SOURCE: Kevin Dunn Didn't Think Becky Lynch Was "Attractive Enough" to be Champion
In late October of 2016 #FireKevinDunn trended after negative comments he made about then WWE Smackdown Women’s champion Becky Lynch.
Dunn, WWE’s EVP of production and one of the most powerful men in the company, apparently hated Lynch’s accent so much that he planned to give her less speaking time on TV just to not hear her voice as much.
Aside from a subtweet from Lynch, nothing came of the call to fire Dunn and the fans quickly moved on. He may not have gotten off so easily with the fans if his full thoughts on Lynch were made public at the time.
A source, who worked with Dunn in WWE, tells us that besides her accent Dunn also took issue with Lynch’s looks, finding them not up to Dunn’s exacting standards.
During a production meeting in the fall of 2016, Dunn argued that the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion was simply not attractive enough to hold the title. “I'll never forget this weasel telling us that Becky Lynch isn't good-looking enough,” our source shared.
This is not the first report of Dunn disparaging a female worker's looks to the bosses. Former WWE head writer Alex Greenfield shared this dialogue—that took place on the infamous WWE corporate jet—between WWE agent Michael Hayes, Vince McMahon, and Kevin Dunn about former WWE wrestler Kelly Kelly:
Hayes: She just feels cold, you know? She’s not connecting.
Vince: Mm. She needs to find her sensuality.Kevin Dunn hops up and down in seat with sniggering laughter in that “Hey, boss, pay attention to me” way. Vince turns to him.
KD: She NEEEEDS to find some TITS!
KD continues to snicker, eyes on Vince, begging for approval. Vince snorts. Conversation continues.
AEW Interim-Champ Jon Moxley shared this note on Dunn’s pull in the WWE, “One comment, one little seed planted by a guy in Kevin Dunn’s position can be extremely detrimental to someone’s future there.”
Dunn was also reportedly negative on the prospects of Billy Kay AKA Jessie McKay, whose release in April of 2021 shocked many wrestlers in the company.
Despite being widely disliked amongst the talent, and even some executives, Dunn’s long-standing personal relationship with Vince has guaranteed his power and longevity in the company: “He is so protected and even feels like he can talk down to talent,” another source tells us.
But several reports and our sources also suggest Dunn’s proximity to McMahon may soon prove a hazard. Many expect Dunn to be embroiled in the investigations into sexual misconduct that’s forced both Vince McMahon and former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis out of public roles in the company.
Former Tag Team Champion Paul London shared this shocking story about Dunn and McMahon propositioning former WWE wrestler Ashley Massaro on a recent episode of Cafe de Rene:
“I do remember, specifically, many times when she would be crying to me because Vince was propositioning her to fly on the jet with them. Kevin Dunn, Bucktooth Bucky, would be telling her that she has to fly on the jet with them. They’d always put the Divas up at like the TV hotel or whatever, he’d be knocking on her door and trying to get her to answer. I’m shocked this Vince stuff is just now coming out.”
Ashley Massaro passed away in 2018. She suffered from depression, anxiety, and memory loss after being drugged and sexually assaulted by members of the US military while on a tour in Kuwait for the WWE.
According to her harrowing affidavit, Dunn was in the room when McMahon instructed Massaro to keep quiet about the assault in order to protect WWE's relationship with the military:
Dr. Rios then informed Vince, who informed Kevin Dunn, John Laurinaitis, and several other company executives or lawyers... Vince led the meeting with these men and asked me to recount what happened in Kuwait. Then he said it was not in the best interest of the WWE for me to make the information about my attack public. I was still completely traumatized at that point and I just agreed. It was clear that there had already been a conversation and that they had reached a decision on their own prior to consulting with me as this was not a debate but rather Vince instructing me to keep this confidential.
It’s taken six years but those fans who started the #FireKevinDunn hashtag six years ago may get their wish. But don’t feel sorry for Dunn, as he seems to already have a career in day trading lined up.
Dunn unloaded $1 million of WWE stocks just around the time the internal investigation into Mcmahon's conduct started. With business instincts like that, it’s no wonder McMahon values his opinion.
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