Speaking to Shannon Sharpe and Ochocinco on Nightcap, Triple H revealed they are currently in the process of building a new Performance Center.
Triple H didn’t provide further details on the new PC.
Fightful will provide details on the new Performance Center when they are known.
WWE Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Paul “Triple H” Levesque is in Dallas for the WrestleMania 38 Week festivities.
These are the most appearances Triple H has made since suffering his cardiac event last fall. You can click here for his recent comments on his health and in-ring retirement announcement, and click here for his comments on his WWE workload.
As seen in the photo above, Triple H was present for the talent tryouts in Frisco, TX at the Ford Center at The Star, home of the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and state-of-the-art practice facility. WWE announced these tryouts several weeks back, and noted that they were exclusively for current and recently graduated college athletes.
The tryouts began on Wednesday and will run through Friday. WWE is hosting more than 50 male and female participants with collegiate athletic backgrounds across football, basketball, track and field, wrestling, volleyball, gymnastics, cheer and dance. Several NFL Draft-eligible college football players were also scheduled to participate in the invite-only event.
WWE NXT and WWE Performance Center staff brought to Texas to help out include WWE Vice President of Talent Development Shawn Michaels, PC Head Coach Matt Bloom, along with PC Coaches Fit Finlay, Terry Taylor and Norman Smiley. Several NXT Superstars who are not booked for Stand & Deliver are also in town, including Harland, Joe Gacy, The Rock’s daughter Simone Johnson, Robert Stone, Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis, among others.
Triple H was joined by Dallas Cowboys players Anthony Brown, Jourdan Lewis, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dak Prescott at the tryouts. He cut a promo for fans on the Cowboys social media pages, inviting them to The Grandest Stage of Them All this weekend.
“Hey Cowboys Nation, this is The Game, Triple H. We are here in Texas talking to all of you guys and this is an epic weekend. Everything is bigger in Texas and this weekend is no exception. This weekend, WrestleMania – the most stupendous event in history. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it. Go to seatgeek.com and get there. Don’t miss it,” he said in the video below.
The Game also tweeted on the tryouts and wrote, “The first days of the #WWETryout in Dallas at @thestarinfrisco. Excited to see the progress of the attendees through the rest of the week! Thanks to @EzekielElliott @dak @nino9brown @JourdanJD of the @dallascowboys for stopping by!”
WWE’s systematic pattern of mass releases has once again reared its ugly head as another quarter has come and gone.
Key employees of the WWE Performance Center, and notable NXT stars, have been cut as the promotion continues its aggressive move into a new era—both in terms of NXT and when it comes to a possible future sale.
WWE has reportedly released the following per Fightful:
Danny Burch
Timothy Thatcher
Hideki Suzuki
William Regal
Cathy Corino
Scott Armstrong
Hideki Suzuki
George Carroll
Ryan Katz
Dave Kapoor
Road Dogg
Ace Steel
WWE released the following statement regarding its most recent cuts:
“With the continued evolution of NXT 2.0, we’ve decided to part ways with some of the staff based in our Performance Center. We thank them for their many contributions throughout the years and wish them the best.”
The weekly WWE NXT show will reportedly not be directly produced by WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon and Senior Vice President & Executive Director Bruce Prichard with the upcoming revamp that kicks off this month.
It was reported this week, via Wrestling Observer Live, that McMahon and Prichard were to produce the weekly NXT TV show beginning with the September 14 live episode. The report noted that McMahon and Prichard will be behind the big decisions for the NXT brand, but not the smaller ones. They will also be responsible for marketing, promotion and direction of the NXT brand. It was also said that NXT will be like “the old NXT” moving forward, which appears to be a reference to how the brand was at its peak, around 2015-2018 or so.
In an update, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE held a meeting with talent and staff where they were told the story of McMahon and Prichard directly producing the weekly NXT TV show is incorrect. Word is that McMahon and Prichard simply do not have the time to produce another weekly TV show.
While McMahon and Prichard won’t be directly producing the weekly NXT TV show, Vince remains in charge of everything in WWE, and there have been, and will continue to be more big-picture decisions on the NXT brand that are made my higher-ups in the company, those outside of the NXT circle, including decisions related to creative, branding and marketing.
The people making these decisions, on their own, will be a group made up of McMahon, Prichard, President & CEO Nick Khan, Talent Relations head John Laurinaitis, and Executive Producer & Chief of Global Television Distribution Kevin Dunn. This group will have more influence on whoever they want pushed or protected in NXT, but it was noted that they likely will not be involved in weekly booking since they already have so much going on.
Regarding the changes in NXT, <b>Fightful Select adds that numerous WWE sources have effectively denied the original story on McMahon and Prichard directly producing NXT</b>
It was also noted that McMahon and Prichard were not at the recent set of NXT TV tapings. However, influential WWE Producer Jamie Noble has been seen at the WWE Performance Center more often than usual as of late. Furthermore, Prichard is scheduled to be at the Performance Center this weekend. There’s no word on what Prichard’s Saturday visit is for, but talent is not mandated to be there.
It remains to be seen exactly what this NXT revamp will mean for WWE’s Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development Triple H and his crew. We noted earlier this week that the NXT brand will still be “very much in the hands” of Triple H and his team, which includes Trainer & Assistant Coach Shawn Michaels, Director of Talent Development & Head of Global Recruiting William Regal, Head Coach & Vice President of Talent Development Matt Bloom, and others. Word was that the day-to-day operations of NXT won’t change too much, but that the revamp will mean at least some loss of power for Triple H.
The original report on McMahon and Prichard producing NXT led to a “#RIPNXT” hashtag trending worldwide on social media.
The new logo and branding for WWE NXT has been revealed.
We reported recently that the yellow and black brand is set to undergo a major revamp, with reports of a new logo, stage, and format, it appears as if that change is almost ready to launch, with Wale revealing the updated NXT logo on his official Twitter page.
NXT is dropping the trademark yellow and black for a more bold and colorful design, with some likening it to AEW Dynamite's colorful graphics.
WWE is in the process of revamping the CWC (Performance Center) with the new look for the show expected to be revealed on September 7, 2021.
WWE is reportedly not looking to sign anymore indy talent going forward as they have done in the past for the NXT brand.
MMA legend Tito Ortiz is most known for his time inside the octagon, but the Hunting Beach Bad Boy has had a spell in the squared circle.
Aside from some brief appearances as a special guest referee in the mid-2000s, Ortiz’s professional wrestling tenure is most noteworthy for his involvement in TNA’s Aces and Eights storyline. Ortiz joined the infamous biker gang stable in late 2013, but abruptly left the group and the company when Bellator MMA pulled him off television.
While he hasn’t been involved in the pro wrestling world in nearly a decade, Ortiz might be looking to step back in. Speaking with SportsMattersTV, Ortiz discussed his time training at the WWE Performance Center last year.
At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March, three of the four major sporting leagues in the U.S. were temporarily shut down, The Masters was postponed, and nearly every sporting event across the world was put on hold. Even Hollywood production houses hit the pause button on all their projects. However, WWE didn't miss a beat and continued producing shows at its Performance Center [Capitol Wrestling Center] in Orlando, FL, where it hosted all three of its weekly TV shows [Raw, SmackDown, and NXT] before introducing ThunderDome at the Amway Center. Stephanie McMahon, the Chief Brand Officer of WWE, recently appeared on the 2020 Forbes CMO Summit Virtual Series and spoke of the challenges faced by WWE at the start of the pandemic. "For WWE, we never stopped producing our content, and that was a very difficult decision in and of itself," said Stephanie. "First and foremost, we had to ensure the health and safety of our talents, crew, and employees." She went onto talk about how WWE had no choice but to adapt to the new normal. "WrestleMania, for example, was supposed to be an event attended by 80,000 fans [at Raymond James Stadium] and instead became a two-day event at our Performance Center, which is essentially a warehouse where we develop and train our future stars. "It was a stark contrast to what WrestleMania normally is," she added. Stephanie emphasized that the pandemic era has made WWE realize just how crucial the fans are to its programming. "We continue to produce 7 hours of live programming every week, and produce content for a myriad of channels and platforms. And we never stopped. What we found [through this experience]] is that our fans mean everything. They bring the energy, the excitement, and the spectacle, and without them, the shows are just not the same." While touching upon WWE's ratings decline at the start of the empty arena era, Stephanie said WWE tried to bring in developmental talent to be a part of the audience but "that wasn't enough" to bring back the excitement to the live programming. "We had hoped to be back in the arenas during the fall but that wasn't to be," she revealed. "So, we decided to double down and invest in the ThunderDome. Today, we have 1,000 virtual fans every show and nearly 100,000 fans who have signed up for this experience." She continued, "These fans are live, they give us real-time reactions, and we see their faces. We also mix in additional audio, which we found very helpful. We bring that audio into the arena [besides piping in the noise for TV] because the performers need to hear the audience too, and feed off that crowd." Stephanie said ThunderDome has also enabled its production crew to explore technologies such as AR, Drones, Pyros, and Lasers in ways that "we had never been able to do before." She added, "Through ThunderDome, we have brought the spectacle back to WWE and have seen our ratings increase because of that." WWE will be moving its ThunderDome set to Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, FL, starting with the episode of SmackDown on Friday, December 11.
The Undertaker just had his Final Farewell at WWE Survivor Series, but WWE is offering fans the rare chance to step into the ring with “The Phenom” Through Omaze and a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the winner of a sweepstakes will get get to meet “The Deadman”” himself. The experience includes a tour of the WWE Performance Center, led by The Undertaker, and a picture with him, too. Plus, the winner gets to make their own ring entrance, Here’s the announcement from the official website: “Hear that? It’s the Undertaker’s bell. And it tolls for YOU. The Undertaker is inviting you and a friend to join him at the WWE Performance Center for an unforgettable experience. You’ll tour the training center for the wrestling stars of tomorrow with the wrestling legend. Take some truly epic photos. And even step into the ring with The Undertaker—don’t worry, not for a Tombstone Piledriver—but to create your own custom ring entrance! Flights, hotel and autographed WWE title belt included.” Fans can enter the running until it ends on February 24, 2021. No donation is required, but fans who buy numerous entries can increase their chances of winning while donating to the cause. The winner will be announced on March 10, 2021.
There has been a recent COVID-19 outbreak in WWE NXT and at the WWE Performance Center, which led to changes on Wednesday's TV show. It's been reported that the outbreak may have started with a WWE Performance Center Coach, but that was not confirmed. In an update, PWInsider now reports that there was no training in Florida on Thursday, and there's no word yet on when training will resume.
WWE is expected to announce the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida as the location for the SummerSlam pay-per-view on August 23. They're also looking at the venue for other upcoming events and TV tapings.
It was reported on Thursday, via PWInsider, that WWE was considering the use of virtual fans for SummerSlam, something FOX has done for recent MLB broadcasts. Now @Wrestlevotes reports that WWE has a much bigger interactive experience planned for the Amway Center.
It was noted that WWE is about to begin a "new long term residency" at the Amway Center, indicating they have signed a lease with the venue, which has been "officially" closed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This residency includes a new interactive experience that will see fans appear live on the show via LED boards. The interactive experience will be hosted by WWE Superstars and Legends.
The interactive experience will be shown in the arena with more than 2,500 square foot of LED boards.
WWE should be announcing details on the interactive experience soon as it was noted that applications for people to appear on screen will open next week.
As first reported by Pro Wrestling Sheet, we can add WWE to the shortlist of sports organizations affected by COVID-19. After last week’s first case of confirmed COVID-19 caused a delay in their taping and their first mass testing for the illness, inside sources are saying that at least three others who have been in the Performance Center during tapings have received positive test results. It’s unknown the exact number of positive results and how many of them are in-ring performers.
Sources also say that WWE will now be running more tests before this week’s TV tapings in order to ensure that the disease hasn’t spread into the locker room or backstage. The Performance Center is located in Orlando, Florida, right in the middle of a state that’s seen rising infection rates every day since going through with plans to reopen businesses two weeks ago.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com is reporting on Twitter that Armando Alejandro Montalvo the man who was shot by an Orange County sheriff's deputy outside of the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida after an incident in 2015 has returned.
The man who was shot outside the WWE PC years ago just had to be removed from the area by WWE security yet again. He's trying to send a message to Triple H.
He claims that he's been trained by Team 3D and that he did security for WrestleMania. The security guard is trying to de-escalate the situation. It looks like it ended without incident. He streamed it on his Facebook page.
The security guard oddly told him to go try his talents at AEW, but did a really good job making sure everything ended calmly.WWE recently filed a new civil hearing against Montalvo related to two May incidents that happened outside of the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.
There will be a small number of real fans at today's WWE television tapings. Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com first reported that these were actual fans and not WWE Performance Center recruits.
Wrestling Inc. has learned that the fans are some of the local diehard fans, as well as friends of the wrestlers. They had to sign waivers to not take pictures or send out spoilers. They received a free t-shirt as well.
WWE had been holding shows without fans since March due to the Coronoavirus pandemic. Last month WWE started placing NXT wrestlers and developmental talent in the crowd to improve the atmosphere on the shows.
here will be a small number of real fans at today's WWE television tapings. Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com first reported that these were actual fans and not WWE Performance Center recruits.
Wrestling Inc. has learned that the fans are some of the local diehard fans, as well as friends of the wrestlers. They had to sign waivers to not take pictures or send out spoilers. They received a free t-shirt as well.
WWE had been holding shows without fans since March due to the Coronoavirus pandemic. Last month WWE started placing NXT wrestlers and developmental talent in the crowd to improve the atmosphere on the shows.
A WWE wrestler has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The wrestler, who is a development talent and not a main roster star, was last at the WWE Performance Center on June 9. While no other talent have reported symptoms, the company is testing all talent, staff, and employees that were at the PC immediately.
“A developmental talent, who was last on site at WWE’s training facility on Tuesday, June 9, has tested positive for COVID-19,” WWE Associate Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Dugas explained in a statement sent to WrestleZone. “Since that time, no other individuals that attended the facility have reported symptoms. However, out of an abundance of caution and to ensure the health and safety of the company’s performers and staff, all talent, production crew and employees on site at the training and production facilities will be tested for COVID-19 immediately. Following the test results, WWE plans to proceed with its normal television production schedule.”
As far as testing is concerned, we do everything imaginable. You can’t even step on the premises if you have a fever. We have this whole form you have to fill out, and you have to do it every week, in terms of whether you’ve been exposed. It’s a whole long form. We’re doing everything we can for safety and making sure the environment is as good as it possibly can be. Not only monitoring our talent but our employees as well. Anyone who’s been at the training facility, and we’re very careful as to how many people are in and out at one time.
It’s a company called Applied Bioscience that we work through. They have a spray that, through a process, makes it cling to surfaces. Once it’s coated, it lasts for 90 to 120 days. How it was explained to me it, it acts like a sword that punctures the cell wall of what causes the virus and kills it on contact.
Vince finishes by saying that they’ll take advantage of any testing that comes out as time goes on. Closing fully is not an option for WWE, but Vince and the company want to be sure that everything is as safe as possible for those who choose to come in and perform in their ring.
Add WWE Performance Center coaches Serena Deeb, Kendo Kashin and Chris Guy (Ace Steel) to the list of wrestlers, creative writers, producers, referees and other talent released today by WWE, according to PWInsider.
WWE NXT Superstar MJ Jenkins, Performance Center coach Norman Smiley, Spanish announcer Jerry Soto and on-air talent Josiah Williams to the list of wrestlers, creative writers, producers, referees and other talent released today by WWE.
Regarding the releases, @Wrestlevotes noted that the number of staff and talent releases will be "well into the hundreds" when everything has been finalized. Casey of Squared Circle Sirens also noted on Twitter that staff from the WWE Performance Center are being let go.
Below is the updated lists of confirmed cuts made today by the company, along with the tweets from Jenkins, Smiley, Soto and Williams:
* MJ Jenkins
* Deonna Purrazzo
* Aleksandar Jaksic
* Rusev
* No Way Jose
* Mike Kanellis
* Maria Kanellis
* Primo
* Epico
* Rowan
* Sarah Logan
* Karl Anderson
* Luke Gallows
* EC3
* Drake Maverick
* Curt Hawkins
* Heath Slater
* Eric Young
* Lio Rush
PRODUCERS (Furloughed or released):
* WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle (Released)
* Billy Kidman
* Mike Rotunda
* Pat Buck
* Fit Finlay
* Shawn Daivari
* Scott Armstrong
* Sarah Stock
* Shane Helms
* Lance Storm
ANNOUNCERS:
* Aiden English
* Jerry Soto
REFEREES:
* Mike Chioda
CREATIVE:
* Andrea Listenberger
COACHES:
* Norman Smiley
OTHER ON-AIR TALENT:
* Josiah Williams
