Report: Backstage Reaction To WWE's 'Offensively Racist' Pitch For Mansoor

A 31-page lawsuit was filed against WWE, Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and others this week by former WWE writer Britney Abrahams, who alleged she was discriminated against and fired for objecting to multiple instances of "offensively racist and stereotypical jargon" in WWE scripts. Other defendants in the lawsuit included SmackDown Vice President Ryan Callahan, WWE Vice President Christine Lubrano, writer Jen Pepperman, and former creative writers Chris Dunn and Mike Heller. 

Several racist pitches were detailed in the lawsuit, including an alleged pitch from Ryan Callahan that would have led to Mansoor being revealed as the person "behind the 9/11 attacks." The reveal would have taken place as part of a love triangle programme also involving Angel Garza and Aliyah.

Fightful Select have since reported that talent within WWE were shocked, baffled, and disgusted that the pitch even left Callahan's mouth. Those in the know claimed the pitch was just a joke in poor taste and wasn't a serious pitch. Mansoor seemingly didn't know about the suggestion until news of the lawsuit emerged this week. The member of Maximum Male Models had reportedly maintained a positive relationship with Callahan. 

It emerged back in November 2021 that Vince McMahon made a pitch directly to Mustafa Ali that was "something that Mustafa Ali would have never done." While it is unknown exactly what the pitch was, Fightful reported "it was just as bad as the Mansoor pitch."

In another storyline that was allegedly pitched, Shane Haste would have adopted a crocodile hunter gimmick but instead of hunting crocodiles, he would have tried to capture Reggie/SCRYPTS. Shane Haste told Fightful the version he heard for the storyline didn't involve race and would have been focused on Reggie escaping most of Haste's traps through acrobatics. The programme would have revolved around the 24/7 Title picture. 

Apollo Crews' Nigerian accent was mentioned in the lawsuit too. Fightful noted, however, the accent was originally pitched by an active wrestler, not a member of the creative team.