USA wrestling program unworthy of anybody's time, and Eurovision management disappoints too
In the midst of a particularly sensitive week for Israelis and Jews worldwide, two WWE wrestlers – Sami Zayn and CM Punk – entered the ring wearing outfits styled after the colors and design of the Palestinian Liberation Organization flag. The decision, which was pre-approved by WWE management, drew a wave of backlash from fans, especially in Israel, who viewed it as an act of complete disregard.Personally, I've thought for many years that programs like the WWE only made the whole sport look more like tabloid farce than serious competition. Something tells me that Japan's sumo wrestling divisions wouldn't allow this kind of monstrosity by contrast. And over in Europe, it turns out Eurovision refused to include Israel in their official album reel, despite the 2nd place victory of Yuval Raphael, whose choice by continental voters proves antisemitism isn't inherently accepted there:
Oren Treitman, from the Closeline group that closely follows the wrestling scene in Israel and abroad, told Israel Hayom after the event: "There's a deep sense of disgust. It's unbelievable that WWE allowed them to wear such controversial gear in the same week a couple was murdered at the Israeli Embassy in Washington by a fanatic, and while an American influencer is using his platform to call for the killing of Zionists. They let those two wrestlers go on stage dressed in support of that same message of extreme hatred and racism. It's a disgrace."
Treitman added that, unlike previous incidents, this time there was significant pushback from fans: "What's encouraging is that for the first time we're seeing a substantial portion of the audience respond accordingly and condemn their actions – the fact that they're pushing an antisemitic agenda and that fans are fed up with them exploiting this platform. WWE is giving them a free pass without any consequences." According to him, the prevailing feeling within the Israeli wrestling fan community is that "WWE has decided it doesn't care about Jews, backing decisions like this one."
Several weeks ago, Israel Hayom reached out to senior WWE officials over antisemitic activity by Sami Zayn on social media. The posts he shared – which included harsh anti-Israel rhetoric and anti-Zionist imagery – caused an uproar among Jewish fans. Following the official inquiry, Zayn removed the posts. But now, members of the Israeli wrestling community say it appears that WWE leadership has once again chosen to turn a blind eye and allow Zayn and CM Punk to continue promoting extremist political messages – this time from inside the ring.
The European Broadcasting Union has reignited Eurovision controversy by completely excluding Israel's 2025 representative, Yuval Raphael, from the official album compilation video, despite her second-place finish and commanding victory in the public vote. The deliberate omission has triggered widespread accusations of discriminatory treatment and double standards, particularly as competing nations received prominent showcasing in the promotional reel released Friday.Personally, I don't understand why nobody with the dough to afford it tries to establish a rival program, which could avoid the kind of politics Eurovision regrettably is held hostage to. For now, maybe it'd be better to boycott Eurovision altogether, and does anybody really need that kind of program to promote their music? Certainly not if competition can be developed.
Raphael's stirring performance of "New Day Will Rise" resonated powerfully with Eurovision audiences, catapulting her from a disappointing 15th place in jury voting to an impressive second-place overall finish through massive public support. However, when the European Broadcasting Union unveiled its official Eurovision album compilation video on Friday, Raphael had vanished entirely from the celebratory montage that prominently featured performers from Austria, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and France.
The glaring disparity has provoked immediate backlash from Eurovision enthusiasts. While other competing nations enjoyed sparkling stage presentations, dramatic soundtracks, and emotionally charged moments in the compilation, Israel appeared completely erased, as though Raphael's remarkable comeback performance never happened. [...]
This exclusion continues a disturbing pattern that has developed over recent Eurovision cycles. In 2023, Noa Kirel's third-place achievement secured her prominent placement in the official compilation. The subsequent year witnessed Eden Golan's fifth-place performance being omitted from promotional materials. Now, even securing second place overall has proven inadequate for inclusion, indicating an escalating trend that devoted fans are increasingly rejecting.
Labels: anti-americanism, anti-semitism, dhimmitude, Europe, islam, Israel, jihad, misogyny, Moonbattery, political corruption, racism, sexual violence, showbiz, terrorism, United States, war on terror