WWE Faces Criticism After Using Auschwitz To Promote WrestleMania

(Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Social media users condemned WWE after the company used an image of Auschwitz, where millions of people were murdered, in a WrestleMania promotional video.

WWE is facing criticism after using an image of an Auschwitz concentration camp in a promotional video for Wrestlemania
Many fans and wrestling outlets have called the act "shameless"
The video promo later appears to have had the image in question from its footage

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) company is facing widespread criticism after using an image of an Auschwitz concentration camp as part of a promotional video for Wrestlemania, one of the year's biggest events.

Many people call the act a "shameless" use of the image after it appeared during a video promo for the WrestleMania 39 match between Rey and Dominik Mysterio, who are father and son. The footage was shown during the kickoff show before the first day of the event scheduled for Saturday, which will be held at SoFi Stadium.

The fact that Auschwitz image was used to promote a WWE match is hard to call "an editing mistake". Exploiting the site that became a symbol of enormous human tragedy is shameless and insults the memory of all victims of Auschwitz.https://t.co/b4bbYgWPwj https://t.co/Xud4rbhEUS pic.twitter.com/tuJrzmK6mQ
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) April 5, 2023

WWE Facing Criticism Over Auschwitz Image in Video Promo

The picture of the Auschwitz camp was used to build up Dominik's storyline and was later removed from the video following criticisms. As per USA Today, several Twitter users and wrestling outlets immediately shared the image online and condemned WWE for using the photo.

The Auschwitz Memorial Museum posted on Twitter saying that the fact that the image was used to promote WWE's event could not even be called an "editing mistake." It added that exploiting the site seen as a symbol of human tragedy is an insult to the memory of all victims of Auschwitz.

During the event, the wrestling company showed the video again, inside the stadium but with the image of Auschwitz removed. WWE has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the situation.

The situation comes as, in September, Dominik attacked his father, Rey, and joined The Judgement Day faction. In the months after that incident, the younger Mysterio and the faction continued their assault on Rey separately.

Dominik and Rey Mysterio's Story

Dominik landed in jail after a failed attempt to entice his father to a fight, which was planned to add to his tough-guy persona that he uses to prevent people from seeing his spoiled-brat attitude. On Saturday, he arrived inside a cop van as his father was chauffeured by Snoop Dogg inside a lowrider, according to NPR.

The Mysterio storyline is one of the more popular bits for WrestleMania fans. The show delivered its exclusive streamer, Peacock, the most hours watched of any live event barring the Superbowl.

Furthermore, the event, held in person, made history with an attendance record at SoFi Stadium. The company recorded more than 161,000 ticket sales for two nights' wrestling matches.

Immediately after WWE posted the video, fans took to social media to confirm their suspicions of whether or not the image was Auschwitz. One user said it was because they knew it from visiting the area last year.

Another reply said, "Hoo boy, to be a fly on the wall in the next production meeting" of WWE. The site was home to more than 1.1 million who were murdered before the Allies liberated it in 1945, said 411Mania.