By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

The result of a two-year investigation of WWE's labor practices is WWE owes $7,316 in underpaid unemployment compensation to "certain WWE employees."

This relates to the Connecticut Department of Labor's investigation that was made public during last year's Senate race involving former WWE CEO Linda McMahon. It does not relate to an actual investigation of WWE's independent contractor classification of WWE wrestlers.

The Conn. Department of Labor's findings in the unemployment audit are being contested by WWE. An attorney for WWE told the Associated Press that the company "does not agree with all of the agency's findings."

However, WWE says they will pay the fine - "under protest" - due to the fine costing less than it would to go through the legal process of challenging the audit.

The AP's report was circulated by Connecticut news media Wednesday, with WWE having its headquarters in Stamford and the audit being one of many stories during last year's Senate campaign involving Linda McMahon.

Link: WTNH.com for the AP report.

Caldwell's Analysis: $7,316 is a tiny drop in the bucket for WWE, so this won't affect them. The state's TV production tax credits to WWE over the past few years is about 1,000% larger than this fine.

The next step should be an investigation of WWE's independent contractor classification, but that probably won't happen after the Department of Labor went through a two-year audit that likely cost a whole lot more than the fine WWE will be paying. It would be difficult to justify a follow-up investigation despite evidence WWE does not meet the guidelines to classify wrestlers as independent contractors.

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