Here is the first related quote I read concerning the changes in WWE relating to the wrestlers as they pertain to the company

PWInsider.com is reporting that talent, more specifically announcers, have been told to begin referring to workers as "entertainers" as opposed to superstars or wrestlers. The idea behind the request is that WWE is working hard to have the company billed as an entertainment touring organization as opposed to a sporting event. This would allow them to bypass the Athletic Commissions in most states and avoid paying certain taxes as well as abide by rules established by the commissions.

Now here is the second reference I read

I've seen various reports including on this site of WWE deciding to call their wrestlers, entertainers in the hope of avoiding state regulation and taxing.

At least one report noted that States like Georgia who are about to vote greater wrestling regulations likely on November 19, 2007, as we've reported earlier are the reason for this change. Currently, however WWE is exempt from Georgia Wrestling Regulation under the law so Georgia is not a great example, and in Georgia the commission that Regulates is the Georgia Entertainment & Athletic Commission, so being defined as Entertainment in Georgia would not help much.

Whether it will help in other states will depend on how current law is written. Much of the current law lumps wrestling in with Boxing and now MMA regulation, real sports. Many of the "commissions" are still "boxing commissions".

Likely WWE hopes that this change will encourage States to pass new law that would exempt wrestling, but that will be an uphill fight as in doing so many states will give up taxes on gates (usually 5%), and it is unlikely states will do this without a fight.

WWE will argue that by bringing PPVs, RAW, ECW & Smackdown tapings into States it ends up spending millions each year in numerous states, making WWE an attractive business to have visit your state. Those states with less or no regulation and no gate taxes logically will benefit more than regulated states as WWE will be more inclined to frequently visit "friendlier" states, and those states will benefit more financially as a result.

We will see if new laws are proposed to change current State laws as a result of this change. Only time will tell.

Here now is the third related article about this topic

As we reported earlier punches are now legal in WWE, which was a good change.

But it is getting tougher to be a heel in WWE given some other rule changes that are automatic DQs if seen by the ref.

There has already been at least one DQ finish for a heel using a handful of tights and being caught by the ref.

Choking with the hands or using the ropes to choke will be a DQ instead of a 5 count, if seen by the ref, and just added to the growing list are eye poke or rakes and throwing someone into the ringposts outside the ring. Both now will lead to a DQ too.

So WWE heels will need to get very sneaky now, or refs need to be easily distracted or both.

and finally here is the last one at least for the moment I assume

source: the wrestling observer

It is now being reported that in addition to the wrestlers in WWE now being referred to as "entertainers," Vince McMahon has issued a mandate stating that the phrase "sports entertainment" will no longer be used and from now on the product will be referred to as simply "entertainment."

So as i read this I now have to believe that all "wrestlers" are now just glorified actors and with the hiring of Freddie Prinze to write scripts and give the "Talent" acting lessons, they all should be up for nomination next year in your TV Awards show and maybe even an Oscar or two for some, don't you think, "I'm just sayin" to quote someone we all know, and I'm also getting to the point where I can sort of justify us not having to pay for PPVs if this is indeed the case and the way WWE is headed. What do you all think? I think you all need to get REALLY creative with your signs when you go to the shows and tapings, give Vince something to read while he's yelling into the headsets of the commentators. And if they are noAw only an entertainment business there should be no longer any need for the commentators because the guys should be learning their scripts and delivering their moves without the aid of commentary from a second party, via the input of the third party through the headset. True? And to take this even further, they might have to stop doing PPVs altogether or at least they would need to change the name fitting of an Entertainment company only don't you think?

Well, I'll be going now, until next time, Unlock Your Destiny Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy will be the New WWE Champ and Undertaker at WM 25 = 17-0.