No New TV Licensing Deal Between WWE and NBCU … Yet

“WWE’s exclusive negotiating period with NBCU for our flagship television programs, ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown,’ has now expired,” WWE said in a statement. The exclusive window was available to NBCU through Feb. 15, giving the company the opportunity to accept or reject WWE’s final offer.

“While we were unable to reach an agreement with NBCU during this period, we have certainly appreciated our long and productive partnership. With year-round, live programming that is highly coveted by programmers, distributors and advertisers, we are extremely excited about our future. We look forward to engaging with potential partners who recognize the value of having the #1 show on cable and live content delivered 52 weeks a year.”

WWE will now start negotiating with other companies, although a new deal with NBCU could still be brokered once it sees what other networks are willing to pay. WWE is considering multiple plans for its shows: airing them all with a single family of networks or splitting them up across multiple network owners.

Either way, the company is looking to significantly increase the $139.5 million in TV licensing fees WWE earns each year for its shows, and attempt to get closer to the rich network deals that sports organizations like the NBA, NHL NASCAR, as well as soccer command.

source: variety.com

Big Daddy V Passes Away

From WWE.com:

WWE is saddened by the news that Nelson Frazier Jr., aka Big Daddy V and Mabel, has passed away. A larger-than-life Superstar, Frazier was a former World Tag Team Champion, Hardcore Champion and the 1995 King of the Ring.

As the dark, formidable Viscera, he was also a member of Undertaker's faction, The Ministry of Darkness. Frazier's colorful personality made him a memorable competitor throughout the Attitude Era.

Our deepest condolences go out to Frazier's family, friends and fans.

John Cena Talks About WWE Talents Needing to Step Up, WWE's Product Changing and More

Below are some highlights from Steve Austin's recent podcast interview with John Cena:

* Cena says he feels great, turns 37 in April and still feels he can keep up with anyone who comes through the doors to wrestle for WWE.

* Cena said he wishes there was more motivational reinforcement from WWE officials. He admitted that WWE officials create a "walking on eggshells environment."

* Cena said WWE has a locker room full of very talented guys but also a locker room full of Superstars who are fearful for their jobs. Cena said some of them are not willing to take the next step.

* Cena feels WWE is on the cusp of getting a real all-star roster for the first time in a long time.

* Cena said WWE is moving towards more action and less talk.

* Cena talked about working with Cesaro at the Performance Center for a Muscle & Fitness shoot. Cena said he likes to get to know talents on a personal basis when WWE is ready to push them to the main event

Chris Jericho Giving Fans The Chance To Pen The Foreword To His New Book

Chris Jericho is giving his fans a chance to write the foreword to his new book. He posted the following on his Facebook page:

ATTENTION ALL JERICHOHOLICS! – I want YOU to write the foreword for my next BOOK! All you have to do to win is compose up to a 1,000 word essay on why you are a fan of mine, what I’ve meant to your life, how my previous books have influenced you…basically whatever you want to write about! I’ll choose one winner and that person’s foreword will be included in my next book, due to be released in September of this year.

Email your entries to jerichoforewords@gmail.com and I’ll read them all and make my decision. The winner won’t be announced until the book is published, so it will be quite the surprise! Also make sure to include your name and where you are from. Happy writing and good luck to all of you!! (By emailing your entry you give permission for it to be used for the book. Entries may be edited and must be submitted by Feb 24, 2014.)

Rumor Mill - CM Punk Granted Release From WWE?

There was talk going around at the weekend house shows that CM Punk was given his official release from WWE on Friday. It hasn't been confirmed and Punk is still shown on the Superstars page of WWE website. We did hear from a few people that spoke to him recently and he is telling them that he is "done".

source: pwinsider.com

MTV UK Looks at the WWE Performance Center

MTV UK was recently given a special look at NXT and the WWE Performance Center. You can check out their coverage at this link. They have interviews with Paige, Triple H, Kane, Sami Zayn and others. Kane noted that if he were to build a wrestling company around one person it would be The Undertaker.

Photo: Triple H, Stephanie & Lemmy

Steph and l always love when we get a chance to see you Lem, you are a true legend and a true friend!!! @myMotorhead pic.twitter.com/3R2a5cfzp5

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 16, 2014

This Day In Wrestling History

Bret Hart defeats Undertaker, Steve Austin & Vader for the WWF(E) Title, starting his fourth reign as champion.
February 16, 1997

The final episode of WWE's version of ECW aired.
February 16, 2010

Stephanie McMahon and Larysa DiDio Workout for Prevention.com

Fitness expert Larysa DiDio has a closet full of bright, fashionable fitness gear. But she usually works out in fleece pajamas. “I wake up at 5 o’clock in the morning and pretty much roll onto the elliptical,” says the mother of two kids, ages 10 and 13. Like many busy moms, the morning is the only time she has to work out.

Stephanie McMahon, chief brand officer for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), also squeezes in her cardio before her kids (ages 3, 5, and 7) get up. “I don’t have time to do it in the day,” she says. “Plus, it’s very important to me that I get my time in with my kids.”

But sometimes, even a workout in the morning can seem impossible. That’s why DiDio created the 4-Minute Workout. The idea: You may not have an hour or even 20 minutes in a day, but you probably have 4 minutes to kill before leaving to pick up your daughter from soccer practice, or before dialing into a conference call. “Those little bits of activity throughout the day boost your metabolism and can really make a difference in your health and happiness,” DiDio says.

Watch the video above to see the two fitness friends DiDio and McMahon teach you the 4-Minute Workout. Perform each of the four exercises for 1 minute without rest. Do that several times a day whenever you can fit it in. Or repeat the routine four times with 1 minute of rest between each round for a full 20-minute workout.

Shane McMahon Almost Scammed Out Of $20 Million

The New York Post reports that former WWE executive Shane McMahon was nearly scammed out of $20 million in a scam which was designed to convince McMahon that he was investing in the purchase of Maxim Magazine.

The scam which failed has been documented in detail in the following press release...

More?

One of the Biggest Days in WWE History Today

Today will be looked back upon as one of the most historic dates in the history of professional wrestling as at the end of business today, Comcast's exclusivity to negotiate a new TV deal with WWE will end - setting off a chain of events that will tell the tale of the future of professional wrestling.

Once WWE receives Comcast's new offer for keeping their broadcast partnership and exclusivity going forward, WWE can choose to sign the new deal or open the negotiations up for outside entities to bid on the WWE programming.

As we've noted before, WWE smartly timed this so that all of their cable series - Raw, Smackdown, Total Divas, Main Event - as well as a potentially resurrected Saturday Morning Slam - are part of the negotiations, allowing WWE to move everything as one monster package, similar to what major sports leagues such as the NBA and NASCAR do with their programming partners.

Several months back, Variety noted that WWE had reached out or had meetings with A&E, Disney, Viacom, 21st Century Fox and Discovery about potential broadcast partnerships.

Comcast will have the chance to match any outside offers, according to reports in the NYC media, so even if another entity comes in with a big offer, they will have a chance to keep WWE under their umbrella.

WWE intends to announce their new deal in April or May. Should programming need to move from Comcast to another partner, that would come in early October.

Nothing is certain yet, except this: WWE will be receiving the highest premium for their programming ever, which will be a major positive for their bottom line.

source: pwinsider.com

This Day In Wrestling History

Happy Birthday to:

Big John Studd - February 14, 1948

Ken Shamrock - February 14, 1965

Tommy Dreamer - February 14, 1968

The Big Show debuts in the WWF(E) at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre PPV
February 14, 1999