WWE Sent This List Of ‘Banned Terms’ To Promotional Partners Ahead Of Wrestlemania 36

WWE Social Media Guidelines Lists Banned Terms

Vince McMahon has had a long history of banning specific words and phrases from WWE television.

This rule reportedly crosses over to WWE’s promotional partners, with specific guidelines being sent on the do’s and don’ts when speaking about the company.

Fightful Select (subscription required) has obtained the social media guidelines WWE distributed to some promotional partners ahead of Wrestlemania 36. The document includes specific words and phrases not to be used, as well as being “sensitive of the language used and how it may be interpreted by dirt sheets”.

Some of the notes from the guidelines include the following:

• Do not reply to fans in the comments
• Don’t speculate on rumors or future storylines
• Always present WWE and talent in a positive light.
• Sports Entertainment and Superstars were preferred terms over “wrestling” and wrestlers”
• Do not use messaging that enables or encourages fans to speak negatively about the product

The following list of “banned terms” was included:

• Babyface
• Belt
• Blood
• Card
• Choke
• Curb Stomp
• Diva
• DQ
• Head shot
• Heel
• House show
• Kayfabe
• Kill
• Mofos
• Murder
• Needs a push
• Spinal injuries
• Strangle
• Strap
• The Anti-Diva
• To be over
• To job/jobber
• Trauma
• Victim
• Violence/violent
• Wifebeater
• Wrestling/wrestlers
• WWF

Past Words and Phrases Banned By Vince McMahon

Back in 2008, a production sheet was leaked with a list of words and phrases not to be used on WWE television.

In 2018, another production document was leaked ahead of Survivor Series. This sheet includes several other words not to be said on television.

• Belt
• Feud
• Strap
• Kill
• Hate
• Stupid
• Hell
• Ass
• Violence
• Fake
• Revenge
• Number One Contender
• In the back
• National Television
• DQ
• Spot
• Girls