WWE’s decision to feature boxer Ryan Garcia on Monday Night RAW continues to attract criticism, with Dave Meltzer arguing that the corporate prioritizes mainstream exposure over a celeb’s past controversies.
Speaking on today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer shared his opinion on Garcia’s appearance in the course of the July 27 edition of RAW, where the boxer became physically involved in a serious SummerSlam 2026 storyline. Garcia attacked Joe Hendry with a guitar before aligning with Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh in a beatdown of Hendry, Danhausen, and the Minihausens. Meltzer said,
“I do know Nick Khan may be very liberal on the subject of bad people in the event that they’re famous. Ryan Garcia is as bad as — I mean, for all of the people who people have gotten mad at in wrestling and desired to blacklist out of wrestling, Ryan Garcia supporting the KKK and the entire racist stuff that he has said…”
“If you happen to’re not in jail, you’re fair game for WWE. It’s a consistent policy if there’s not a conviction. I believe should you’re a large enough star, even when there may be a conviction, you’d be okay.”
“They’re promoting his fight, and that was their idea of getting publicity, getting him on SportsCenter and getting them into the mainstream, because to them, a man like Ryan Garcia is mainstream.”
“That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Are you famous? Are you an influencer? If you happen to are, cool. If you happen to’re not, you may be a terrific person and it doesn’t matter since you’re not famous enough.”
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