Tag: RAW

WWE RAW Preview 5/13/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the 02 Arena in London, England with the final hype for WWE Money In the Bank. Since the show is in London it will be taped today to air tonight.

* Double contract signing for Becky Two Belts

Roman Reigns returns for “Miz TV”

* Women’s Fatal 4-Way Match for “Money” momentum

* Ricochet takes flight against Baron Corbin

* Braun Strowman locks up with Drew McIntyre

* Seth Rollins and AJ Styles brace for monumental title collision

* Rambling Rabbit rambles no more

Update On Vince McMahon’s New WWE Wild Card Rule And A Potential Issue For The Company

Vince McMahon’s new WWE Wild Card Rule could end up leading to issues for the company, as described on Wrestling Observer Radio today.

As noted, the rule will see four RAW Superstars appear on SmackDown each week while four SmackDown Superstars appear on RAW each week. The gimmick was created as a response to ratings pressure from NBCUniversal (USA Network) and Fox. Vince did not want to give up the idea of separate brands, but the networks want star power on both shows and there has been a feeling that the brands don’t have enough star power individually. Furthermore, it was also reported that Fox wants RAW and SmackDown storylines on the blue brand show when it goes to their network on Friday nights in October. There has been pressure from both networks to have the top WWE Superstars work both shows.

The Wild Card Rule will potentially cause issues for WWE live events, such as false advertising. Due to the way WWE creative operates these days, WWE likely won’t plan out these weekly Wild Card Rule appearances in advance, which could lead to incidents where Superstars have been advertised for live events, for weeks or even months, but they’re pulled from those live events to appear on TV at the last minute.

While WWE likely won’t plan out the Wild Card Rule appearances in advance, it was noted that Roman Reigns is expected to appear on both RAW and SmackDown often. We noted before how NBCU recently asked questions about why WWE gave up a star like Reigns to SmackDown in the 2019 Superstar Shake-Up.

We’ve reported on how WWE has made recent hires to help bring live event business back up, and they noted during the Q1 2019 earnings call that they are focused on bringing that part of the business back to where it should be. The WWE Wild Card Rule could create more of a decline in live event business, at a time where they’re focused on getting it back up. There’s no word yet on if the Wild Card Rule really will help with the TV ratings, but we should know within the next few weeks. It’s believed that the gimmick could bring a small increase in the numbers, but likely not a huge turn around.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Made Change On Uploading Video Content From RAW & SmackDown On YouTube Reportedly To Help With Drop In Ratings

You may have noticed how WWE did not upload any YouTube videos from this week’s RAW and SmackDown episodes until late in the show. This was done as a way to potentially help combat the drop in ratings, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

The current plan is to cut back on the amount of uploads to YouTube during the RAW and SmackDown episodes. The feeling is that uploading videos as matches and segments happen on TV is potentially hurting the ratings.

WWE usually uploads clips from RAW and SmackDown matches shortly after they happen on TV, but that was not the case this week. WWE started uploading the first clips from Monday night’s show late into the third hour. All clips from RAW were uploaded within an hour of the show going off the air, which isn’t far from how they usually do it.

The big difference was that there were no YouTube clips from RAW while it was still airing on the USA Network, until the final hour. While WWE is changing their policy on YouTube uploads, at least for now, it looks like things will not change on Twitter. WWE uploaded photos and videos as usual on Twitter with content going up as it aired on TV.

As noted, WWE is currently facing pressure to bring the ratings back up from NBCUniversal (USA Network) and Fox. This is part of the reason why Vince McMahon introduced the Wild Card Rule.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Introduced Wild Card Rule On RAW And SmackDown To Help With Star Power Concerns From Fox And USA

Vince McMahon’s new Wild Card Rule on WWE TV is a response to ratings pressure from NBCUniversal (USA Network) and Fox, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Vince McMahon reportedly did not want to give up the idea of separate brands. As noted, the Wild Card Rule will see 4 RAW Superstars be eligible to appear on SmackDown each week while 4 SmackDown Superstars are able to appear on RAW each week.

WWE has been facing outside pressure from NBCU and Fox to bring the ratings up. The networks will not be happy with how bad the ratings are this coming fall because of how much money they are paying WWE. Fox and NBCU want star power on the shows and there has been a feeling that the brands don’t have enough star power individually.

It was also noted that Fox wants RAW and SmackDown storylines on the blue brand show when it goes to their network on Friday nights in October. NBCU was reportedly upset about the recent drop in ratings, especially for the third hour, and they were asking questions about the decline, specifically why they would give away a top star like Roman Reigns to SmackDown. There has been pressure from NBCU and Fox to have the top WWE Superstars work both shows.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

RAW Head Writer Ryan Callahan Fired From WWE

WWE RAW head writer Ryan Callahan was released last week, according to new reports from Pro Wrestling Sheet and Fightful. Callahan, who previously worked on The Bachelor and Monster Laws, among other shows, had been with WWE since December 2016.

Callahan was let go on the evening of Thursday, May 2, after butting heads with WWE’s Senior VP of Creative, David Kapoor (Ranjin Singh). The release was not a response to the recent drop in WWE TV ratings. Callahan was a member of the “home writing team” that does not travel to WWE events.

Kapoor reportedly felt like Callahan took some of the WWE creative changes too personally, and was difficult work with. His feeling was that this did not set a good example for the rest of the WWE writing team. It was also noted that Callahan and Kapoor were butting heads often.

As we’ve noted, there has been somewhat of a shake-up on the WWE creative team as of late as RD Evans, Dave Schilling, Kazeem Famuyide and WWE Hall of Famer “Road Dogg” Brian James also left or were released. Dana Warrior and WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett have joined the team in recent months.

Sources: Wrestling Inc., Pro Wrestling Sheet and Fightful

WWE RAW Preview 5/6/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

* Roman Reigns says he will appear on Monday Night Raw this week despite WWE’s official response that he won’t

* All about the mon-aay: Road to MITB continues

* Clashing styles: Will Seth Rollins respond to AJ Styles?

* You shave my back: What’s next for The Revival vs. The Usos?

* Mysterio-us ways: Rey Mysterio wants the WWE United States Title from Samoa Joe

* A Lady in a Man’s world: Has Becky Lynch underestimated Lacey Evans?

Roman Reigns Says He’ll Be Kicking Off WWE RAW

Despite being moved to the SmackDown roster via the Superstar Shake-Up, yesterday, Roman Reigns announced he would be on this week’s RAW. Reigns wrote on Twitter, “I’m back on #SDLive, but I still have some business on #Raw. I’ll see y’all Monday. #ProtectTheYard”

https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/1124683766453153792

Shortly after that, WWE responded to Reigns, turning down his offer.

“WWE officials have learned of Roman Reigns’ desire to appear on Monday Night Raw, but as of now, and due to his obligations as a SmackDown Live Superstar, he will not be appearing on Monday Night Raw.”

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1124693192148959233

Starting out with laughing emojis, Reigns reiterated not only will he be there, but he’s kicking off this Monday’s show.

“Just have my music ready,” Reigns responded. “I’ll be kicking things off on #Raw right at 8pm.”

https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns/status/1125087160527458305

WWE postponed Monday’s SmackDown live event in Corbin, Kentucky as it’s expected a few SmackDown stars will show up tomorrow to help build towards Money in the Bank on May 19.

This past week’s historic low ratings may also be playing a factor into drumming up more interest in advance of next week’s shows. Both RAW (2.158 million viewers) and SmackDown (1.833 million viewers) were the lowest non-holiday ratings in each show’s history.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Reportedly Offers Big Money To The Revival

The Revival’s Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder were reportedly offered top guy money to stay with WWE.

Dawson and Wilder were reportedly offered new contracts that would run for 5 years, worth $500,000 per year, according to Fightful. The report was confirmed by Dave Meltzer of F4Wonline.com. The deals were not accepted, at least as of this week. Meltzer added that tonight’s RAW “may give you WWE’s reaction to that.”

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who now works with AEW, recently mentioned in an interview that WWE had re-signed an undercard performer, who’s not currently on TV, to a $500,000 deal to keep them from going elsewhere.

There’s no word yet on if The Revival will be sticking around with WWE, but it’s been reported that they requested their releases back in January after being unhappy with how they were used. They ended up winning the titles and getting a WrestleMania 35 appearance after that. They then dropped the RAW Tag Team Titles to Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins. Dawson and Wilder look to be feuding with The Usos next on the red brand.

It was noted that as of this afternoon, it did not look like The Revival had plans to accept the deal. They were to meet with WWE officials this afternoon at RAW.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Karl Anderson And Luke Gallows Moved To RAW

Looks like the Superstar Shake-Up is continuing for a third week, as Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have been swapped to Raw.

The move was announced during Raw when The Good Brothers made their entrance for a match against The Usos. Unfortunately, it was a losing effort for Anderson and Gallows.

The two veterans were last used on TV in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 35. They were last on the Raw brand in 2018.

Lets hope a couple of good brothers get a pushki on RAW.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

UPDATE:

Regarding the roster move, PWInsider reports that WWE officials decided on the change a few weeks back on the first night of the Superstar Shakeup, but didn’t make it official until last night.

It was also noted that there has been no change in the contract status of Gallows and Anderson. They are still scheduled to finish up with WWE this September when their contracts expire.

It was reported in mid-March that Gallows and Anderson were at a standstill in their WWE contract negotiations, which led to them being pulled from scheduled live events. The Good Brothers have reportedly turned down multi-million dollar deals as they are not happy with how they’ve been used in recent years.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE RAW Preview 4/29/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky as the road to Money In the Bank continues.

* A WWE Money in the Bank edition of “A Moment of Bliss”

* A Phenomenal foe for The Beastslayer

* Call him Robert Roode

* Cesaro and Samoa Joe become RAW Superstars

* The Man down (but not out)

* The “Firefly Fun House” is open