduced to 60 days. To add insult to injury, I’ve gathered from sources O’Neil was fined a significant amount of money.

This was extremely excessive for someone who has a clean record. Sixty days is the same length WWE gives to those who have their second wellness policy violation. O’Neil has never violated the wellness policy. He hasn’t been an offender of their dress code policy and isn’t late to television.

While I’m sure his intention was not malicious or meant to disrespect Bryan — it was the wrong time to be politely playful. WWE should have closed a door backstage and addressed it privately. If the company is determined to administer some punishment, keep him off television for a night. Let it be something that can internally send a message to O’Neil and his colleagues. The moment this became public is the moment WWE became the loser in all of this.

WWE regularly shows O’Neil doing charitable work with a smile. He then commits a trivial action, that everyone is able to see and judge for themselves, to which WWE takes him off television in the most important time of the year for the company. It equals a public relations nightmare for WWE.

In the end, O’Neil could come out of this as the winner.

Two hours before the “incident” with McMahon, O’Neil’s lengthy television winning streak came to an end by the shenanigans of Adam Rose and his Social Outcasts buddies. Beyond another solid display of power and energy, there wasn’t much else to take away from the brief match. A day later, once word of the suspension became public, O’Neil became one of WWE’s biggest babyfaces to a vocal portion of their audience online and social media. He was trending Wednesday and Thursday with fans rallying behind him. Even fans who noted they weren’t huge fans of his before, now feel the need to support him because they feel bad for him and the extent of his punishment.

CLICK HERE for how WWE should use this suspension as a storyline.

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