The WNBA Has A Wrestling Problem, And The Refs Just Made It Worse

WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson came up with the Royal Rumble nearly 40 years ago. Twenty wrestlers entered the first televised version in 1988, won by “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan. By 1989, it was 30 and on pay-per-view. Big John Studd survived that one. I know; I was there. I spent six and a half years as marketing director for what was then the WWF. Trust me, I know a Royal Rumble when I see one. And lately, all you have to do is turn on a WNBA game.

Players punching players. Players body-slamming players. Players clotheslining players. Players eye-poking players. Players clubbing players. Players going in the stands confronting fans. Coaches confronting officials. Owners confronting fans. Everybody mad at everybody. The perfect script for a Royal Rumble.