The WWE banned David Benoit and it’s not for what you’d think. Given the negative connotations the name Benoit brings to mind, expecting his family ties to be the reason is an easy conclusion. But Vince McMahon isn’t that petty. Well, he is in another way.

According to his interview with Chris Van Vliet, the WWE banned David Benoit because he went to an AEW show.

This is nothing new

The WWE has shown itself to be extremely petty when it comes to their main competition over the last year. First, fans recorded and shared footage of the WWE forcing fans to remove any AEW apparel before entering the event. Then news of their demanding complete loyalty from Diamond Dallas Page. There’s little reason to think it’d stop there, right?

According to David Benoit, “It was because I went to an AEW show. It blows my mind, bro. I had to make a few phone calls. I was trying to talk to someone, but they never got back to me for a good four to five months. Everything’s fine now, I talked to their lawyers. I’m welcomed everywhere now, we’re good.”

It seems extreme to have to talk to their lawyers about being banned for simply going to another show, but it appears that’s what happens in McMahon’s universe. He’s the man in charge of WWE, and he runs his kingdom as he sees fit.

If we look at his actions toward other companies since 2001, he’s done everything in his power to keep a possible threat from rising. He’s thrown money at the top talent in other promotions, usually buried them in the mid-card ranks, and continued on his way.

So this isn’t surprising. Especially when it was McMahon and his paranoia that made this rivalry by purposely putting NXT across from AEW Dynamite to split the audience.

AEW Bans Hulk Hogan From Attending All Events

The nation is full of opinions about the current Black Lives Matter protests. Linda Hogan’s opinion just got her banned from WWE, but she’s in familiar company.

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has been banned from attending all AEW events in the future. The decision was taken by Tony Khan, following racially insensitive statements by Linda Hogan, on Twitter.

Khan has been extremely vigilant in the way AEW is perceived. He has come down hard on racism and discrimination within his own organization and industry.

In a Tweet that has since been deleted, Linda Hogan had stated “watching the looting, it’s all afro Americans, not sure how robbing and stealing set the record straight but if they want to be heard they need to be civilized.”

It took Tony Khan a day or so to see this tweet. Once he did, TK had an announcement to make. Linda Hogan is now banned from AEW events just like Hulk Hogan.

Khan said “husband,” but he very likely meant Linda’s ex-husband Hulk Hogan.

As protests continue across the country, people are getting frustrated for different reasons. Tony Khan is using his position of influence to make certain that AEW’s position is clear.

Linda Hogan might not appreciate it, but Tony Khan might not have intended on inviting her to Dynamite any time soon in the first place.