Tag: WWE

Analysis: WWE Earned Millions From Saudi Arabia Deals In 2018 (Crown Jewel And Super Show-Down)

WWE fourth quarter earnings showed the company brought in tens of millions in additional revenue for its Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia and Super Show-Down in Australia.

While the earnings report didn’t specifically break down numbers for each event, it noted the revenue jump from $20 million in the final quarter of 2017 to $64 million in Q4 of 2018 was “primarily due to the distribution of certain live, in-ring programming content in international markets as reflected in ‘other.’”

If you’re trying to do the math in your head, that means an additional $43 million — the bulk of which likely came from Crown Jewel and Super Show-Down.

Back in the second quarter of 2018, we reported The Greatest Royal Rumble generated an additional $40 million in revenue for WWE. Q2 earnings showed $60 million in “other” revenue versus $12 million in Q2 of 2017.

While we’d presume Crown Jewel generated more revenue that Super Show-Down, it doesn’t appear to have brought in the same amount as WWE’s original event in Saudi Arabia.

Crown Jewel took place November 2 in Riyadh amid a cloud of controversy over whether or not the show should be produced. The event followed the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Stars John Cena and Daniel Bryan requested to not appear at the show. The broadcast instead featured the in-ring return of Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels and WWE comeback of Hulk Hogan.

For 2018, the “other” category in WWE’s media segment saw nearly $100 million in additional revenue.  The bulk of that would’ve come from Greatest Royal Rumble, Crown Jewel, and Super Show-Down.

It’s worth noting WWE saw year-to-year growth in all major media segments including network, core content rights fees, and advertising and sponsorship.

WWE continued to see revenue drop for live events, however. In Q4, WWE brought in $34 million compared to $35 million in the same time period the preview year. Full 2018 live events were off roughly $8 million from 2017.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

 

2018 was the first year of the announced 10 year partnership with WWE and the Saudi Arabia. WWE is expected hold events in Saudi Arabia in May and November of this year.

Source: WrestlingINC

Former Colts Punter Pat McAfee Reveals New Multi-Year Contract With WWE

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Former NFL player (Indianapolis Colts Punter) Pat McAfee has officially signed with WWE.

McAfee tweeted the following video and revealed that he has signed a multi-year deal to work as a WWE Digital correspondent. He thanked Triple H and Michael Cole, and wrote, “Good morning beautiful people.. today’s a pretty massive day for me. I can officially say I’m a @WWE employee. A real lifelong dream coming true thanks to @MichaelCole and @TripleH.. This opportunity means the world to me. Let’s. Go.”

The video includes footage of McAfee mixing it up at an indie event in 2008 or 2009. He teases an interest in returning to the ring, noting that signing with WWE is his childhood dream as he grew up during the Attitude Era and the Monday Night Wars. McAfee said he and WWE go side-by-side with each other.

The video also includes audio from Cole, who confirms that as of February 1, McAfee is officially a WWE contributor.

Source: WrestlingINC

FOX CEO Says WWE SmackDown Is On Friday Nights “Short Term”, Confirms Deal Includes Wrestling Content Outside Of SmackDown

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It’s now confirmed by a network executive that WWE SmackDown will air live when it moves to Fox on Friday, October 9. However, it sounds like Friday nights may not be a permanent timeslot for the blue brand.

Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier spoke about SmackDown during the Fox executive session at the Television Critics Association press tour this week. He confirmed that SmackDown will air live, which we had reported previously.

“It’s live, and what’s remarkable [is] these are people that know their audience,” said Collier, who admitted he is a longtime pro wrestling fan. “They’re great storytellers and I think it fits beautifully with what we’re doing.”

Gamespot’s Chris Hayner covered the speech and revealed on Twitter that Collier said WWE is on Friday nights for the “short term,” indicating that it could be moved to another night. Hayner tweeted: “‘Short term, Friday night is going to WWE,’ Collier says when asked about Last Man Standing. That show could go elsewhere. But WWE being ‘short term’ Fridays tells me they may move it around.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisHayner/status/1093233580216438785

It was also confirmed that more WWE content is planned for the new partnership with Fox as they look to treat wrestling more as a sport than a weekly, episode TV series.

“The Fox sports networks, FS1, and others, will have some other wrestling–not live Smackdown, not Raw, but other ties to the WWE world,” Collier revealed.

There’s no word yet on what kind if content they have planned but it was speculated that we will see recap shows and “talking head series” on FS1.

Source: WrestlingINC

Sasha Banks Is Reportedly Not Cleared For In-Ring Competition

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Sasha Banks missed this past weekend’s WWE live events because she was reportedly not cleared for competition after her match against Ronda Rousey at WWE Royal Rumble.

On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that Sasha Banks is still not cleared for competition and she was not cleared prior to her tag team match on this past Monday’s RAW. This likely explains why Nikki Cross & Alicia Fox attacked Banks & Bayley prior to the match, forcing Bayley to work the entire match alone while Banks was hurt in the corner.

Meltzer notes that the decision to even allow Banks near ringside is rare and was likely done so they could progress the storyline and advertise all six teams for the women’s tag team Elimination Chamber match.

The extent of Banks’ injury is unknown but WWE is confident that Banks will be ready to compete at WWE Elimination Chamber on February 17.

Source: WrestlingINC

AEW Reportedly Makes An “Outstanding Offer To A Big Time WWE Star”

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As All Elite Wrestling gears up for its Double or Nothing Ticket Announcement Party on February 7 in Vegas, the formation of the new promotion has already opened up the possibilities of siphoning away talent from other major promotions.

With Chris Jericho already on board, Kenny Omega reportedly on the way, and a potential TV deal that is reportedly the best deal any non-WWE wrestling show will have secured since WCW days, it was only a matter of time before offers began making their way to WWE Superstars.

According to @WrestleVotes, “AEW has made an ‘outstanding’ offer to a current, big time WWE Superstar. An offer that is almost too good to turn down.” In the comments people asked who it was, but the account said they wouldn’t release the name.

Wrestle Votes has broken stories in the past and first reported on Daniel Bryan’s new WWE Title before it aired on TV.

As noted, some bigger names in WWE have made news in regards to their WWE contracts. Dean Ambrose decided not to re-sign with WWE when his contract ends in April. Last week, AJ Styles shot down reports that he had re-signed with WWE.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 2/5/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

* WWE Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Jeff Hardy (Non-Title Match)

* Gallows & Anderson vs. Rusev (with Lana) and Shinsuke Nakamura

* Randy Orton vs. Mustafa Ali

WWE 205 Live Preview 2/5/19

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

* Why did Ariya Daivari disrespect Hideo Itami?

* Should  Humberto Carrillo risk crossing Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher?

Seth Rollins And AJ Styles Injury Updates

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Seth Rollins and AJ Styles have been out of action since The Royal Rumble.

AJ Styles has a hernia, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Styles is advertised for tonight’s SmackDown Live, as well as this weekend’s SmackDown live events.

Seth Rollins has been dealing with a bad back. WWE is reportedly just resting Rollins up, and the injury is said to not be serious enough to threaten his scheduled match against WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35.

Rollins was scheduled to be at last night’s RAW, but never appeared on television. Post Wrestling reported over the weekend that he will not be working live events for the foreseeable future, and will not be getting physical on WWE television over the next month. Despite this, WWE has him advertised for this weekend’s RAW live events.

Source: WrestlingINC

Stephanie McMahon Indefinitely Suspends Becky Lynch From WWE

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Stephanie McMahon kicked off WWE RAW last night by inviting “The Man” Becky Lynch to the ring. Becky was visibly limping to the ring and the commentators were quick to note that Becky was suffering from a knee injury. Stephanie revealed that Becky had refused to see a doctor to have her injury examined.

Citing concerns for the company, Stephanie informed Becky that she would be indefinitely suspended from WWE unless she agreed to have a doctor look at her knee. Becky refused Stephanie’s request and was suspended indefinitely by Stephanie. Following Stephanie suspending her Becky was quick to lay into her and slap on the Dis-arm-her.

Hideo Itami Hugs Shinsuke Nakamura And Asuka After Last WWE Match (Video)

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A new episode of #205 Life has been released and it focuses on WWE’s Hideo Itami. As noted last week, Itami had reportedly asked for his release from the WWE. The final scene in the video features Itami saying goodbye to the WWE locker room and hugging Shinsuke Nakamura and Asuka. You can watch the episode below: