Lio Rush Opened Up About Issues Backstage At WWE

WWE

WWE wrestler and manager Lio Rush has recently been the subject of rumors that he has heat backstage. Yesterday, he took the time to respond and made some serious claims about issues he’s having in the company.

The initial report about Rush’s workplace problems was published by Fightful earlier this week, with a staff member writing that “Lio Rush would be very lucky to be back on the main roster any time soon, if ever” according to their sources. The tension between Rush and the rest of the locker room was said to stem from “Rush’s insistence to have his wife present at almost all times” because he was trying to get a reality show with for them and Rush ignoring advice from Finn Balor about the situation.

Rush responded to the report first on Twitter, then in statements to Fightful. He tweeted nonspecifically about “dirtsheets” writing “ridiculous” articles about him, then claimed the backstage heat rumors were “dirt sheet fabrications.” In a series of longer tweets, which are embedded below, he addressed the specifics of the report from Fightful and another from PWInsider that also included a story of Rush not doing certain duties typical of junior members of the roster on a 2018 European tour.

— Man Of The Hour ⌛️ (@itsLioRush) April 30, 2019

( Part 1 ) “Heat” is such a subjective term. Do I stand up for myself when life challenges me Yes. Do I have opinions & not just blindly follow Yes. Am I best friends with every single superstar No. But… do I work hard. Am I professional & respectful.. https://t.co/tEf1WGLh59

— Man Of The Hour ⌛️ (@itsLioRush) April 30, 2019

( Part 2 ).. Am I driven and motivated to perform to the best of my ability to entertain the WWE universe Have no bad blood with any other superstars, great working relationships with writers and producers, and respect and listen to all higher ups ABSOLUTELY. https://t.co/tEf1WGLh59

— Man Of The Hour ⌛️ (@itsLioRush) April 30, 2019

( Part 1 ) I am not “out of the locker room.” More dirt sheet assumptions. Many spouses and family members come to shows and are welcome backstage. Our performance schedules are not just RAW, we have 3 live shows a week, travel days, and PPVs. My wife came to share my first.. https://t.co/OWVKb2wcC5

— Man Of The Hour ⌛️ (@itsLioRush) April 30, 2019

( Part 2 ) ..wrestle mania moment with me, as did many families of the WWE roster. The little time that a professional wrestler can spend with their family is rare and precious. I conduct myself professionally and respectfully and so does my wife. https://t.co/OWVKb2wcC5

— Man Of The Hour ⌛️ (@itsLioRush) April 30, 2019

I believe we are all able to carry our own gear and provisions. I treat others as equals and as a young black male have often had to fight for my own equality. https://t.co/lwdySHrGl6

— Man Of The Hour ⌛️ (@itsLioRush) April 30, 2019

Rush’s comments to Fightful, which you can read in their entirety here, include descriptions of what issues he does have with his job at WWE. These include:

As more of a general statement, Rush adds that “The kind of shit [that] flies backstage is ridiculous and I’m surprised more people aren’t speaking up.”

This is far from the first report of WWE treating its workers in less than ideal ways or of WWE wrestlers getting away with bad backstage behavior. Right now, this is a lot of “he said, they said” and has yet to affect Rush’s standing in the company in a way fans can clearly see on screen. Whatever the specifics about this situation are, they point to drama at best and a concerning workplace environment at worst.