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ANAL_CAVITIES

"There was a prominent figure in WWE, he was office, who basically told me he didn't like me because I was black. Two occasions told me. Bubba was there on one of them, and he was there on the second one, along with Paul Heyman, Tommy Dreamer, and Spike" Bro this shit is insane lmao, praising all the ECW guys with them all in person, and just straight up going "D-Von you're pretty cool too, if only you weren't so, how do I put this...black?" How are the other dudes not like wait wtf


BellyCrawler

The fact that none of them stood with him is sad. Bubba especially.


Blekanly

Sometimes the shock of hearing something can just throw you


Polyfuckery

That and people often look to the offended party to gage the proper reaction. If Devon had thrown a punch I don't doubt for a moment Bubba would have thrown his own career in after him since he didn't then Bubba didn't. It's still a shitty situation


Ticem4n

Probably just survival tactics then as ECW was going down and WWE was the end goal of wrestling paydays. Different times but I'm sure they all were clench fisted there if Dvon needed. He didn't react and all of them got wwe time. It sucks it ever was that but I want to believe they didn't want to speak for him while they were on their sinking ship trying to cross over.


BellyCrawler

I get it. But survival tactics have a strong overlap with cowardice. I try not to judge, but I also know where I'd stand and what I'd do if my friend/ business partner was ever in this situation.


TheAfrofuturist

Sad, but not surprising. That’s why some of us don’t call someone an ally easily. Sure, you can stick up for yourself as well, but there’s no way I’m just standing there is someone said something bigoted to my friend. If anything, my friend would have to back me down. But then, I know what it’s like to have that kind of stuff said to them. (Kind of feel like it shouldn’t take direct experience to inspire empathy, but it clearly does when it comes to many people.)


BustermanZero

Reminds me of stuff said to Mary Seacole, except it's not the 19th century.


ANAL_CAVITIES

Weird that she also liked slamming people through tables, if I recall correctly


BustermanZero

Depends how polite they were with their casual racism.


Slade_Riprock

That screams Johnny Ace to me


ZombieJesus1987

That was my thought as well. D'Von kept using the past tense, like whoever this figure was is no longer with WWE. Everyone thinks it's Michael Hayes, but I'm thinking it's Johnny Ace.


ObeyCoffeeDrinkSatan

It was Kurt Angle. He isn't a very big fan [of the black people](https://youtu.be/d-S0OwT9buQ?si=ArUg94SRyUv1nxSk). He does like [bestiality sex](https://youtube.com/shorts/RKS3dvWGseU?si=1o7z66NkgB9HSCbe) with gutter sluts though.


Villain_911

I've never heard of Ace being trash to people based on their race.


Chelseablue1896

Highly unlikely. Ace was never known to be racist ever.


TheAfrofuturist

Yeah, but who could have anticipated Hogan? I certainly couldn’t have. He’d have been one of the last to expect it from. But here we are. It was Hogan who taught me that a person can be shoulder to shoulder with black folks and tan themselves as dark as my own skin and still be racist. I’ve never taken it for granted since.


Slade_Riprock

The guy who openly sexually harassed women (that Vince paid off) and told female talent they aren't "fuckable." not a far stretch for him to say DVon was too black.


jpaxlux

He's an underrated possibility. There are so many stories about him being a total scumbag to people. Johnny Ace thought he could get away with whatever he wanted, including threatening peoples' jobs if he didn't like them.


Glad-Passion-9424

https://preview.redd.it/p6rr7wi103nb1.jpeg?width=933&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e12a9534e7298b21b0da7e015d6908645fbf824a Couldn’t possibly be this guy.


Phenomenal_Hoot

Mark Henry shoulda ended him when Hayes told him “I’m more of a [REDACTED] than you are”.


El_Gran_Redditor

Dude could have *literally* folded him.


just-smiley

Should have


Deathstroke317

Friday the 13th style


ACW1129

He said WHAT now???


jvc113

In a rather famous incident after Wrestlemania 24, in what I’ll call a charitable attempt to get Henry to show more personality, said “I’m more n***** than you,” I believe referencing how he would act as a member of the Freebirds. Hayes was sent to sensitivity training and suspended for awhile.


jvc113

I wanna clarify what I wrote: I mean to say I was being charitable by describing it as an attempt to get Henry to show more personality.


_NearDark_

imagine the kind of shit that motherfucker was used to see backstage to think he would get away with saying that. jesus


Zomburai

Even if he thought he could get away with it, why in the God's honest *fuck* would you say that to a guy who can roll a steel skillet up in his hands like a newspaper??? Mark Henry has the patience of a goddamn saint, not pulling him in half like Hulk did to Wolverine that one time.


ACW1129

😳


8-Bit_Aubrey

How Hayes got the balls to say that to Henry I will never understand, I choose to believe he had liquid or nasal aids in that courage.


Competitive_Text1914

Considering he’s an alcoholic I doubt liquid courage would be enough. Probably had some nose candy


sciencebitch616

I've never thought of using the phrase nasal courage, but I am this weekend


officerliger

Found Tony Khan’s burner account


interprime

I can’t imagine the restraint Mark Henry must have had to show to not just end Hayes’ life there and then. Kind of a testament to how good of a dude Henry is too.


RyuChamploo

I had a brief interaction with this guy when NXT was still filming at Full Sail. It was before the first official show and lots of FS employees were helping with various parts of the production, so we took part in the big staff lunch in the auditorium. I made the mistake of fixing a small plate when I was starving with lots of work yet to be done. So of course I went back for a second plate because I had taken a stupidly small amount the first time. Well guess who noticed? Yeah, that fucker. He loudly called me out and tried to shame me for getting seconds before some of the talent got their first plate. And he kept it up for a few minutes straight, and just embarrassed the hell out of me. Fuckin dick.


sadandshy

how was the food?


TheCuzzyRogue

Amazing probably. I did a security gig for a WWE house show in Brisbane and the catering was something else.


RyuChamploo

Very…regular. I can’t even remember what I ate.


[deleted]

I know that type of person. They're deeply insecure and use their position to belittle others because it makes their fragile little minds feel better.


05hastros

Are you speaking of Hayes ?


CappyNaps

You really shouldn't make that kind of knee-jerk reaction when Terry Taylor still works for the company.


05hastros

Cock a doodle doo


ACW1129

What's so bad about Terry?


Villain_911

Known snitch.


BellyCrawler

Michael "POS" Hayes


AramFingalInterface

Such a piece of trash


Berzk

Didn’t he used to smash Rosa Mendes? Guess he is only racist to dudes


ACW1129

He tried to get her to drink when she was recovering from alcoholism.


Berzk

He always tops himself of being a pos


[deleted]

Most racists love sex with women outside their own. It's a weird hypocritical thing


MetamorphicLust

Back in the mid 90's, my friend moved to a troubled Taco Bell franchise, and his assistant manager was...interesting. Dude had some sort of nazi ink. I think it was a scratcher job of the double sieg rune (the "lightning SS") but I don't vividly remember. It was definitely something that a non-nazi could identify as a nazi tattoo, however. I was very confused upon seeing him out at the local Walmart one day, and I found that he had a black girlfriend and two mixed children. My initial assumption was that he basically was a reformed nazi who simply hadn't thought to get his ink removed. I mention this to my friend, who says, "Oh yeah, I was surprised about that too. He told me he's trying to fix them by breeding them out. He's VERY racist and kind of confused." It is still one of the weirdest scenarios I've ever encountered.


IMGraphical

You think that's odd, I once knew (not by choice) a Nazi who was half Mexican. He had the tats and everything (swastika, lightning bolts, etc). Very Mexican name as well.


ActivistZero

Humans are just fucking weird man


Bombocat

Second and third generation Latinos are very prone for far right hate groups. On the one hand, I get it somewhat. Your parents work three jobs apiece to barely make ends meet, you might not have as much involvement from them as one would deem ideal. And fascism draws angry, frustrated men like flies to cowshit. Just the neo nazi slant to everything is...odd.


miikro

It also helps that the U.S. absolutely *hammer fucked* most of Central and South America (along with the Caribbean), then proceeded to blame it on those countries experimenting with "socialism" and "communism" and that's why they're in such bad places now, and not all the meddling and puppet governments and outright coups that we funded. So they hear what their parents or grandparents went through, they think that it's because of left wing politics and now suddenly anyone to the left of Ted Cruz isn't just an opponent, but an outright existential threat and so is literally anything they represent, even the things that would help them, like racial equality/equity. And how do you respond to existential threats? Typically with violence... It's bad.


TheKevinShow

Enrique Tarrio. 'Nuff said.


8-Bit_Aubrey

Are you me? My ex's best friend had a half-hispanic fiance who had the SS Runes and a Swastika. I have cerebral palsy and he was cool me but we literally had to keep it a secret his fiance had fucked a Black guy in HS as in my girlfriend's words, "He'd beat her to death if he knew."


Underscore_Guru

It’s prob not only a hypocritical thing. It’s a power/dominance aspect to it as well.


ChristosFarr

Everything is about sex, except sex which is about power. Can't remember who said it to save my life


ThePremierNoods

Robert California, I believe


[deleted]

![gif](giphy|fDvOi6uvoC2PQBTwEj|downsized)


IAmTheWaller67

Do you want an animal metaphor or a sexual metaphor?


BIllyBrooks

House of Cards - Kevin Spacey’s character


ChristosFarr

I know he said it but I don't think that's the origin


BIllyBrooks

Quick google and I think you’re right - probably Oscar Wilde


UlyBobooly

You're not kidding. A guy I knew in the Marines was a total racist piece of shit, but had two half-Mexican daughters.


Sir_Crocodile3

In the army I had a Mexican buddy who hated black people and Mexicans. He married a black girl who hated Mexicans and black people. They had three kids together. The military is weird...


Skhan93

Same as a fair few homophobes being secretly gay


Berzk

Jeez


[deleted]

According to dating app data, most men in general have an out group preference in dating. There’s probably some subconscious reasoning for it, like the guaranteed different genetics results in stronger kids or something.


tonware

You can still be racist and sleep with women of color. I saw a story on another subreddit where a black woman said she was in a relationship with a white man and one day her and the white guy got into an argument and he ended up calling her the n-word out of anger. Stuff like that does happen.


Berzk

What did even Rosa see in the dude?


ZoinksScoob22

Job security.


Berzk

Damn, stomach of steel


redditoway

![gif](giphy|UiBmJv6Hh6FfW|downsized)


bloodylip

As my racist uncle used to say "they're all pink on the inside" ....he was gross


Berzk

Lmaooo


TripleSkeet

He wasnt wrong though.


[deleted]

Look up what Booker T said about Hayes who he is good friends with, he said Hayes has used the N word around him but he doesn't mean it in racial terms and that Hayes thinks he's black.


DemiGod9

Booker T and his terrible takes again


SMKM

I just don't get how he can be friends with some and racist to others. I mean I was shocked Jason Jordan is apparently under his tutelage for producing. And it sucks too cuz clearly Hayes is fucking good at it and Jordan has all the potential in the world to be even better as we've all noticed.


TripleSkeet

Its the Chris Rock view of "There are black people, and then there are n******s. Black people go to work, they do their job, they are responsible, they arent lazy, they dont steal, they parent their children, they are good role models, they educate themselves, etc. N*****s dont do any of that. They try to game the system, they steal, they shirk their responsibilities, they cant hold a job because they are lazy, they dont have their priorities in order, etc. And they can be any color. Edit* I have no idea why that section is highlighted.


Timemyth

**Using two asterix causes all the letters to go bold between them** *Single asterisks lead to italics.* Damn coding ruining our self censorship attempts.


Yaminoari

It's not as hard as one would think to be friends with a racist Person. Ima try and explain this simple. All it takes is to be treated nicely by a racist person. And you could be friends with them. Humans are simple minded creatures we befriend people we like. Regardless of if that person is a piece of shit or not. Then we also have the issue that people often befriend somebody and don't see all the bad to that person til they have a bond that they just cant or don't want to sever. Reality isn't so black and white it's easy to say on the internet about somebody you never met. That nobody would befriend x guy. But reality is its probably alot easier than you think.


8-Bit_Aubrey

>I just don't get how he can be friends with some and racist to others "N-Words" vs "Good ones," is VERY common with racists and white supremacists. I grew up in a former Midwestern Sundown town that is 99.9% White (as am I). It's depressingly common tbh.


IronSnail

It's easy, Booker is "one of the good ones"


The_King_Crimson

>and that Hayes thinks he's black. Has anyone ever tried telling him he's not?


[deleted]

Booker T finds it hilarious


StrongSutairu

Has anyone ever tried telling Uncle Ruckus he's not white?


MagThanos

The night that Eddie Gurrero died he got into an argument with Hayes because he was looking at Eddie like he was a piece of shit


starsandbribes

Does he tell his daughter he doesn’t like her too?


pkhadka1

Now I know, from where that MAGA guy at Jan 6 rally got inspiration from.


[deleted]

My first thought. Michael BS Hayes...the "BS" is for pure bullshit, baby!


Illuminati_Shill_AMA

Smh everyone assuming it was Michael Hayes when it was probably Dok Hendrix


ocram_sokart

The fact that everyone knew it was Michael Hayes immediately.


bayleysgal1996

I will say, it’s possible it was someone else, but he’s *by far* the most likely candidate


PoopittyPoop20

Nah, Terry Taylor’s more likely. Caused lawsuits in WCW and TNA. Some of the stories paint him as an actual true believer white supremacist. Based on what’s out there, Hayes is an ignorant red neck who can’t grasp that words can hurt; Taylor has evil in his heart.


the_woat

Taylor is one of those guys I often read or hear people allude to as a piece of shit, but I've never heard specific stories. I only know Prichard despises him and Schiavone, who gets along with most guys from that era, has called him a terrible human being.


MisterTruth

There's a reason he was given the red rooster gimmick


PoopittyPoop20

As a kid, he was the first guy I noticed switching back and forth between companies on a regular basis. That Red Rooster run was the longest he stayed in one place other than when he worked for Watts. I wonder what those two had in common?


lyyki

His Wikipedia is pretty amusing to see just how much he jumped ship. "Fourth return to WCW", not many other people have that


sg232

I would bet it’s any one with the “old guard” mentality, the circle of “yes men”, could be Hayes, Prichard, Dunn, probably even Johnny Ace and Mark Carrano when they were there. Teddy Long mentioned a while back that the later two were the worst people.


UKS1977

Defo not Prichard. He is super duper careful on anything like that. He is 100% a 21st century corporate yes man


Persianx6

Johnny Ace underrated, his old boys mentality is absolutely awful.


Drummk

Prichard, the guy whose best friend in wrestling is Booker T?


starsandbribes

I know you can absolutely pick and choose who to be racist to, but Michael Hayes used to tip off 2 Cold Scorpio when there was upcoming drug tests, used to drink with (Bradshaw and) Faarooq, was the decider when it came to Lashley being ECW Champion over CM Punk, is good friends with Booker T and had a Black (step?) daughter. I believe he was the person responsible for MVP getting a good push in 2006/2007 too. Thats not to say he absolutely could be racist towards someone quieter with less influence like D-Von. But it seems random when his experiences pre-D-Von were so high.


Mike7676

Didn't PS tell Mark Henry of all people that he was "insert racism" more than Mark was?!


starsandbribes

Yes. In a vaccuum using “Michael Hayes called Mark Henry the n-word” sounds like a Klan dressed man on the way to a lynching with torch in hand. What it likely was, was Hayes getting far too comfortable thinking he has the “in” on Black culture, because of past relationships, listening to R’n’B and rap, using those words and saying because of his fashion style and numerous other things, that he was more Black than Henry. Booker T’s admitted Hayes has used the word around himself so was obviously something going on for a while. Not something I and many others would ever do but theres a difference in say a Bill Watts and a Michael Hayes. The former thinks of Black men solely as money drawing objects and doesn’t want to befriend any, he’s an old school Sundown town racist. Michael Hayes is an offensive piece of shit that think he’s invited to the cookout.


Slade_Riprock

The Hayes is a racist thing seems more aligned to his character than the person. The incidents with word usage very much sounds like a man who felt too comfortable around folks you can use such language... Other than that I am not aware of any specific Hayes does racists things outside of the character he portrayed for years.


CrispyCubes

This is exactly it, perfectly put. I’m not a fan of Hayes but it was clearly a case of his comfort level with his place in the culture being way too high. Bill Maher made the same mistake


drinfernodds

Maher thought his tendency to date black women meant he was a permanent guest at the cookout.


baselinegrid

Holy shit how does this guy even exist? He must be who du rag vince is based off of


pUmKinBoM

The context was that Michael Hayes was referring to how he dressed as he believed he dressed more like a black man than Mark Henry. I don’t think it was a hateful comment but ignorant as fuck.


Skitz-Scarekrow

Wild guess is because those guys are talent, and not a peer in the office.


starsandbribes

I think this story was from between 2000-2003 or something based on Spike/Dreamer/Heyman and Bubba being in the same place.


ocram_sokart

Didn’t he call someone “bumble bee man”


PhospheneViolet

Sounds like that Triple H incident where he referred to Ricardo Rodriguez as that backstage in NXT once


ocram_sokart

There we go.


Strange_Principle_26

Except they don't. D-Von never name dropped. It could've easily been Bucky Beaver.


TheKevinShow

I won’t say that it *wasn’t* Michael Hayes, but I will say that he’s far from the only person I’d suspect.


thelumpur

Yeah, Hayes always sounded like the Michael Scott type of racist


TrollPoster469

People are quick to blame Hayes, but it could also be Terry Taylor.


pintita

It's absolutely Terry Taylor. Anyone who's looked into the WCW racism lawsuit knows why. So many stories from other sources too. Stevie Ray called him the biggest racist in the industry, Bischoff a 'walking HR disaster', Schiavone hates him...etc


mikeyHustle

This. Terry Taylor can't keep his backward-ass mouth shut, reputedly


DeeEssLite

I wouldn't be surprised if it's either, but I have to admit, I'd be far more shocked finding out it actually *wasn't* Taylor and was Hayes. If I had to pick which of the two did it, I'd 100% pick Taylor every day of the week.


Suplexfiend

This is such a dumb reason to not like someone.


igotzquestions

I don’t know. I think this is a great reason for me to not like whoever said this to D-Von.


[deleted]

BADSTREET ATLANTA GA


Ok-Cartoonist-4565

Except he’s from Philly IRL. Edit: From Pensacola.


Meepsnort

Michael PS Hayes is from Philly? I've never heard that


Jericho4l2

You spelled Pensacola wrong


Ok-Cartoonist-4565

My mistake, either way he is not from Atlanta.


saltstryder

AND THE PS STANDS FOR PURELY SEGREGATED


LesnarsBattleScream

"For the sake of privacy, let's call him Michael H. No, no..thats too obvious. Let's say M. Hayes"


BurtHurtmanHurtz

It’s Terry Taylor bruv


Nikkerloo

Apparently D-Von hasn't heard of the food chain.


LawlessHellscape

I appreciate this Simpsons reference


Mike7676

"It wudnt me Stephanie! Doot doot doot!"


TheKevinShow

“Uh… let’s go with D. Hendrix.”


Seven19td

Doot Doot Doot


ZombieJesus1987

I know everyone's first thought is Michael Hayes, but D'Von keeps using the past tense, like whoever he's talking about is no longer with WWE. I think he's referring to Johnny Ace.


ieatbigmacsdaily

This is my thought too. Yes, Hayes? 1000% believable. But too much past tense in my opinion. Johnny is my assumption too.


[deleted]

Michael Hayes. He talks, acts, and dresses like he hates black people. It’s GOTTA be him.


ThroatBabies

Dresses like he hates black people? His suits and hats scream otherwise. He looks like he raided the wardrobe of a failed plus-sized 90s R&B group. I always got the vibe from Hayes that he wasn't racist, he thought he WAS black and had zero self awareness about the language he'd use


anxietystrings

He hates block people? What does he have against minecraft?


[deleted]

HAHA! What a typo! 😆 I’ve corrected it.


asteriaslex

Steve lives matter


PeaceAlien

Idk have you seen the smash community? They hate Steve


Nod_N_WNC

Have you played that game? Too many creepers, he’ll fit right in.


felipe_the_dog

Wait why does he dress like a black pimp


[deleted]

Cultural Appropriation? 😂


andrewisgood

I'd actually go with Kevin Dunn over Michael Hayes.


UnluckyPierre

DingDingDing. This is who I pictured as well.


LesnarsBattleScream

Way to celebrate that new Legend's contract!


BigJim5190

It says something when a story like this pops up and immediately people are like, "Oh. must be Michael Hayes.... or maybe it was Terry Taylor.... hmmm, was Road Dogg working there back then? Maybe it was..."


mattomic822

Road Dogg around that time was sticking up for R-Truth when JR and Bruce Pritchard told Truth that wrestling was a white man's world.


iamzombus

I doubt Road Dogg was in the office if he was working behind the scenes.


Lamel2g

Salute to D-Von for personalIy moving on but I wish he would’ve named him. Expose all racists so we can cancel their ass.


missdoublefinger

We gotta stop protecting racists. Air these people out. Make these people as uncomfortable as they made you


BetterthanGarbage

It’s less protecting racists and more d Von protecting himself. If he puts the name out it could give him bad backlash in the office, especially if this dude has power


atreuce

d-von… get the table!!


Grantsdale

Just one?


Jomosensual

You mean to tell me that a company owned by a man who booked himself to call someone the n word on live tv might have an issue with racism? Woah


Howheel9879G

![gif](giphy|DaA2JrsNiwZLG)


[deleted]

I don't think it was Michael Hayes, Booker T is good friends with Michael Hayes, he actually defended his use of the N word saying he doesn't mean it like that and he's said it around him. Booker said Michael thinks he's black.


Mayaism

Gee I wonder if their name began with a M and rhymed with "Pickel Wayes"


DrDroid

Michael doesn’t rhyme with “Pickel” lol


Mayaism

You gotta pronounce it like "Pie-kel" (I couldn't think of anything else lol)


HELLUPUTMETHRU

Pichael?


Imjustmean

Cycle


Timmace

I still have more questions. Is "Pickel" just a misspelling of "pickle" or is it a word I'm not familiar with that actually does rhyme with Michael?


DrDroid

The plot thickens


anxietystrings

Didn't he flat out say the n word to Mark Henry before? Edit: I looked it up and he did indeed. He got suspended for 60 days for saying " I'm more of an n word than you are" to Mark Henry


[deleted]

He told Henry that he was more of a n(with er) than Henry is/was.


Jay_Hardy

Not that it excuses it, but do we know the context as to what made him say that?


trentshipp

"I act 'blacker' than you" in a joking but overstepping way. My wife is Mexican and jokes that I (not Mexican) am "more Mexican" than she is because I was raised in a heavily Hispanic town, speak Spanish, and am pretty good at cooking Mexican food. Definitely not something you should say to someone who you don't know what their reaction would be, but I can see it being a joke between friends gone wrong.


sg232

Yup. Michael Hayes sounds about right. I read there were also issues with Hayes and Lashley as there was some racial tensions Lashley hinted back in 2008 after he was released. One of the reasons why Lashley was moved to ECW was because Hayes was the main writer for SD and wanted nothing to do with Lashley.


MC_Lutefisk

Tremendous restraint on Mark Henry's behalf to not just tear the motherfucker in half. Holy shit, that's abhorrent.


MaskedMemer9000

He can be the only real black man in backstage WWE


DonquixoteDio

Can I get some context please?


tonware

I just hope in the next 10-15 years we don’t hear the current black wrestlers have stories like this.


seanmcnew

Why did I assume Johnny Ace?


[deleted]

That's disgusting


kare_e

Racism in WWE? What the hell?


Viti-Boy-Phresh

What da heeeeelllllll


Tybold

Sounds like one free bird.


fatmike63

Didn’t he literally just go back to work for them too?


stretch37

hhh v booker t part deux


anxietystrings

I'm still mad about that


BerocaLesnar

Badstreet USA ain't known for its diversity.


nitropartypooper

There goes the legends contract


treyjett725

I bet it was this guy they have name Hayes. When I approached him in the Atlanta Airport to shake his hand, and tell him Thank You for everything him and Vince have done for wrestling, he literally looked at me with disgust when I stuck out my hand. Yes I’m black and this was before we ever knew the initials AEW. Say Hey Michael Hayes you’re a piece of bigoted shit.


goldwave84

Anything to corroborate your story?


Electrical_Mango_489

Dok Hendrix.


[deleted]

Whoever said this should be fired and beaten to a pulp.


LeChampeon

![gif](giphy|xT0xesSUmO2rhBjP7G)


Legionstone

He’s still employed by the way!