Why controversial names were allowed at WWE SummerSlam weekend - Reports
WWE presented another successful premium live event this past Saturday. The 37th annual SummerSlam brought almost 60,000 fans to Cleveland Browns Stadium, and there was a general feeling of excitement and positivity over the weekend. However, there are still questions surrounding two controversial names that were present for The Biggest Event of The Summer.
A major SummerSlam 2024 moment saw Bron Breakker win the Intercontinental Championship from Sami Zayn. The second-generation star was cheered on by the crowd and his legendary father, Rick Steiner, and uncle, Scott Steiner, who were present at the premium live event. WWE later posted The Steiner Brothers' reaction to Breakker winning the title on social media. This led to some fan criticism due to Rick's past incident with transgender wrestler Gisele Shaw.
According to Fightful Select, The Steiner Brothers officially attended SummerSlam. It was noted that The Dog-Faced Gremlin fell out of the Stamford-based promotion's good graces after the April 2023 incident with Gisele Shaw at WrestleCon Los Angeles, but he admitted wrongdoing and said it would not happen again.
The latest report on Steiner attending SummerSlam 2024 to watch his son perform notes that Rick offered an apology to Shaw, but it's not clear if they've talked since then
Another controversial name who was at SummerSlam 2024 weekend was the original Ring of Honor founder Rob Feinstein. He was forced to resign in March 2004 after he was busted trying to solicit sex from an underage boy in an internet sting operation run by police and Perverted Justice. CM Punk, who debuted for ROH in its inaugural year and was working at the time of the Feinstein scandal, made his televised singles return with a loss to Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam.
Feinstein was in Cleveland for SummerSlam weekend. He was seen around the WWE talent hotel, but Fightful Select reports that he was not backstage for SmackDown or Saturday's PLE. It was noted on Saturday that officials likely would be instructing talents to not take photos with the RFVideo and Signed By Superstars owner.
Several talents reportedly notified the company that Feinstein was lurking around their hotel lobbies, and that he was seen on-screen during SmackDown. The Pennsylvania native reportedly procured a ticket from a friend, who was comped by the company. However, officials had no idea he would be attending, much less shown on camera.
Sources made it clear that World Wrestling Entertainment has no affiliation with Feinstein, and did not invite him to their events. He was not given a comped ticket under his name, and it was reiterated that the former Blue World Order member was not backstage.
WWE did not grant Feinstein backstage access. Fightful later noted how Feinstein found out where talents were staying in Cleveland, and that led to him approaching wrestlers for photos.
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CM Punk comments on WWE rival and Rob Feinstein
CM Punk's heated rivalry with Drew McIntyre continued at WWE SummerSlam. The Second City Saint made his big return to televised singles action, but came up short against The Scottish Warrior.
Former ROH founder and RF Video owner Rob Feinstein drew negative attention for attending SummerSlam weekend. He tweeted photos with several superstars, including McIntyre and Logan Paul, as seen below. Punk re-posted a photo of the Scotsman and Feinstein to his Instagram stories, but quickly deleted it. The photo can be seen below.
Feinstein was never involved with ROH after the 2004 scandal. Co-founder Doug Gentry ended up buying Feinstein's stake in the company and later sold it to Cary Silkin. Sinclair Broadcast Group bought ROH in May 2011, and then Tony Khan purchased the legendary promotion in March 2022.