The dynamic of the WWE locker room is very different to other sports. Most locker rooms are known for sports like basketball, football, and soccer. Wrestling has locker rooms too, but there are different dynamics in play. Sports teams will often struggle if there is tension in the locker room with players not getting along. WWE is clearly different with the scripted element meaning you don’t have to really be friends with everyone. However, there will be issues to come if a wrestler is having problems with others in the locker room. Multiple unwritten rules exist to provide a positive atmosphere in WWE. These usually apply to other promotions as well since wrestling is the culture that creates these things.
These are 5 strange details most fans don’t know about the WWE locker room.
1. One of the only places where cameras aren't allowed
WWE cameras are located everywhere backstage during a show date. Various WWE Network projects like WWE 24, Chronicle, 365, and a few others show wrestlers in almost every area backstage. We have even seen Kevin Owens get told that Vince McMahon did not like his WrestleMania 33 match with Chris Jericho in the elusive Gorilla position area.
One place we rarely see WWE cameras located is in the locker room. The 24 specials about TakeOver shows did show the NXT locker room area, but WrestleMania restricts access. Wrestlers have cameras on them everywhere else backstage so that it was only fair to avoid putting cameramen and women in the locker rooms too.
2. Wrestlers' Court was banned
One of the older traditions of the WWE locker room was phased out due to an incident that crossed the line. Wrestlers' Court was a concept created when a wrestler backstage would step out of line. The other wrestlers would create a courtroom in the locker room with plaintiffs, defendants, lawyers, and juries of talent deciding the fate.
It would often end with the wrestler accused of doing something wrong apologizing and buying food or drinks for The Undertaker. This started getting a bit over the line when stories broke out about Melina crying backstage, among other instances of it turning into bullying. Wrestlers' Court no longer exists due to the cruel nature, and WWE would likely react negatively if any wrestlers tried to bring it back.
3. John Cena watches every single match from the locker room
John Cena is someone that always commands respect backstage after being the face of WWE for a decade. The new career path in acting has seen Cena take a part-time role in WWE only coming back in limited runs. Cena still has more than enough passion for WWE to return whenever his schedule allows it.
Kevin Owens revealed on Talk is Jericho that Cena is one of the few people that still sits by the television screen in the locker room to watch every match from start to finish. Cena loves to see how the crowd reacts to each match before he performs and likes to see which wrestlers are stepping up. Owens and a few others have been seated next to Cena to pick his mind throughout a show.
Also Read | Best Matches of John Cena
4. Wrestlers get heat for leaving early
The expectation for wrestlers in WWE is that everyone will stick around in the locker room until the show is over. This means wrestlers that wrestled early on the card or that didn’t even make the card at all will hang out in the locker room watching the show until everyone else is finished before they can leave.
It doesn’t always happen, and wrestlers get heat for leaving the show too early. Braun Strowman has the most recent instance of rumors indicating WWE was souring on him for leaving shows after his work was done. Chris Jericho has criticized wrestlers for leaving the shows early on his podcast when discussing his most recent WWE run.
5. Management pays attention to locker room opinions
The locker room relationship a wrestler has with their peers could lead to positive or negative things. There have been instances of wrestlers getting heat when word gets around backstage that someone is not popular in the locker room. Recent rumors indicated WWE has slowed down Braun Strowman’s push due to some backstage heat.
Other wrestlers will get opportunities when peers have positive words to share about them. One of the reasons WWE valued Roman Reigns as a top star is that the locker room respected him and viewed him as a leader. Locker room reputation is not the most important thing, but it can make or break a wrestler.
