AAA TripleMania 33 to air on YouTube

Speaking highly of AAA Lucha Libre Worldwide’s Alianzas event on social media, Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced that TripleMania 33 will air on YouTube.

Already announced for the event is Hijo del Vikingo defending his Mega Championship against Dragon Lee, El Grande Americano, and Domiminik Mysterio, made official after appearances from the three WWE talent at Alianzas.

The news comes after the WWE x AAA event Worlds Collide was previously aired live on WWE’s YouTube channel.

AAA Lucha Libre Worldwide presents TripleMania 33 on August 16, emanating from Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City.

WWE Announces Deal With Erin Andrews For Women's Sportswear Line

WWE is partnering with one of the most well-known sports media personalities, Erin Andrews, to bring women's sportswear collections to PLE's, including custom merchandise tailored for female fans.  

At launch, the collection will spotlight top WWE Superstars including Nikki Bella, Rhea Ripley, and Cody Rhodes. Items will feature bold, modern designs inspired by the personalities and storylines fans love. The lineup includes everything from vintage tees and muscle tanks to hooded denim jackets, lace-up hoodies, and cropped long sleeves.

Andrews had a loose connection with WWE back when "SmackDown' aired on Fox, Andrews' longtime home. In a press release issued by WEAR by Erin Andrews, the sportscaster expresses excitement about the partnership. 

"WEAR by Erin Andrews was created to give women a stylish, authentic way to show off and celebrate their fandom. As we kick off this partnership with WWE, we take another step forward in serving an even wider audience of female sports fans while celebrating the passionate, bold energy of the WWE Universe. I'm thrilled we can now offer our fan-favorite WEAR gear to women who want to support their favorite superstars without compromising on style."

In addition to WWE-themed gear, the drop will include limited-edition pieces themed around SummerSlam itself, celebrating the summer's biggest premium live event. Fans can find the collection starting July 25th online at WWEShop.com, Fanatics.com, and at select WWE event venues.

This marks a major expansion for WEAR by Erin Andrews, which has already earned a reputation across major sports leagues for combining fashion and fandom.

The collaboration will officially kick off on SummerSlam weekend, which takes place August 2nd and 3rd from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. 

credit "WEAR by Erin Andrews" Wrestling Inc. for transcription.

Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan passes away

From WWE.com:

WWE is saddened to learn that Terry Bollea, recognized globally as Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, has passed away on July 24 at 71.

One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition with the Hulkamania craze of the 1980s and reignited sports-entertainment’s popularity in the 1990s through his leadership of the New World Order in WCW. Whether he was a hero or villain, clad in red and yellow or black and white, The Hulkster was always one of the ring’s most popular and enduring stars.

Hogan abandoned a career in music with his Tampa, Fla.-based band, Ruckus, when he was discovered by WWE Hall of Famers Jack and Gerry Brisco. In 1977, Hogan began training with Hiro Matsuda, who intentionally broke Hogan’s lower leg just to see if he was passionate enough to return to training in the ring or would instead return to playing bass guitar.

A year later on Aug. 10, 1977, Hogan had his first match against B. Brian Blair in Fort Myers, Fla., for Championship Wrestling from Florida. Hogan competed under a mask as Super Destroyer in Florida and then teamed with his friend Ed Leslie (who would become Brutus Beefcake) as brothers Terry and Ed Boulder in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. It was after appearing on a local talk show in Memphis with TV’s Incredible Hulk, Lou Ferrigno, that he began calling himself Terry “The Hulk” Boulder because he was so much larger than Ferrigno.

He first appeared in WWE in 1979 and was named Hulk Hogan by Vincent J. McMahon. As a villain, Hogan defeated (the future Million Dollar Man) Ted DiBiase in his first match at Madison Square Garden, challenged Bob Backlund for the WWE Championship, and collided with Andre the Giant eight years before WrestleMania III in August 1980 at New York City’s Shea Stadium.

After appearing in "Rocky III," Hogan spent the next three years competing for Verne Gagne’s AWA and Antonio Inoki’s New Japan Pro Wrestling. Hogan then made the move to WWE where he defeated The Iron Sheik to become to WWE Champion on Jan. 23, 1984, beginning a pop culture craze that would be known as Hulkamania.

For nearly a decade, WWE and Hulkamania’s footprints grew together. WWE expanded to nationally syndicated television, then pay-per-per-view, with Hogan headlining in a litany of classics, including teaming with television’s biggest star, Mr. T, at the first WrestleMania and defeating Andre the Giant in front of more than 93,000 fans at WrestleMania III.

All told, Hulk Hogan racked up an unprecedented five WWE Championships, main-evented WrestleMania eight times, and sold millions of T-shirts, toys and anything else you could imagine bearing the red and yellow before leaving WWE in August 1993.

The Hulkster planned on putting his full-time sports-entertainment days behind him and started a career as a television star on the syndicated “Thunder in Paradise.” However, it wasn’t long until he was drawn into sports-entertainment again, this time by “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and new WCW Executive Producer Eric Bischoff. Using Turner Broadcasting’s budget, Bischoff signed Hogan to a seven-figure, part-time contract. In his debut match, Hogan, with Mr. T in his corner and Shaquille O’Neal at ringside, defeated Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the Bash at the Beach pay-per-view in Orlando, Fla.

After two years of dominating his competition, Hogan did the unthinkable when he betrayed both WCW fans and WCW heroes Sting, Lex Luger and Randy Savage by joining The Outsiders, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, to form the New World Order. The nWo was WCW’s greatest weapon in the Monday Night War pitting WCW’s Nitro against WWE’s Monday Night Raw. During his six years with WCW, Hogan won six WCW World Heavyweight Championships.

Almost one year after the demise of WCW, Hogan, Hall and Nash returned to WWE as the reviled nWo in February 2002. While his third stay in WWE lasted less than two years, Hogan was once again embraced by the WWE Universe during his match against The Rock at WrestleMania X8 and later won his sixth WWE Championship from Triple H at Backlash 2002.

In 2005, The Hulkster was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his Rocky III co-star and friend, Sylvester Stallone, and appeared at WrestleMania 21 the following night.

In 2014, The Hulkster again returned to WWE and was the host of WrestleMania 30. The historic event began with Hogan, The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, arguably the three most famous sports-entertainers of all time, together in the ring to the delight of more than 75,000 WWE fans from all 50 states and 37 countries at New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with millions more watching the first WrestleMania to air live on WWE Network.

There are few names more synonymous with sports-entertainment than Hulk Hogan, as the larger-than-life icon was a central figure in WWE’s rise from a regional attraction to the worldwide entertainment leader. The Hulkster’s superhuman size and undeniable charisma helped him reach heights once unthinkable in sports and entertainment, as Hogan packed 93,173 fans into the Pontiac Silverdome for WrestleMania III, won six WWE Championships, starred in movies and set the standard for what a WWE Superstar could be.

WWE extends its condolences to Bollea’s family, friends and fans.WWE is saddened to learn that Terry Bollea, recognized globally as Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, has passed away on July 24 at 71.

Raw Power: WWE Hits 6 Straight Months in Netflix Top 10

WWE became a pop culture powerhouse over the years thanks to its near-ubiquitous cable TV presence, particularly on USA Network — where “Monday Night Raw” was a staple. Moving the flagship series to Netflix, which is still getting its feet wet with live programming, was seen as a bit of a risk.

Turns out, instead of being siloed behind a paywall, WWE was just going where the viewers already are. Since its move to Netflix on Jan. 6, “Monday Night Raw” has been on a world champion-level run. The franchise immediately became a constant presence on the streamer’s global Top 10 English-language TV charts.

The week of July 7 marked the 27th straight week that “Raw” hit the Top 10 globally. It is averaging about 6.3 million hours viewed per week and just over 3 million views per week, with a view defined as total hours viewed divided by total run time.

“Netflix has been amazing, in every sense of the word. They are phenomenal partners,” says WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “And we can’t say enough about WWE fans. They’ve shown up in full force, as passionate and engaged as ever.”

The so-called Netflix bump seems to have helped “Raw” since its jump from linear cable, specifically that last run on USA (which continues to air WWE’s “Smackdown” series). It’s difficult to make a direct viewership comparison between Netflix and USA (where in fall 2024, it averaged 1.65 million viewers a week), because linear channels measure their viewership differently than Netflix does. But the disparity is still stark.

Along with joining Netflix, WWE has benefited from storylines like John Cena’s retirement tour/heel turn, Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship run, Dominik “Dirty Dom” Mysterio winning the Intercontinental Championship and Lyra Valkyria winning the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

“It’s everything we could have hoped for and more,” says Gabe Spitzer, vice president of sports at Netflix. “We knew going in that we’re not going to change WWE. It was more, how can we add to it in small ways, and that’s what we’ve seen so far.”

source: variety.com

WWE SummerSlam To Screen Live In Select Regal Cinemas Across U.S. As Start Of Multi-Event Fandango Partnership

Wrestling fans will have another way to experience WWE‘s SummerSlam next month, if they can’t attend in person.

The two-night event, taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, will also screen live in select Regal Cinemas across the U.S. on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3, Deadline can exclusively reveal.

The experience marks the launch of a multi-event collaboration between WWE and Fandango. While Regal will be the official exhibitor for SummerSlam, additional exhibitors are expected to join for future WWE live events.

“WWE is one of the most electrifying global entertainment brands, and its events deserve to be experienced on the big screen,” Will McIntosh, President, Fandango, said in a statement Monday. “We’re thrilled to work with WWE and Regal Cinemas to bring the action-packed SummerSlam 2025 cinema presentation to fans nationwide.”

Tickets are now on sale now at Fandango. Fans will have two ticket options to experience SummerSlam on the big screen — either a single-night ticket for Saturday or Sunday, or a two-night ticket bundle that includes access to both screenings and an exclusive SummerSlam t-shirt.

SummerSlam will feature the highly anticipated rematch between Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, picking up where they left off after they last met in the ring at Wrestlemania 41.

For those who can’t make it to the theater, SummerSlam will also stream live at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Peacock in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.

“WWE has redefined how fans connect with live entertainment, and bringing SummerSlam to Regal’s screens elevates that experience to a whole new level,” Brooks LeBoeuf, Senior Vice President of US Content at Regal Cinemas, said in a statement of their own. “We’re excited to partner with WWE and Fandango to deliver this immersive, action-packed event in theaters —making fans feel like they’re ringside, no matter where they are.”

source: deadline.com

CM Punk Reveals Why His Relationship With Triple H Has Improved

CM Punk says that the reason his relationship with Triple H is less adversarial is because the two men are no longer competing with the other in WWE. Punk opened up on his relationship with Triple H in a brand new interview with TV Insider saying that both he and Triple H have different perspectives now and that because they aren't competing against one another, they can accomplish their goals and help the new crop of talent in the company.

“Between me and Triple H, there is so much more of an understanding. I’ve advanced in my life to a point where I have the perspective I didn’t have before. For him likewise has advanced in life to where he has experiences and knowledge he didn’t have before."

Punk continued regarding Triple H:

Me and him, I think we were both on the main roster, and were talented guys. It was more adversarial because we were competition. Now we’re not and are on the same page and want to help the next generation and kind of guide them the right way with their creativity showing through but also producing them."

Since returning to WWE in November of 2023, Punk has been in prominent matches for a Triple H-led WWE. He wrestled in the night one main event of WrestleMania this year against Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Punk lost that match, but it was his first official WrestleMania main event of his career.

This year, Punk will also be wrestling for the world championship at SummerSlam. On this week's episode of Raw, Punk won a number one contender Gauntlet Match and earned the right to face Gunther for the title.

WWE Summerslam airs live on Peacock and Netflix internationally from inside Metlife Stadium on August 2 and August 3. Other announced matches for the show include John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria for the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship, and more.

(WrestlePurist) source: si.com

Maybelline New York named first-ever official cosmetic partner of WWE

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, and Maybelline New York, the number one cosmetic brand in the world, announced today a new partnership in which the beauty brand will become the first-ever Official Cosmetics Partner of WWE.

The new agreement commences with Maybelline serving as the Presenting Partner of Evolution – the all-women's Premium Live Event on Sunday, July 13 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“WWE is excited to collaborate with Maybelline, a partner that not only leads the beauty industry but also shares our vision for highlighting amazing individuals across the roster," said Brit Santypal, Senior Vice President of Partnership Marketing, TKO.

"Maybelline New York is proud to partner with WWE and have the opportunity to put our products to the ultimate test,” said Amy Whang, President of Maybelline New York. “As the presenting sponsor of Evolution, we’re not just showing up in the ring; we’re supporting a global community that inspires confidence and self-expression, both in and out of the spotlight."

In addition to the Presenting Partner designation at Evolution, Maybelline will receive center mat ring branding, a custom vignette and social media integrations. The partnership and activation strategy were developed in collaboration with Beauty Co-Lab, L’Oréal’s media agency of record.

"Maybelline continues to lead the way by moving at the speed of culture — connecting beauty with entertainment in bold, inclusive, and unexpected ways,” said Delphine Hernoux, CEO, Beauty Co-Lab. “At Beauty Co-Lab, we’re proud to have helped shape this milestone partnership with WWE, which reflects the kind of innovative thinking that keeps the brand ahead of the curve."

Triple H Shows Off Special Gift From Saudi Arabia and Turki Al-Sheikh

Triple H was presented with a special gift when WWE was in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.

Saudi Arabia hosted two WWE events last week, with Friday Night SmackDown and the Night of Champions premium live event. While the company was there, Triple H was given a special gift from Saudi sports promoter Turki Al-Sheikh.

Triple H took to social media to reveal the gift and speak on what the moment meant to him, tweeting out:

“A Symbol of Strength, Honor, and Partnership. 1 of 200. Crafted and lined in 24 carat gold. This handcrafted falcon statue is more than just a gift, it is a tribute to a shared journey of excellence, friendship, partnership, and the powerful cultural bridge we continue to build together. In Saudi culture, the falcon represents vision, courage, and prestige. Thank you to Turki Al-Sheikh and the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia for the honor."

Nick Khan Says He And Triple H Make Mistakes In Business But Learn From Them

In an interview with Stephanie McMahon for What’s Your Story (via Fightful), Nick Khan discussed the learning process for himself and Triple H as they continue to make mistakes in business.

He said: “Same with business, and if you make a mistake in the decision, that’s okay too. Fix it. No issue. Paul (Levesque) and I, Triple H and I, we make mistakes in business every day. The good thing is we have one another, where we can say, ‘I think I did this. What do you think?’ ‘Ah, I don’t think that was the move. Maybe we could think of it the other way.’ ‘Okay, let’s try that,’ and then to the executive committee meeting — the executive committee part of me, the senior leadership team will say, ‘Hey, this got messed up. We’re gonna pivot,’ we’re gonna do X, Y and Z instead and everyone rolls in the same direction.”

Nick Khan has served as WWE’s President since 2023, following the company’s merger with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings. In this role, he has overseen significant strategic initiatives, including the negotiation of a landmark $5 billion, 10-year deal with Netflix to stream Monday Night Raw, marking WWE’s first major move into live streaming. Additionally, WWE has expanded its presence on streaming platforms, with SmackDown returning to USA Network in October 2024 under a new agreement. Khan has also been instrumental in the development of behind-the-scenes content, such as a new docuseries on Netflix, WWE: Unreal, aimed at providing fans with deeper insights into WWE’s operations. His leadership continues to shape WWE’s evolution in the evolving media landscape.

Goldberg's WWE Return To Be His "Last Ride"

The WWE "Monday Night Raw" fans roared and chanted "Goldberg" like it was still 30 years ago when the familiar beats of his entrance music hit. Many in the pro wrestling world are speculating whether he was there for the retirement match he alluded to not long ago.

Bill Goldberg was back in the WWE for the first time in more than three years Monday and announced his return to the ring in a confrontation with world heavyweight champion Gunther. During a segment in which Gunther initially challenged new Money in the Bank winner Seth Rollins, Goldberg instead appeared through the smoke and pyrotechnics once more.

The 58-year-old former NFL player congratulated Gunther on regaining his title last week and then told him they had a match at Saturday Night's Main Event on July 12 in Atlanta. Goldberg's feud with Gunther stems from a segment during the Bad Blood premium live event in Atlanta in October 2024, when Gunther insulted Goldberg in front of his son.

"A few months ago, you started something with me and my family in Atlanta, Georgia, and I am going to make sure I end it in Atlanta, Georgia," Goldberg told Gunther in front of the crowd in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Monday night. "You're mine because you're next."

Goldberg previously said during an appearance on ESPN's SEC Nation on Nov. 2, 2024, soon after his initial confrontation with Gunther, that WWE had granted his request for a retirement match in 2025. Goldberg did not mention retirement during Monday's appearance.

But WWE is already promoting the match as "Goldberg's Last Ride" on merchandise, and Goldberg wore a "Goldberg's Last Ride" shirt out to the ring to confront Gunther.

Goldberg became a pro wrestling sensation in WCW in the late 1990s, with a memorable undefeated streak using his spear and jackhammer finishing moves. He has appeared periodically in the WWE since WCW's demise, but not since a match against Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber in February 2022. Saturday Night's Main Event is scheduled for July 12 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Goldberg's hometown.

WWE-AAA Crossover Worlds Collide Becomes Company’s Most-Watched Live YouTube Broadcast Ever

WWE today announced that Worlds Collide, its first joint Premium Live Event (PLE) with the recently-acquired Mexican promotion AAA, set a record for the largest live audience in company history for a YouTube broadcast. The event peaked at 764,389 live concurrent viewers across the WWE and WWE Espańol YouTube channels during the main event between AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo and WWE superstar Chad Gable.

Still available to watch for free on YouTube, the show, which received rave reviews from fans of both companies as well as journalists from around the world, Saturday’s broadcast has been watched by more than 4.1 million viewers on YouTube in the first 24 hours. On X, #WorldsCollide was the No. 1 trending topic globally on Saturday, and WWE generated more than 32 million social views across all platforms in the first 24 hours.

Wrestlers from both companies mixed it up in several major matches, and some of the longtime veteran Mexican luchadors immediately got over with U.S. viewers who were seeing them for the first time. Chiefly among them, Mr. Iguana (seen above), who has become an overnight sensation with WWE fans and already has a shirt available on the WWE online shop. The evening’s main event between El Hijo del Vikingo and Chad Gable was another standout and for many ranks among the best matches WWE has produced this year.

In April, WWE announced its acquisition of AAA in partnership with Mexico-based sports and entertainment holding company, Fillip. The companies will continue to work together in the months and years to come, including at the upcoming Triplemanía Regia on June 15, where TNA, WWE and AAA wrestlers will appear in the same show for the first time ever.

R-Truth Returns At WWE MITB

The John Cena retirement tour has stopped at Money in the Bank, as the "Never Seen Seventeen" teamed up with Logan Paul to take on WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso and Cody Rhodes in Saturday's main event. With world champions on both teams, it could have been anyone's match — that is, until a surprise return from the formerly-released R-Truth turned the tide.

From the beginning, Cena and Paul had their tag team dynamic to a science. Countless tag-ins made sure both men stayed relatively fresh throughout the fight amidst turnbuckle bumps and right hooks. Despite their immediate synergy, however, small flashes of ego between Paul and Cena eventually led to a tag team meltdown.

As Cena and Paul exploded into an argument, Uso, who had just survived an arduous tag match stint, crawled to make a hot tag to a bellowing Rhodes. Rhodes bulldozed through the competition, and after a near-fall from Cena's Attitude Adjustment, tricked Paul into hitting Cena with a Springboard Crossbody. Despite Rhodes' temporary revival, Paul and Cena continued to push forward against the team of Uso and Rhodes, with Paul putting Uso through an announce table with a top-rope Moonsault to the outside.

R-Truth Announces Departure From WWE

Just days removed from his match against his "childhood hero" John Cena at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Ron "R-Truth" Killings announced his departure from WWE on X, writing "I'm sorry to inform you all. I just got released from WWE. I want to thank WWE for the ride, but MOSTLY I want to thank each and EVERYONE OF YOU who was along for the ride, Thank you for all the love, support, and appreciation you have given me over the years. Thank you."

Moments after, Fightful Select provided some clarification on Truth's situation, noting that the long-time roster member will exit the company when his existing deal expires. Like Shotzi and Sonya Deville previously, WWE reportedly opted not to renew Truth's deal, hence his imminent departure. There is no word on when Truth's current contract with WWE expires.

Truth's affiliation with WWE extends back to 1999 when he inked a deal with the company under the ring name K-Kwik. In this run, Truth notably teamed with WWE Hall of Famer Brian "Road Dogg" James before moving to the Hardcore Championship scene. Truth left WWE in the summer of 2001, then signed with TNA Wrestling (known as NWA: TNA at the time), where he later became a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

In 2008, Truth returned to WWE, now under the R-Truth name, for what would be a more extensive stint. Along the way, he enjoyed runs as United States and Tag Team Champion. Perhaps most famously, Truth solidified himself as the winningest 24/7 Champion in WWE history with 53 reigns on his resume.

Vince McMahon sex trafficking case co-defendant John Laurinaitis agrees to help accuser

The co-defendant in the bombshell lawsuit accusing former WWE boss Vince McMahon of sexual abuse and sex trafficking has agreed to cooperate with and give evidence to the woman suing the pro wrestling mogul and the company.

The co-defendant, John Laurinaitis, also reached a confidential settlement with McMahon’s accuser, Janel Grant, according to a statement issued by their representatives on Wednesday.

A filing Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Connecticut shows that lawyers for Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to dismiss her lawsuit against as it applies to the former wrestler and WWE executive with prejudice, which means that it cannot be refiled.

“John Laurinaitis has agreed to cooperate and provide evidence in Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE,” the reps said in the statement obtained by NBC News.

“His agreement to a confidential settlement is a pivotal next step toward holding McMahon and WWE accountable and bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking,” the reps said.

“Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide any additional details at this time.”

source: cnbc.com

Kane: Vince McMahon Was A Visionary, But Triple H Connects With Talent

Glenn Jacobs, better known as Kane in WWE, compares the leadership styles of Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, and Triple H and how they've all shaped WWE's past, present, and future.

Glenn Jacobs was recently on the Freedom Pact podcast and discussed what it was like to work for Vince McMahon. Glenn started with WWE in 1995 and would become one of the company's longest tenured and most successful wrestlers before leaving the squared circle behind to pursue a political career decades later.

When discussing working for Vince McMahon, Jacobs said that he learned a lot about what to do as a leader and much about what not to do as a leader.

"As far as Vince, he was a great mind. I learned some good things from him. I also learned some things that I'm like, 'That's not how I would do things,' So you learn both. 'Okay, this is something to emulate, and this is something that I shouldn't do,' just leadership styles, when Vince and I are obviously very different in that. It certainly wouldn't work for me. I don't think that's how you do things," Jacobs explained. "One of the things that I've become really passionate about is learning about leadership, and I really do believe that organizations rise and fall on the quality of their leadership, and team building, and doing all those things that I think, if you often think, are cliche, right? But they're not. I mean, it's vitally important.

"I look at WWE now, under the leadership of Triple H, and it's just, wow. I'm so proud of everything that he's been able to do with his own style of leadership," he continued. "Just almost taking the company to another level altogether. Vince is one of the great entrepreneurs in history. I don't think he gets enough credit for that, and it's not just in the wrestling business, just in entertainment, you know? He was very visionary, and he could just see things that none of the rest of us could see at the same time."

When asked if he would describe Vince McMahon's leadership style as autocratic and Triple H's as transformational, Jacobs agreed and explained that Triple H can approach issues with a more wrestler-centric mindset because he is a wrestler.

"I would say that. I think the difference is Triple H was one of the guys and understands the locker room, understands the mentality of the locker room, you know? Vince, again, he was a great visionary, a very good business person, but he was always a promoter. He was always outside of the locker room. So, yes, you do have those two very different styles now, both successful in their own ways. I think now, especially with the trajectory that the company's on, because of Triple H is leadership, and it's going to go places it's never even been before. The company's."

TKO COO Mark Shapiro: Triple H Is Amazing On Creative Storylines

Triple H has been running WWE creative for the better part of three years as the company sets a new gate record seemingly every month.

In January, WWE Raw premiered on Netflix, marking a new era for the company as the flagship program was off cable TV for the first time ever.

Speaking at the JP Morgan Annual Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference, TKO COO Mark Shapiro highlighted Triple H and Netflix are growth factors for WWE.

"There are two x-factors when you look at WWE. Netflix, this is the greatest marketing platform you could ever ask for. Their pre-roll is one of the strongest tools. If you're clicking on that icon, you're getting a trailer. The (other) x-factor is the creative power we have behind the brand. Paul Levesque [Triple H] lives and breathes; his whole life has been spent in WWE. He's amazing on the creative storylines. Just when you think you know where he's going, he turns left, like the heel John Cena became and then the champion," said Shapiro. Cena turned heel at WWE Elimination Chamber and won the Undisputed WWE Title from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41.

Elsewhere during the conference, Shapiro commented on WWE: Unreal. You can find his full comments by clicking here.

credit JP Morgan Annual Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference Fightful for the transcription.

Hulk Hogan continues to ignore the real reason WWE fans are booing him

Hulk Hogan's return to "WWE Raw" for its Netflix debut in January was billed as a nostalgic celebration — a hero’s welcome for one of the most iconic figures in the history of professional wrestling. However, instead of an expected roaring ovation, the crowd at Inglewood's Intuit Dome met Hogan that night with a torrent of well-deserved boos.

In an interview Monday on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show," Hogan was asked about the crowd’s reaction to his return, and he seemed to deflect any responsibility for it. Hogan speculated that the boos were due to his previous role as the villainous "Hollywood Hogan," and even attempted to tie the boos to his support for U.S. President Donald Trump.

"They're still nipping at my heels," Hogan said, referring to his critics. "I can go out there and get booed in L.A. I was Hollywood Hogan with the black beard and doing the bad guy thing. Or The Rock can get booed in L.A. or John Cena gets booed in L.A., but when I get booed, there’s a whole different reaction, media-wise."

This response is telling in its avoidance of the real issue. The boos weren’t about Hogan’s "bad guy" persona or his political leanings at all. In fact, this wasn't the first time Hogan faced public backlash. He was heavily booed when introducing Titus O’Neil at WrestleMania 37 in 2021, signaling that many fans hadn’t forgotten his past remarks.

Both reactions were about something much more serious: The fact that Hogan has failed to properly address the deeply hurtful and racist remarks he made back in 2015.

In July 2015, a leaked recording from a 2007 sex tape revealed Hogan making intensely offensive remarks. In the tape, Hogan expressed disgust over the possibility of his daughter dating a Black man and infamously admitted, "I am a racist, to a point," all while repeatedly and freely using the N-word.

Hogan spoke to ABC News about the incident later that year. “No, I’m not. I’m not a racist," he said. "I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I’m embarrassed by it. But a lot of people need to realize that you inherit things from your environment."

Despite that explanation, the incident resulted in Hogan’s firing from WWE and his removal from the Hall of Fame.

If, for some reason, you believe his use of the N-word was an isolated incident, a simple Google search will show you that Hogan's racist remarks span long before the 2015 leaked footage. In 2011, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T spoke on an interaction where Hogan used the N-word in front of him in response to a now-infamous Harlem Heat promo where Booker T mistakenly used the term after saying he was coming for Hogan.

“I thought I was going to be totally blackballed from that. And Hulk Hogan actually came to me and told me not to feel bad about it, but said, ‘You know what? I’m a good N-word,'” Booker T said.

This interview led to Hogan in 2012 questioning on a radio spot why Booker T could use the word and he could not. “Well, Booker T used to do that to me, and every time I pull up YouTube there’s that famous thing with Booker T and his brother is there and they’re all talking trash, and Booker T says, ‘I’m coming for ya Hogan, you n*****’ — and not ‘n***a,’ he goes ‘n*****,'” Hogan said.

While Hogan was eventually reinstated by WWE in 2018 after issuing an apology to the company's talent locker room, many wrestlers publicly criticized the apology as insincere. Mark Henry, Shelton Benjamin and Kofi Kingston were among those who voiced their discontent, with Benjamin recently tweeting:

Message to Hulk Hogan: You lost me forever with your “don’t get caught” …or as you would call it “apology” speech.

Beyond racial controversy, Hogan’s reputation as a self-serving figure in the locker room further clouds his legacy. As more wrestlers from his generation speak openly over the years about their experiences, many have accused him of refusing to put younger talent over, leveraging his backstage influence to stay on top, and prioritizing his own brand over the industry he claimed to love. These actions paint the picture of a man more interested in protecting his image than in supporting the wrestling community.

This week's appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show" was yet another missed opportunity for meaningful self-reflection and growth. Instead of addressing the pain caused by his words, Hogan focused on superficial metrics, such as boasting about the "3.2 billion impressions" his WWE return garnered. He still seems to value publicity and numbers over a sincere reckoning with the gravity of his past mistakes.

Until Hogan takes full responsibility for his past actions and offers a heartfelt, unambiguous apology to the Black community, the boos and criticism will likely continue. His failure to confront the consequences of his words speaks volumes about his character — or rather, his lack of character. The time for Hogan to be held accountable is long overdue. Redemption, after all, is not a right — it’s earned. And in Hogan’s case, he has done nothing to deserve it.

source: sprots.yahoo.com

WWE & UFC Parent TKO Beats Q1 Forecasts And Ups Full-Year Guidance

TKO Group Holdings, parent of the WWE and UFC, said “strength and momentum” at both subsidiaries powered first-quarter financial results.

Revenue handily exceeded Wall Street forecasts, reaching $1.27 billion, while earnings per share hit 69 cents, also ahead of estimates. The profit figure compared with a loss of $1.26 per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.

The company also raised its full-year guidance for revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Excluding the impact of recently acquired businesses IMG, On Location and PBR, the company increased its targets for revenue to $3.005 billion to $3.075 billion, from $2.93 billion to $3 billion. It boosted adjusted EBITDA targets to $1.39 billion to $1.43 billion, from $1.35 billion to $1.39 billion.

Kevin Nash Weighs-In On Rumored Triple H and The Rock Backstage Drama

Hall-of-Famer and long-time Paul “Triple H” Levesque pal Kevin Nash weighed in on whether there is any fire to the smoke, claiming the head of WWE creative and The Rock have backstage issues.

Most assumed that WrestleMania 41 would close with The Rock making his rumored return to cost Cody Rhodes his WWE title and add another chapter to their ongoing feud. However, “The Final Boss” was nowhere to be found in April. His absence led to a lot of speculation, and former announcer Jonathan Coachman claimed the pair of legends are having backstage issues.

Kevin Nash knows Triple H more than the majority of the planet. That’s why he unsurprisingly offered up his thoughts on the rumors. And he believes there are no emerging creative issues between the WWE executive and the TKO Group Holdings board member.

“I don’t see the tension. Does anybody know what IMDb is? And then you go to their page, and you see the projects he has? Dwayne is pretty busy. You have to realize he still has skin in the game. He still has ring time left, and he wants certain things to align a certain way for him. Dwayne is not looking at what’s best for the company. He’s looking at what’s best for the character.”

source: ringsideintel.com

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