WWE have hit back at John Oliver after the English comedian questioned the sport’s integrity on his TV show Last Week Tonight.
In a recent segment of HBO's Last Week Tonight, host Oliver criticised WWE chairman Vince McMahon and the organisation’s supposed lack of care for their athletes.
The comedian cited a 2014 FiveThirtyEight study of wrestler death rates, and laid the blame firmly on McMahon in an x-rated rant.
During the segment, Oliver also played several accounts from former wrestlers, including Bret "The Hitman" Hart, whose brother Owen died wrestling for WWE.
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"Wrestlers dying early is a troubling trend," Oliver said on the show, according to Fox News .
“While the character Vince is an a***hole, it’s important to know that the real Vince is also an a**hole.
“Many fans legitimately hate him. While the WWE has made him a billionaire, many wrestlers say he’s treated him terribly.”
Oliver also blasted the WWE and McMahon for not funding retired performers.
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“Even the NFL, for all its massive faults, now offers players health reimbursement accounts and has legitimate funding for older players who may be dealing with health issues," Oliver said.
"When you have lost the moral high ground to the f****** NFL you are morally subterranean."
But WWE have now hit back at Oliver, claiming that he “ignored the facts”.
They told Fox News: "John Oliver is clearly a clever and humorous entertainer, however the subject matter covered in his WWE segment is no laughing matter.
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“Prior to airing, WWE responded to his producers refuting every point in his one-sided presentation. John Oliver simply ignored the facts.
"The health and wellness of our performers is the single most important aspect of our business, and we have a comprehensive, longstanding Talent Wellness program," the statement continued.
"We invite John Oliver to attend WrestleMania this Sunday to learn more about our company."
