Promoter-Talent Dating: Why Is the Power Imbalance Suddenly “Fine”?
Promoters and executives should not date active talent. It’s pretty obvious why.
The person running the company — or creative and bookings — controls pushes, pay, storylines, title opportunities, and essentially a wrestler’s entire livelihood.
When that same person is in a romantic relationship with someone on the roster, it creates an unavoidable perception of favoritism. Fans notice when opportunities pile up without matching crowd reaction. The locker room notices too. It erodes trust in the product.
WWE recognized this after the Vince McMahon era and implemented a policy strongly discouraging relationships between top executives (including president-level roles) and talent, citing risks of abuse of authority and perceptions of unfairness.
Grace felt the same way….unless it was her crew. #HypocriteAF
So why does Scott D’Amore get a relative pass?
He served as TNA President/EVP with major creative influence while in a long-term relationship with Gisele Shaw.
She received heavy positioning throughout 2023–early 2024 — multiple title challenges, the Ultimate X win, and prominent TV time — even as many fans felt it was being forced regardless of organic support.
Shaw is a capable in-ring performer, but the “boss’s girlfriend” optics made genuine buy-in tougher.
D’Amore was later fired by Anthem in early 2024 over creative and budget differences (not the relationship itself), and Shaw requested her release later that year.
She has since worked with D’Amore’s new Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling promotion, where similar favoritism debates have continued.
This isn’t about the individuals involved. It’s simple: the president (or promoter) shouldn’t be dating the talent.
The structural power imbalance doesn’t vanish just because both parties are adults or the relationship is stable. “Consenting adults” doesn’t erase the conflict when one person holds all the cards on bookings and opportunities.
Why does this example often fly under the radar while similar situations draw universal criticism? The principle should be consistent across the industry.
