More On Triple H’s Backstage NXT Meeting

When Triple H addressed the NXT roster before the last set of NXT TV tapings, he informed the talent that they would be getting a lot more exposure with NXT airing on the WWE Network now. He also informed the developmental talent that the NXT product will be pushed hard as its own wrestling entity in the WWE, and call-ups to the main roster will likely be less frequent as a result. He told them not to worry about this because they will all be bigger stars due to NXT having a new home on the WWE Network.

Basically, the mindset WWE is trying to establish is that with the Network, the stars of NXT will be getting plenty of added exposure without having to be called up and featured on the main roster.

WWE Network Subscriber Targets & Revenue Breakdown; More On International Launch

WWE posted a new investor presentation for March 2014 on their corporate website. In it, there is some interesting data in regards to the WWE Network.

The presentation highlights three scenarios of WWE Network subscribers, net revenue and incremental OIBDA in the United States. Here’s a look:

1 Million Subscribers – $115,000,000 – Break-even
2 Million Subscribers – $225,000,000 – $50,000,000
3 Million Subscribers – $350,000,000 – $150,000,000

The same scenarios are broken down for phase 1 of the Network’s international launch in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Nordic countries:

250,000 Subscribers – $25,000,000 – Break-even
750,000 Subscribers – $75,000,000 – $70,000,000
1,500,000 Subscribers – $140,000,000 – $85,000,000

CM Punk returning to television next week and not for WWE

CM Punk (advertised under his real name of Phil Brooks) is being advertised to appear on next week's "Talking Dead" on AMC (3/16) following the latest episode of "The Walking Dead" at 10:00 p.m. Eastern (9:00 CT). Punk will join Melissa McBride and Yvette Nicole Brown. This will be his first public appearance since leaving WWE in late January.

TNA Lockdown PPV Results

John Cena, Michael Cole & Stephanie McMahon Present At SXSW

WWE sent John Cena, Michael Cole, Perkins Miller and Stephanie McMahon to SXSW on Sunday for a presentation on the WWE App (See also – Crushing Second Screen: The Ultimate TV Companion).
They were there to discuss how the company has used their social media landscape of more than 260 million followers to launch the WWE Network. The hashtag #WWESXSW actually trended Twitter during the discussion.

"Adapt or get out of the way" @JohnCena at #WWESXSW referring to adopting new social media trends and platforms. pic.twitter.com/WOqobqc0ja

— Chad Brizendine (@ChadBrizendine) March 9, 2014

"We have 270 million fans engaging - only 20K fit into a stadium so MultiScreen is what we build for" - Perkins Miller, WWE EVP Digital Media

Davey Richards Explains Why WWE Did Not Hire The Wolves, Says WWE Gives Him the Creeps, Trashes ROH, Owner Joe Koff & Booker Hunter Johnson

One half of The Wolves, Davey Richards, recently did an interview with Newsday.com, and Richards explained that him and Eddie Edwards were informed, via email, that they were not being offered WWE contracts because although Triple H felt their wrestling ability was TV ready, WWE "already had a lot of Daveys and Eddies." Richards went on to say the following:

"That place is so weird, man. It gave me the creeps. Everyone's just walking around on eggshells. It's just bubble. Personally, I wanted to go to TNA anyway. I was trying to convince Eddie the entire time. After [WWE] told us they were not going ahead with the rest of the tryout, we had a deal signed with [TNA] within 20 minutes."

Additionally, Brian Frtiz also conducted an interview with Davey Richards for The Orlando Sentinel, and he had the following to say regarding his current relationship with Ring of Honor:

"We're not talking. We're not on good terms. I have no respect for them whatsoever. I strongly dislike management there like with the exception of Jeff Jones who is a great guy. But the booker [Hunter Johnson] is completely inadequate at his job and he got his job more for being spineless than being talented. And the owner [Joe Koff] is even worse, he could care less about wrestling. He just wants to do television. To me, it's just not something I agree with but I'm not there anymore and they do their own thing. And for the talent and the fans I wish them nothing but the best of luck.

That company is in business not because of stellar booking and stellar management. They're in business still because they'they're spineless. The talent there is phenomenal. They're top notch and great. But the management from the booker to the owner it's definitely shut up and do what you're told and drink the Kool-aid. I made a joke when I was there I called it Jim Jones wrestling. Just shut up and drink the Kool-aid and do your job. In private, people are going this sucks this sucks this sucks and I'm the one who came out and said this is terrible. I worked for that company and gave them everything I had for seven years. I think I earned my right to an opinion. Once that got out, it was like you're going against the stream? You're not here to have an opinion, just shut up and do your job and get your paycheck. I'm sure you can find someone else to do that for a lot less money than what you're paying me so I'm just going to go about my way. Best decision I ever made and I have no desire to go back, ever."

Interview with Fandango

WWE Expects New Cable-TV Deal by Early May, CFO Barrios Says

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE:US) may find a new cable-TV home for its popular “Raw” and “Smackdown” programs by the end of next month, Chief Financial Officer George Barrios said.

“We think we’ll be able to announce a new domestic rights partner at the end of April or beginning of May,” Barrios, who is also WWE’s chief strategy officer, said yesterday in a telephone interview. He said the company is in talks with “multiple parties,” while declining to name any.

Shares of Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE have gained almost 30 percent this week on prospects for a new online video network and a richer deal for the popular cable shows, according to Barrios. The company, controlled by founder and Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon through Class B shares with added voting rights, isn’t in merger talks, he said.

WWE has held talks on future domestic TV distribution of its shows with AMC Networks Inc. (AMCX:US), Viacom Inc. (VIAB:US), Time Warner Inc. (TWX:US)’s Turner Networks and 21st Century Fox Inc., said people with knowledge of the situation. A renewal with NBCUniversal is also possible, they said.

WWE fell less than 1 percent to $29.64 at the close in New York after setting a record yesterday. The shares have more than tripled (WWE:US) in the past 12 months.

The WWE App has been downloaded almost 11 million times in 220 countries, a company spokesman said today. Fans can use the app to watch the WWE Network, a digital channel in the U.S. that costs $9.99 a month.

“Those are significant economics,” Barrios said. “Investors are looking at those and figuring out how they will contribute.”

An exclusive negotiating period with Comcast Corp. (CMCSA:US)’s NBCUniversal for cable rights ended last month. WWE’s shows run on NBCUniversal’s USA and SyFy networks.

“Raw” and “Smackdown” routinely rate among the most-watched shows on cable television each week, with “Raw” usually in the top 10 behind programs such as “The Walking Dead,” “Duck Dynasty” and “Pawn Stars,” according to Nielsen data.

“When you boil down the numbers we have larger live, same-day viewers than anything on cable,” Barrios said. “We have a passionate fanbase that follows us wherever we are.”

source: bloomberg businessweek

WWE Stock Highest in 15 Years; Breaks Market Cap

With the WWE Stock now worth $27.03 each (The highest its been in 15 years), the company have now broken another barrier by hitting the $2 Billion mark for a company's market capitalization.

Market Capitalization is the total value of the issued shares of a publicly traded company, with the caps at the following classifications;

Mega-cap: Over $200 billion
Large-cap: Over $10 billion
Mid-cap: $2 billion–$10 billion
Small-cap: $250 million–$2 billion
Micro-cap: Below $250 million
Nano-cap: Below $50 million

source: f4wonline.com

Video: Is Triple H scared of Daniel Bryan?

The latest sit down interview with Triple H and Michael Cole has been released, and the following are highlights from the interview, which you can watch below:

Cole brings up the many reasons why HHH would not accept Daniel Bryan's WrestleMania challenge, and Cole asks HHH what the real reason is.

HHH says he's the COO of the company, and doesn't have the time for a B+ player. Cole noted HHH has had numerous matches since he has been COO of WWE, and HHH says Cole can't compare guys like The Undertaker to Daniel Bryan. He says it's gonna take a lot more than a challenge to get HHH to lace up his boots against a B+ player like Bryan.

HHH says Bryan would be embarrassed by him at WrestleMania, thus ending the "Yes" movement, and that's not good for business. It's better for Bryan to do his "little B+ thing" and let the "immortals" handle WrestleMania.

HHH calls Bryan a "185 pound sawed-off midget," and when asked if he's scared of Daniel Bryan, HHH said "You want to know if I'm afraid of him? The answer to your question is the exact same answer to Daniel Bryan's question: No."

Update on the Future of WWE Main Event

WWE's deal with Ion will be expiring in April and as of right now their deal is not expected to be renewed. Look for WWE Main Event to become another WWE Network exclusive.

Also, there is talk of airing Main Event live every Tuesday night at 7:00 on the WWE Network at least until WrestleMania.

source: wrestling observer

Dave Meltzer Comments On C.M. Punk Not Being On Raw

There was a lot of speculation as to whether or not C.M. Punk would make his return to WWE on last night's episode of Monday Night Raw from his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com/The Wrestling Observer Newsletter said before last night's Raw that he wasn't 100% convinced that Punk would show up, although a top source claimed 100% that Punk would be there. After Punk did not show up last night, Meltzer revealed that he was "lied to" by this source.