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For the past few months, SmackDown has been sporadically held hostage by a mysterious hacker, claiming "The truth will be heard."
Well, after several months of wondering and many theories about who the hacker maybe - including one from myself back in February - the storyline is most definitely now starting to progress at an alarming rate, and it would appear that no-one is safe!
The hacker's transition to social media was almost inevitable at this point and, after several fake accounts appeared mimicking the mysterious figure, we now have an official account of sorts. The hacker, of course, has already made their presence felt on Twitter, but now they have their own dedicated account.
An account named "The Message" with the handle TheMessageWWE would appear on Twitter last night, boasting a healthy following and posting a very official-looking vignette in the style of the ones we've witnessed on SmackDown over the past few months.
But it isn't verified, and WWE doesn't follow it - so how do we know it's legit?
Well, strap in, as I explore why the account is legit, why it's a must-follow account - and everything you need to know so far!
#5 "Joined October 2010"
While this is a "new" account, it actually isn't. The eagle-eyed would have spotted that the user joined in 2010.
When you research the account a little further, TheMessageWWE wasn't always the handle.
The account was previously StandUpForWWE - which was an official WWE anti-bullying campaign. While this alone would prove that the account has, at one point, been legitimate, it's also followed by The Corre’s account, run by WWE, as well as several former WWE Superstars who were part of the company in 2010 - such as Darren Young. The account's first tweet was also shared by the affiliated WWE on BT Sport account.
You can read more about Stand Up For WWE on the official WWE website here if you need your memory refreshed, but all you really need to know is that WWE created this Twitter account as a designated location for tweets regarding the campaign.
This was an intelligent move from WWE/the hacker for multiple reasons. Firstly, the account already had an established presence with around 100k followers before making their first post.
Secondly, it's genius to repurpose an old account in storyline. The account wasn’t in use as the campaign is now defunct, so having the hacker hack an old WWE account to gain extra access to a WWE audience only furthers the purpose of the hacker.
#4 - 33.1284° N, 107.2528° W
One other interesting bit of research that can be pursued simply by taking information presented on the Twitter account is the location.
Now, this is the obvious starting point when you've established the legitimacy of the account, at least as much as you can without WWE outright acknowledging and confirming it - which would defeat the purpose of the entire hacker storyline.
In the location section of the Twitter account, a set of coordinates are provided. Now, a quick Google search - which can be done by anyone with internet access - locates the address by using those coordinates.
Interestingly, it takes us to New Mexico, and a place - rather unusually - called Truth or Consequences.
Aside from having an interesting name, there isn't much to note about this place in particular. It's a city in the county seat of Sierra County, New Mexico - and the population in 2010 was recorded as 6,475.
However, there may be more to this location than simply researching the features of the actual city...
#3 - Truth...or Consequences
Now, of course I've just given you a whistle-stop tour of the city of Truth or Consequences, but this opens up a whole new group of hints, some particularly unexpected.
With a population of less than 7,000, you'd be forgiven for overlooking Truth or Consequences as a significant wrestling city, so perhaps you wouldn't expect a WWE Hall of Famer to boast the city name as their Twitter location.
This could be a very odd coincidence, or maybe it's the hacker at work, but the Hardcore Legend himself, Mick Foley, also lists Truth or Consequences as his location on Twitter.
So Mick Foley is the hacker, right?!
Well, sadly, it isn't that straightforward. It isn't as open-and-shut as two place names coinciding, no matter how obscure said place is - particularly in the context of WWE.
We have to assume that this may be coincidental, and one other hint maybe that "Truth" could refer to R-Truth, but who is Consequences?
Well, during his time in IMPACT Wrestling - then known as TNA - Xavier Woods performed under the name Consequences Creed.
Could the hacker be Truth or Consequences?
#2 - Why it exists
Okay, at its most simplistic, the reason behind this account is most likely storyline progression. This is the next logical step.
It just makes sense. Why would you have a hacker storyline on television and not utilize social media to progress it further?
IMPACT Wrestling recently did so very effectively with ICU, which would be revealed as Sami Callihan. ICU used Twitter, as well as interrupting popular YouTube videos from third parties.
However, the timing is interesting. It may be purely coincidental, but false Twitter accounts have been appearing either claiming to be the WWE hacker, or threatening WWE in an apparent attempt to simply gain followers and notoriety for a Twitter account.
While none of them have been really successful, it just makes sense for WWE to take the bull by the horns and pull the trigger on moving the hacker onto social media.
Even a dormant account would make sense purely to disrepute any cheap imitations, and to control the environment of the hacker storyline, but it also opens up so much more...
#1 - A new medium for "a new host"
WWE's Twitter account had previously been "hacked" back in March, with many fans wondering if it was storyline or not.
Well, earlier this month, Sonya Deville's account was also hacked ahead of this new page being set up. Both tweets were only up for a short time before normality resumed - but nothing is missed on the internet, particularly with WWE and its Superstars having amassed insane amounts of followers.
Well, the most important reason for this account may just be that, to amass followers and perhaps become an even bigger storyline than we first thought!
Hijacking other Superstars' accounts will always be newsworthy stuff in this type of storyline, and will always hook in viewers - but having their own dedicated site to target people, and also to share their message on a new medium?
Well, as I said before, it just makes sense. The "new host" having a new medium simply increases their reach and their threat, because no-one can stop them from releasing their truth into the world - so long as it abides by Twitter's terms and conditions.
This new development may be one of the most exciting we've seen in a long time!
