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October 29, 2024

Vince McMahon Launching New Entertainment Company With Former WWE Executives

Vince McMahon is not throwing in the towel just yet. The former WWE chairman is in the beginning stages of creating a new entertainment company, according to a PWInsider report that broke Tuesday afternoon.

Despite his ongoing legal issues, McMahon's new venture is being described as an "entertainment hub company" and will reportedly focus on producing film and TV projects in the realms of fiction and non-fiction.

According to PWInsider's report, several ex-WWE employees already offered their services to Vinnie Mac's film and TV business, including Brad Blum. Blum was WWE's Chief Operating Officer under McMahon and stayed on board with the company after McMahon's second ousting earlier this year. This past May, Blum resigned after it was discovered that he was “Corporate Officer No. 2” in Janel Grant's lawsuit.

Kristen Prouty, a former WWE executive instrumental in ushering Logan Paul into the WWE family, is also reportedly connected to the project. She was laid off in May following Endeavor's purchase of the global pro wrestling promotion.

PWInsider's sources claim that McMahon will not pursue the formation of a new pro wrestling company nor anything competitive with WWE. The company is currently preparing for launch should McMahon get cleared of his charges, with a Los Angeles headquarters planned.


WWE Announces "WWE ID" Developmental Designation

WWE announced that it has launched a new program called "WWE ID", a developmental program designed to provide independent wrestlers a potential path to WWE.

WWE announced today that it is expanding its footprint in the developmental world.

In a press release, WWE announced that it has launched a new program called WWE ID, short for WWE Independent Development, a developmental program designed to provide independent wrestlers a potential path to WWE.

“WWE ID is the latest in our efforts to identify and support the journey of up-and-coming wrestlers, in turn raising the profile of and strengthening the independent wrestling ecosystem,” WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque is quoted in the press release.

In the program, WWE plans to provide prominent independent wrestling schools with the WWE ID designator with the purpose of providing new trainees and existing talent with enhanced developmental opportunities.

The concept, innovative for its approach, provides a new level of financial assistance to independent wrestling schools not seen before by WWE. In the Triple H Era, WWE has expanded its approach to promotions outside the realm of the WWE Universe, most notably by working agreements with TNA and Pro Wrestling NOAH, as well as acknowledgment on air by Michael Cole and other commentators regarding Superstars’ previous accomplishments and championships in other promotions.

Multiple questions still loom, however, on the granular parts of these new agreements, such as exclusivity and signing rights deals for designated prospects that may prevent them from exploring other career opportunities and whether WWE will integrate the more prominent independent wrestling schools to become extensions of the WWE brand.

WWE announced the first five independent wrestling schools to receive the WWE ID designation: Booker T’s “Reality of Wrestling” in Houston, TX, Cody Rhodes’ “Nightmare Factory” in Atlanta, GA, Seth Rollins’ “Black and Brave Academy” in Davenport, IA, “Elite Pro Wrestling Training Academy” in Concord, NH, and “KnokX Pro Academy” in Los Angeles, CA.

In addition to the school’s designator, WWE ID will also identify top independent wrestling prospects with a WWE ID “Prospect” designation, which will allow WWE to support their development with financial opportunities, training, mentorship, access to their facilities and in-ring training. WWE is also planning on showcasing these prospects and their paths through WWE’s social media accounts.

source: www.si.com

October 18, 2024

Nick Khan Announces New WWE-Netflix Docuseries

Following a monumental shift from airing on network television to broadcasting on a streaming platform like Netflix for the next ten years, it's been revealed by WWE President Nick Khan that "WWE Raw" won't be the only new WWE programming one will see on Netflix beginning January 6, 2025. According to "Bloomberg," the company plans to release a behind-the-scenes docuseries as part of its contractual deal with the world's leading streamer. As of this report, no additional details were mentioned on what the docuseries will focus on, or how soon it will be released in the new year.

In the past, WWE has produced both reality and behind-the-scenes shows like "WWE 24," which spotlighted close profiles of WWE stars' lives in and out of the ring. Additionally, they have tapped into similar formats by lifting the veil behind WWE's most significant yearly premium live events, including "WrestleMania XL: Behind the Curtain" in July, which showcased how Cody Rhodes' rematch with Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship originated for this year's WrestleMania 40. Regarding "WWE 24," the most recent star it profiled was former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest in August.

Recently, former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's "Mr. McMahon" docuseries debuted on Netflix. The six-part miniseries gained widespread traction, even trending on the platform after it was uploaded. Earlier this year, WWE and Netflix signed a $5 billion, 10-year deal, making the promotion the first to broadcast its weekly flagship show on a streaming platform. Reports have indicated that despite moving to Netflix, "Raw" will return to three hours every Monday, with no plans to go commercial-free. Meanwhile, WWE's other contractual agreements include moving "WWE SmackDown" back to USA from FOX last month, and "WWE NXT" to The CW as of three weeks ago.

October 9, 2024

Triple H Is Proud of His Career, Says He Has ‘The Best Job’

In an interview with Jazzy’s World (via Fightful), Triple H reflected on his career thus far and said that he’s proud of what he’s accomplished over the years. He also said that he has “the best job” as the Chief Content Officer of WWE.

He said: “All of it. I was just a kid with a dream that was incredibly lucky. A lot of times, right place, right time, but the whole thing. I love what I do and I’m fortunate enough, if I was to say what I love best about what I do, it’s that I have fun doing it every single day. I have the best job. Had the best job when I was in the ring and have an even better job now helping create the future of what we do. I love what I do and I love having the opportunity to do it.”

source: 411mania.com

October 8, 2024

Woman suing Vince McMahon, WWE alleging abuse wants NDAs waived

A former WWE employee who filed a lawsuit against the company and ex-leader Vince McMahon, accusing him of sexual battery and trafficking, is asking them to not enforce nondisclosure agreements with other former and current employees and contractors so they can potentially come forward with similar accusations.

A lawyer for Janel Grant emailed a letter making the request late Monday to attorneys representing WWE, McMahon and John Laurinaitis, a former WWE executive and wrestler, in Grant's lawsuit against them.

A spokesperson for McMahon, Curtis Vogel, declined comment. Lawyers for WWE and Laurinaitis did not immediately return emails seeking comment late Monday. Emails to the WWE and its parent companies, Endeavor Group Holdings and its subsidiary, TKO Group Holdings, also were not returned immediately.

McMahon, former CEO and chairman of WWE, has denied Grant's allegations.

Grant, who worked in WWE's legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022, sued the company, McMahon and Laurinaitis in January, making graphic allegations of sexual assault, harassment, trafficking and other physical and emotional abuse.

McMahon stepped down as WWE's CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations that match those in Grant's lawsuit. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings in January, a day after Grant filed her lawsuit.

"If WWE and its parent company Endeavor are serious about parting ways with Vince McMahon and the toxic workplace culture he created, their executives should have no problem with releasing former WWE employees from their NDAs," Ann Callis, Grant's attorney, said in a statement. "This is the first step to rehabilitating a company that covered up decades of sexual assault and human trafficking."

McMahon previously responded to Grant's lawsuit with a statement calling it "replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name." His lawyers said in court documents that he had a consensual relationship with Grant and never mistreated her.

Laurinaitis' lawyer has denied the allegations and said Laurinaitis was also a victim in the case.

Grant said she was pressured into leaving her job with the WWE and signing a $3 million nondisclosure agreement. The lawsuit also seeks to have the agreement declared invalid, saying McMahon breached the deal by giving her $1 million and failing to pay the rest.

Four other women -- all formerly affiliated with WWE -- signed agreements with McMahon that bar them from discussing their relationships with him, The Wall Street Journal reported in July 2022, citing people familiar with the deals and documents it reviewed. Grant was not among those women, her representatives say.

In December 2022, McMahon agreed to pay a female former wrestling referee millions of dollars to settle her allegations that he raped her in 1986, the Journal also reported. McMahon said the alleged sexual assault never happened, and his lawyer said he settled the suit to avoid costly litigation.

Grant's request for the Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE to waive enforcement of the NDAs is similar to ones made to other companies when sexual misconduct allegations arose.

In 2018 and 2019, respectively, the Weinstein Co. and NBC Universal released employees, former employees and others from NDAs made in connection with sexual misconduct claims against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and "Today" host Matt Lauer.

Victims' lawyers call NDAs instruments to silence accusers while allowing alleged abusers to avoid accountability. A federal law approved in 2022 and similar laws in more than a dozen states curb the use of NDAs that block victims of sexual harassment from speaking publicly about their allegations.

The Associated Press does not normally name people who make sexual assault allegations unless they come forward publicly, which Grant did.

She alleges McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship with him in order for her to get and keep a job, and later directed her to have sexual relations with others including Laurinaitis. She also accuses McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

The lawsuit further claims McMahon recruited other people for sexual relations with Grant, shared pornographic photos and videos of her with other men, including WWE employees, despite saying he wouldn't and subjected her to cruel and humiliating acts. source: espn.com

October 5, 2024

Paul "Triple H" Levesque Reveals Brand New WWE Crown Jewel Championship at WWE Bad Blood

Paul "Triple H" Levesque appeared in front of the crowd at WWE's Bad Blood premium live event to make a big announcement regarding the company's next PLE in Saudi Arabia, Crown Jewel, on November 2. Levesque made his way down to the ring and addressed the fans, making an attendance announcement of 16,092 in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, WWE's 60th consecutive sellout of 2024. Levesque said that at Crown Jewel, WWE will be making history once again, because it will be "the beginning of a new era."

He said that at Crown Jewel, the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion willbe taking on the World Heavyweight Champion, and the WWE Women's Champion will take on the Women's World Champion. He explained that none of the belts will be on the line, but the winners of the two matches will win the Crown Jewel Championship, a large belt Levesque unveiled in the middle of the ring.

October 2, 2024

WWE NXT Viewership Jumps 44% in CW Debut

The debut of WWE‘s NXT on The CW Tuesday night saw a significant jump in viewership.

The broadcast network debut of WWE’s weekly show featuring developmental talent averaged 895,000 viewers from 8-10 p.m. That is up 44% compared to last week’s episode, which aired on USA Network. Viewership peaked between 8:15 and 8:30 with 965,000 viewers. The episode was also the number one telecast on CW this year among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 with 406,000 viewers and 354,000 respectively.

The viewership represented a 143% increase in total viewers over CW’s Tuesday primetime average this season, with affiliates in markets like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Detroit also notching triple digit increases in viewership versus last week.

source: variety.com

JBL: Triple H Is The Only One Who Could Have Taken Over For Vince McMahon

The latest legend to chime in with support for Paul Levesque is John Bradshaw Layfield. Even though he's currently on a world tour of sorts as the guardian of wrestling, making appearances in TNA Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and Game Changer Wrestling, JBL took the time to talk about Triple H during a recent Q&A with Sportskeeda.

Bradshaw says he's amazed by what has been done since the new regime took over and believes that Triple H is the only one who could have taken over for Vince McMahon.

"Triple H is the only one, to me, that could have taken over for Vince. He’s not only taken over and kept the company the same, they made it better. What they’re doing is just amazing. The billion dollar TV contracts, the crowds they are drawing. I am blown away by what he and Nick Khan together, and the entire team, Bruce Prichard and all the guys, what they’ve done. It’s absolutely amazing to me."

source: fightful.com

Shawn Michaels and Paul Levesque Join Forces for Special Opening Segment at WWE NXT’s CW Debut

Last night, WWE NXT fans witnessed the dawn of a new era for the brand.

At the debut episode of WWE NXT on The CW Network, broadcast live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, WWE Senior VP of Talent Development Creative, Shawn Michaels, took center stage to kick off the show.

As previously noted, "The Heartbreak Kid" unveiled brand new WWE NXT World and WWE NXT Women's World title belts, proudly displayed on a podium in the center of the ring.

Following the unveiling, Michaels stated that with that business taken care of, only one question remained.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from off-camera, delivering the iconic phrase, “Are you ready?” in its trademark baritone.

The camera panned over to reveal WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, making his way up the ring steps, beaming with a wide grin.

Levesque and Michaels then stood together in the middle of the ring, united, to officially kick off the inaugural episode of NXT on CW, marking the beginning of a new chapter for WWE NXT.

September 24, 2024

Vince McMahon Criticizes Netflix Documentary for Misleading Portrayal of His Life

Vince McMahon has publicly voiced his disappointment with a new Netflix documentary that focuses on his life and career. In a statement, McMahon expressed regret over the portrayal of him in the film, criticizing how it conflates his on-screen wrestling persona, "Mr. McMahon," with his actual self.

McMahon contends that the filmmakers missed an opportunity to present a balanced and accurate portrayal of both his personal life and his business accomplishments. According to McMahon, the documentary distorts the truth by relying on selective editing, outdated soundbites, and out-of-context footage to mislead viewers. He claims that these editorial choices were deliberately made to push a deceptive narrative, which paints a skewed picture of his life.

A key point of McMahon's criticism is the documentary's handling of a past lawsuit and affair, which he says were presented in a way that reinforces the misconception that his fictional "Mr. McMahon" character is a true reflection of his real persona.

McMahon concluded his statement by encouraging viewers to approach the film with an open mind, reminding them that there are always two sides to every story.

Vince McMahon's Official Statement on the Netflix Documentary:
McMahon writes: "I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary. The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons. Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the 'Mr. McMahon' character with my true self, Vince. The title and promos alone make that evident.

Much has been misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused. The producers use typical editing tricks with out-of-context footage and dated soundbites to distort the viewer’s perception and support a deceptive narrative.

In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair I ended as evidence that I am, in fact, 'Mr. McMahon.'

I hope the viewer will keep an open mind and remember that there are two sides to every story."

September 22, 2024

Update On WWE Programming On Peacock


A new report provides an update on WWE‘s programming on Peacock.

WWE shows are on the move, as SmackDown has moved to USA Network, while NXT will premiere on The CW Network on October 1.

Steven Muelhausen of The Takedown on SI reports that, per a Peacock spokesperson, as part of their agreement with WWE, SmackDown’s complete past season library is available, while new episodes will be available only 30 days after airing on USA.

With RAW, new episodes will be available 30 days after airing, as the show will remain on USA Network through the end of 2024.

The spokesperson also said that Peacock will no longer have the libraries of NXT and RAW when their contracts expire. The streaming service will have countdown clocks to inform viewers of their expiration dates starting on September 19 and December 2, respectively.

Muelhausen also writes that a WWE spokesperson said that all PLEs will continue to air exclusively on Peacock.

WWE RAW will move to Netflix in January 2025. It is currently unclear how this may affect programming otherwise.

source: WrestleZone

September 17, 2024

WWE and NBC Just Announced a Big Returning Special Event That Fans Will Love

TKO Group Holdings and NBC announced this week that the network will air the first of its planned quarterly Saturday Night’s Main Event specials on Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and simulcast on Peacock. The move, which will offer another opportunity for Superstars to clash with one another on the 2024 calendar, is part of the duo's new five-year domestic media rights partnership that currently has both WWE SmackDown and Monday Night Raw on USA Network until the end of 2024.

What Is Saturday Night’s Main Event? For those too young to remember, Saturday Night’s Main Event started in 1985 during Saturday Night Live's timeslot when the sketch comedy show wasn't live. It stuck around on and off until roughly 2008. However, during that time it played home to cage matches, battle royal matches, tag team matches, and more between legends like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Dave Bautista, Roddy Piper, and many more!

In short, this new iteration will offer current WWE titans a chance to have high-profile, consequential matches that’ll help shape the landscape of WWE across its brands in the coming months.

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