Andrew Ravens
Fan entitlement toward wrestlers has come into focus again after two separate incidents involving Oba Femi and Dominik Mysterio went viral on social media this week. Both situations unfolded outside hotels and involved fans reacting negatively after their requests were turned down.
In Femi’s case, a video circulated showing the former NXT Champion standing outside a hotel when a group of scalpers approached him seeking autographs. The group’s intention was not a personal connection with the performer but rather to obtain signed items to resell for profit. Femi ignored the group entirely and did not engage with them.
Dominik Mysterio’s incident unfolded differently. Fans approached the former WWE Intercontinental Champion and AAA Mega Champion for photos, and Dominik declined as he made his way into a hotel. As he walked away, a person in the background told him to “have a heart” before adding, “Don’t forget, we made you.”
The comment directed at Dominik echoes a sense of ownership some fans feel over the performers they follow, a sentiment that has surfaced repeatedly in recent incidents. Neither a scalper group seeking merchandise to flip nor a fan invoking their viewership as leverage represents a reasonable expectation of a wrestler’s time or attention outside of scheduled appearances.
These two incidents follow a similar situation involving Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer, who declined photo requests on her birthday and was later subjected to hurtful comments from the person she turned down.
Vaquer addressed the matter on social media after the individual publicly claimed she had been “mean” to him. The pattern across all three incidents points to a broader issue of fans treating wrestlers as obligated to fulfill requests regardless of circumstances, context, or the performer’s own comfort and time.
What makes things worse is that there has yet to be any attempt by WWE to do anything about it or increase security for its talent.
