Category: WWE

AJ Styles On If It’s Been Hard Transitioning To The WWE Style, If He Is More Comfortable As A Heel, The Club Being Split Up

NBC Sports interviewed AJ Styles, who was promoting this Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view. Below are a couple of highlights:

Transitioning to the WWE style:

“It’s been easy. Every guy that I’ve worked here in the WWE has been great. I think they understand that it’s not about them, it’s not about me, it’s about the match and about making sure that people enjoy what they’re seeing because if we work together and put on a good product, we’ll keep those fans.”

If he is more comfortable as a heel:

“Absolutely. Regardless of whether John Cena gets booed, or whatever it is, he’s still the ultimate babyface. He’s still a huge piece in this giant puzzle that is the WWE. So for me to be the heel against John Cena was perfect for AJ Styles.

“It was perfect for what I needed to do,” Styles continued. “It was easier because I think everyone that’s been a great babyface, aside from John Cena, has been a heel at one point. I think being a better heel, a better bad guy, makes you a better babyface in the long run.”

The Club being split up:

“I was … ah … I was shocked,” Styles said when asked about the moment in the clip above. “Um, I knew that we were coming out with Club shirts and stuff like that, so I just assumed that we were going to be together.”

“We’re more than friends. Those guys are more like my family. I spent two years with them in Japan and we came together to the WWE, so it was a big shocker that we got broke up. You know, it’s just ah … really hard to explain, you know? These are the guys I ride with when we’re on the road. So, for the first time in I guess two years, we’re not on the same shows anymore. In fact, I don’t see them at all. Honestly, I literally just got done talking to them on the phone, that’s how close we still are.”

“It was something that happened that we’ve grown from. I mean they’re doing great on Raw. I’m doing great on SmackDown,” Styles beamed. “Now we look forward to those four Pay-Per-Views a year that we get to hang out and act like goofballs together.”

Styles also discussed the WWE schedule not being hard for him and more. You can read the full interview by clicking here.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Announces New International TV Deal

WWE announced the following today:

WWE® AND SKY DEUTSCHLAND ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENTMUNICH, Germany and STAMFORD, Conn. 16 November, 2016 – WWE (NYSE: WWE) and SKY Deutschland today announced a new multi-year agreement to distribute WWE’s premier pay-per-view events starting this Monday with Survivor Series® and televise WWE’s flagship programs Raw® and SmackDown® live on SKY Sports beginning April 2017.

SKY customers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will be able to order one of WWE’s biggest events of the year, Survivor Series®, this Monday, November 21 at 1:00 a.m. Central European Time featuring a Mega Match twelve years in the making between WWE Superstars Brock Lesnar™ and Goldberg™ as well as 5-on-5 elimination matches between Superstars from Raw® and SmackDown®.

“We are very happy about WWE coming back to Sky Deutschland,” said Dr. Malte Probst, Senior Vice President Programming Operations & Transactional Business, SKY Deutschland. “With this new long-term agreement with WWE, we can offer our customers many spectacular events, combining the best of sports with top entertainment. This mixture fits perfectly with Sky.”

“We are excited to once again partner with SKY to showcase WWE’s flagship programs Raw® and SmackDown® and our marquee pay-per-view events to our fans in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland,” said Ed Wells, WWE Executive Vice President, International. “This agreement illustrates the power and global growth of WWE, while creating another destination for our fans to enjoy our unique blend of thrilling, family-oriented entertainment.”

With this agreement, SKY plc now distributes Raw® and SmackDown® in three of its biggest markets – Germany, Italy, and the UK.

WWE’s popularity in Germany continues to grow with viewing options that now include SKY Deutschland, ProSieben Maxx, and WWE Network.

Post-SmackDown Video Of The Undertaker And Kane

Image result for Undertaker & Kane SD Live 900

The Undertaker and Kane reunited after last night’s WWE SmackDown Live 900 went off the air. WWE posted this video of the Brothers of Destruction together once again.

WWE Announces Second Season Of Total Bellas

WWE announced the following:

Season 2 of Total Bellas premieres in 2017 on E!

LOS ANGELES – E! announced Season 2 of Total Bellas, the spin-off of the network’s hit series Total Divas. The second season will feature eight one-hour episodes and will give viewers exclusive access as WWE Superstars Nikki Bella and John Cena temporarily relocate to Phoenix to help Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan through their first pregnancy. Season 2 of the WWE and Bunim-Murray Productions series will premiere in 2017.

In Season 1 of Total Bellas, Brie and Bryan moved to Tampa, Fla., to help Nikki and John during a time of need and now the time has come to return the favor. With The Bellas’ careers outside of the ring expanding rapidly each day, Brie’s baby bump growing by the minute and Bryan constantly traveling under his new role as General Manager of SmackDown LIVE, the soon-to-be first time parents are in need of some serious help around the house and in the office.

“We are excited to build on the success of the first season of Total Bellas by inviting viewers back for a second round of family fun with the Bellas and their fellas,” said Jeff Olde, EVP, Programming and Development, E!. “Nikki, Brie, John and Daniel all exude copious amounts of wit, talent and strength, but it’s their openness to be completely real that has resonated with viewers and we are delighted to share an intimate look at two of WWE’s most prominent couples.”

The Bella Twins are also returning to Total Divas when Season 6 airs Wednesdays at 8/7 CT on E!. In addition to The Bellas, the new season of Total Divas will follow fan favorites Eva Marie, Naomi and Natalya as they balance the non-stop action of their professional careers and the drama of their everyday lives. In addition, Season 6 introduces fans to Lana and Maryse and announcer Renee Young.

Total Divas Season 6 Premiere’s Tonight On E!

E!, WWE® and Bunim-Murray Productions’ “Total Divas” returns for its fiery sixth season this Wednesday, November 16 at 8pm ET/PT. Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Eva Marie, Naomi (Trinity), Natalya (Nattie) and Paige will continue to give viewers an inside glimpse at the non-stop action of their professional careers and the drama of their everyday lives. In addition, season six will introduce fans to WWE Superstars Lana and Maryse and WWE announcer Renee Young.

In the season premiere, Brie’s swan song is ruined when someone from her past reveals a secret, new cast member Lana is tested when she makes her debut at Wrestlemania, Trinity suffers a hair emergency the day before Mania, and the WWE has a major announcement about the future of the women’s division.

“Total Divas” airs Wednesday at 8PM ET/PT on E!

NXT Preview 11/16/16

The following is set for tonight’s 11/16 WWE NXT:

Preview for this Saturday’s NXT TakeOver: Toronto live special

Grudge Match: Andrade Cien Almas vs Cedric Alexander

WWE Announces A Record $170 Million Generated By WrestleMania 32

WWE issued the following:

WRESTLEMANIA® GENERATES RECORD $170 MILLION FOR DALLAS/ARLINGTON REGIONSTAMFORD, Conn., November 16, 2016- WWE® (NYSE: WWE), Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams announced today that WrestleMania 32 generated $170.4 million in economic impact for the Dallas/Arlington region this past April, according to a study conducted by the Enigma Research Corporation. This marks a new record for WrestleMania’s economic impact and the fifth consecutive year that WrestleMania generated more than $100 million in economic impact for its host region.

Over the past ten years, WrestleMania has generated nearly $1 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the event. WrestleMania 32 also generated approximately $23.8 million in federal, state and local taxes.

“On behalf of our city, we would like to thank all of the domestic and international WWE fans that converged on Dallas for WrestleMania Week to enjoy all that North Texas has to offer,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. “The week-long series of events brought a tremendous economic windfall to our region.”

“We are proud that WWE’s biggest event in history was held here in Arlington,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. “The event was an incredible success for our city, and we would like to thank the Dallas Cowboys for their tireless efforts in bringing WrestleMania to AT&T Stadium.”

“We are thrilled that WrestleMania continues to break records for both WWE and our host community,” said John P. Saboor, WWE Executive Vice President, Special Events. “This success would not have been possible without the support of Mayor Rawlings, Mayor Williams, Charlotte Jones and the entire Dallas Cowboys organization as well as all of our public and private sector partners that embraced WWE’s worldwide fan base for this historic celebration. We now look ahead to our return to Orlando for WrestleMania 33.”

A record crowd of 101,763 fans from all 50 states and 35 countries attended WWE’s pop-culture extravaganza this past April, making it the highest-grossing and best-attended event in WWE history. Key highlights from the study include:

* $170.4 million in direct, indirect and induced impact derived from spending by visitors to the Dallas/Arlington region for WrestleMania 32.

* 72% of fans that attended WrestleMania were from outside the greater Dallas/Arlington region and stayed an average of 3.9 nights.

* $25 million was spent on hotels and accommodations within the Dallas/Arlington region.

* The economic impact derived from WrestleMania Week was equal to the creation of 1,550 full-time jobs for the area.

* $8.4 million was spent by visitors to the Dallas/Arlington region at area restaurants.

Next year, WrestleMania 33 will take place Sunday, April 2 at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 18 at 10 AM Eastern through Ticketmaster. The event will be broadcast live on WWE Network in more than 180 countries.

The Undertaker Mades His Return On SmackDown’s 900th Episode (VIDEO)

return 900th episode smackdown undertaker returns video survivor series video

The Undertaker made his long awaited return last night on SmackDown Live just days before Survivor Series, he had a stern warning for Team Blue.

Undertaker appeared during a segment of the Cutting Edge hosted by WWE Hall of Famer Edge.He informed Smackdown’s team that they’ll have consequences to pay if they lose on Sunday, because he’s officially back in action.

“WrestleMania will no longer define who I am … I’m back.”  Adding, ““There’s no reason to fear failure, but if you fail, you’ll have reason to fear the Deadman. Team RAW better REST IN PEACE.”

SmackDown Live Preview 11/15/16 900th Episode

Tonight’s SmackDown Live will be the 900th episode and will feature the return of The Undertaker and WWE Hall of Famer Edge to host The Cutting Edge. Dolph Ziggler will defend his Intercontinental Championship against the Miz.

What will happen when The Deadman comes home?

Can The Rated-R Superstar contain SmackDown LIVE’s Survivor Series Team?

Will The A-Lister take back the Intercontinental Title?

Internal turmoil threatens Survivor Series Women’s Team

Which SmackDown LIVE tag teams will survive?

 

WWE Dropping Some PPVs in 2017?

It looked like WWE was “all in” with the extra pay-per-views for the brand split but the declining subscription numbers for the WWE Network has caused them to reconsider some things.

According to the latest Wrestling Observer newsletter, the last word is that they would be doing less pay-per-views than originally planned for 2017. Everything still needs to be worked out and there’s no word yet on what they are planning on dropping from the schedule. I guess the fact that the shows don’t feel as special and the costs to produce their shows might have played a factor in their decision.

I would be interested to know how they would handle the brand-specific shows. It might be a good idea to just do a brand-specific show every other month so that they feel more special and, of course, continue on with the “big 4” shows as usual.

As of this writing, this is what the 2017 PPV schedule looks like:

Royal Rumble (January)
Elimination Chamber (February)
Fastlane (March)
WrestleMania (April)
Payback (TBD)
Extreme Rules (May)
Money In The Bank (June)
Battleground (July)
SummerSlam (August)
Backlash (September)
Clash Of Champions (September)
No Mercy (October)
Hell in a Cell (October)
Survivor Series (November)
TLC (December)
Roadblock (December)

Source: WrestlingNews.co