WWE: Earth's Most Successful Traveling Theater

If you ask a roomful of Broadway fans what the most successful touring show in the world is, you will probably hear a chorus of The Phantom of the Opera or Cats. Truly, both of these shows have made a mint over the years, particularly on tour: The official website for Phantom claims a worldwide gross in excess of $6 billion. While this is a staggering figure, built up over 29 years of constant performances around the world, there is one road show that consistently beats it, landing a cool half billion in annual sales: World Wrestling Entertainment (better known as WWE), the biggest name in professional wrestling.

"Wait a minute," you might say. "Professional wrestling is not theater." Oh, but it is: Unlike its freestyle and Greco-Roman cousins, pro wrestling traffics in whimsical costumes, sets, characters, and story lines — it is much closer to the stage than the Olympic podium. This is particularly true since the death of "kayfabe" (the practice of refusing to acknowledge that the wrestlers are playing roles and their matches are predetermined). The vast majority of wrestling fans are in on the secret: This is scripted theater. The major difference is that while a Broadway tour may stop at 2,000- to 3,500-seat houses (at most), the WWE regularly plays in front of sold-out arenas of 5,000 to 15,000. It is long past time we give WWE its due at the most vital theatrical enterprise of our time....More?

source: theatermania.com

Dixie Carter On TNA's Being Done With Destination America This Year, TNA Continuing To Exist, WWE

TNA President Dixie Carter, GFW's Jeff Jarrett and several TNA stars recently spoke with Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard site. The full interview is at this link. Below are highlights:

Dixie on TNA's status with Destination America:

"The biggest challenge for us is building a brand in the U.S. That's where we need to grow. We're contracted to Destination America through the end of the year, and we are in discussions going on for 2016."

Dixie on TNA's future:

"TNA will continue exist, and on a level that far exceeds what we're currently doing. I'm looking ahead five years down the road, not a year down the road."

Dixie on TNA creating competition and WWE:

"Besides WWE, we're the only global promotion in the world. We're in over 120 countries worldwide and in 19 languages. We made a conscious decision about three years ago to take a step back and focus on young talent. We've had some of the biggest names ever on our show. People have given us a hard time about using WWE talent, but after a hot run with us, almost every one of them has worked with WWE again. That is a huge compliment for us.

"I do feel we've taken some unfair blows. Competition, no matter who it is, is healthy. It's absolutely imperative for the industry to grow. There's a reason that there is a Lowe's on the corner of every Home Depot, and a Walgreens across from every CVS. It's important for the industry."

Total Divas Recap 09/15/15

WWE Signs Another Tough Enough Competitor?

WWE has reportedly signed Tough Enough finalist Zamariah "ZZ" Loupe. He was at the WWE Performance Center working out in the ring on Monday, according to PWInsider. Apparently ZZ has reported to the Performance Center to begin working.

WWE now has all four Tough Enough finalists signed as winners Josh Bredl and Sara Lee reported to work this month and Amanda Saccomanno has been filming Total Divas.

Earl Hebner Makes History With TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction

For 27 years professional wrestling referee Earl Hebner has entered millions of living rooms across the globe every week, officiating the wildest and most memorable matches and main events of wrestling’s top promotions. On Saturday, Oct. 3, in front of family, friends and fans in his home state of Virginia, Hebner, the most famous professional referee in the world, will be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame.

“Earl Hebner is not only one of the most recognizable personalities in professional wrestling, his passion for the sport, in-ring management skills, and ability to entertain audiences has set the standard by which all professional wrestling referees are measured,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “ It is an honor to have Earl as part of the TNA family and as the newest member of the illustrious TNA Hall of Fame.”

Hebner’s TNA Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place Saturday, Oct. 3 during The Road to Bound For Glory Tour live event in Salem, Va. Smashing Pumpkins front man and TNA Senior Producer, Billy Corgan, will induct Hebner, with TNA Ring Announcer and Hebner’s dear friend, Jeremy Borash, emceeing.

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Nikki Bella Comments On Breaking AJ Lee's Record, Thanks John Cena, Fans And Her Trainers

WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella, who is now the longest reigning WWE Divas Champion in history, posted the following on Instagram tonight after retaining her title on RAW:

I made history! Your Longest Reigning Divas Champion in WWE History! Words can't even describe how I feel right now! I am so beyond blessed and honored! Tonight goes out to my Pop Pop. He taught me so much. He taught me to always be a hard worker, be respectable and kind to others, put God first and family second, and always stay humble. He always told me he was proud of me, I'll never forget that. He lead by example. I wish I could call him right now and tell him about this moment but instead I'll look above me and pray and know he was watching and is listening. Never give up on your dreams because if you have heart and passion they will come true! Pop Pop I can just imagine your smile right now and the big south Philly hug I would have gotten! Thank you for teaching me to be a strong, hard working, independent woman! I love you so much, always and forever! As well as my #BellaArmy I would be nothing without you all! You created Nikki Bella, Team Bella and the Divas Revolution! None of this wouldn't exist without your voices! Thank you! And to my coaches from the beginning who taught me so much at FCW Steve Keirn, Dr Tom Prichard, and Billy Kidman! Thank you! And thank you to my Love @johncena for teaching me so much and my sister @thebriebella for always be being my side! Love you all! Omgoodness! Tears and chills! Trying to take all this in right now!

Did Hulk Hogan Talk To Vince McMahon After The Racist Comments Scandal?, Hogan Talks WWE

Hulk Hogan recently spoke with Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard blog. The full interview is at this link. He commented on the fallout with WWE after The National Enquirer revealed racist comments he made years ago. Hogan says he never talked to Vince McMahon and it was Triple H who cut ties with him. Below are some quotes:

"I never talked to Vince. The only person I talked to was Triple H. I called him and told him there was some old news coming out from when TMZ first reported the tape and there were some racial slurs on it. Triple H said, 'OK, thanks for calling. Let me talk to Vince.' He called me back a half hour later and he goes, 'I've got some news and it isn't good. Vince said that you need to resign.' I never heard from Vince or talked to Vince. In the middle of the night, they just fired me."

"They had to do what was best for business. Triple H was telling me the USA Network was reacting very badly, and they had to make a quick decision, and that was to put me out to pasture. They were under heavy fire and they were scrambling."

"That's not characteristic of what the WWE does. Vince McMahon reaches out and helps people. If you're a drug abuser or you abuse alcohol, Vince McMahon and the WWE reach out and help people. So what's so uncommon about this was they took the symptoms, said, 'Oh my god, there's a symptom of being a racist,' and threw me away. They usually go to the source. They've known me for over 30 years and they know I'm not a racist, so they should have went to the source. I don't use the word, ever, except for in that moment of anger, so I wish WWE went to the source instead of the symptoms. I could have explained I've tried every day since then to be a better man."

"The only place for me to be would be the WWE. That's where my home is. I thought I'd go step-by-step, crawling uphill with WWE, to explain how wrong I was, but that opportunity wasn't there. I'd love to sit down and connect with Vince. A lot of people make mistakes. If we were all judged by our weakest moment, it would be a sad world. If I had a chance to work with Vince and help people, we could help fix a lot of things together."

Video: The Authority Dances With The New Day

Paige Talks About Recent Restaurant Incident With Alicia Fox And Drunk Customers

We noted last week that Paige and Alicia Fox were thrown out of a restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday, September 6th after an incident with a regular customer who was described as intoxicated. The incident ended with drinks being thrown by both sides.

Paige appeared at Comic Con in Pittsburgh this weekend and addressed the incident. Paige says they were not filming the incident for Total Divas as cameras weren't there. Paige claims her and Alicia were singing karaoke when the woman began filming them. The Divas asked the woman to stop and that's when she got mad and threw her drink at them.

New WWE NXT Signings Confirmed, New WWE Performance Center Coach

PWInsider has confirmed that WWE has signed former TNA Knockout and CMLL veteran Sarah Stock (Dark Angel, Sarita) to work as a full time coach at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

It's also now confirmed that indie stars Biff Busick and Rich Swann have signed with WWE. They will report to the Performance Center later this month. They join indie talent Eddie "Bandido Jr." Orengo, who was hired to be a referee, as new WWE talents but at least 1 or 2 more are expected to be confirmed soon.

Athena Signed by the WWE

Athena‘s WWE signing is no longer just a rumor.

PWInsider is confirming that the indy star has signed with the WWE, adding that she will report to the Performance Center later this month.

Athena’s signing has been rumored ever since she took part in a WWE tryout in June. The rumors started heating up in recent weeks, the widespread belief being that she was finishing up her indy dates before making her transition to the WWE.

Since making her wrestling debut in 2007, Athena has become one of the most popular names on the indy scene, stealing the show in SHIMMER and WSU while winning a number of championships, including the AIW Women’s Title.

WWE And Triple H Officially Announce 30-Minute Ironwoman Match For WWE NXT Takeover

WWE and Triple H have officially announced Sasha Banks vs. Bayley in a 30-Minute Ironwoman Match for the main event of the October 7th NXT Takeover special:

.@SashaBanksWWE and @itsBayleyWWE are exactly where they belong...in the MAIN EVENT. #NXTTakeOver 10/7/15 #WeAreNXT pic.twitter.com/eNDmt9VYqY

— Triple H (@TripleH) September 10, 2015

On the heels of their groundbreaking, show-stealing battle at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, Bayley and Sasha Banks are set to make history once again. NXT General Manager William Regal has confirmed that the two will clash once again in the main event of NXT TakeOver on Oct. 7 in a 30-Minute Iron Man Match for the NXT Women's Championship!

This title match will go a full half-hour. Whoever scores the most pinfalls, submissions, disqualifications or count-outs will win the match and be declared NXT Women's Champion.

The rivalry between these two Divas runs deep. After months of coming up short in championship matches, Bayley finally found the champion's spirit within, going on a tear through the best competition NXT had to offer, defeating Emma, Charlotte and Becky Lynch to earn a title match with Sasha in Brooklyn. While the match meant everything to Bayley, The Boss dismissed her challenger before the bell even rang. Having been called up to WWE's main roster as part of the Divas Revolution, the Team B.A.D. member brushed Bayley off, saying that she wasn't worth her time.

Fueled by Sasha's disrespect, Bayley laid it all on the line at the sold-out Barclays Center. Despite The Boss' best attempts to re-injure her hand, the happy-go-lucky Diva fought through the pain, and several nasty spills, to connect with a reverse hurricanrana off the ropes and a Belly-to-Bayley Suplex to capture the title.

Having finally reached the top of the mountain, Bayley stood tall with the NXT Women's Championship in hand, soon to be joined in celebration by Charlotte and Becky. Sasha got back in the ring and hugged her rival, before the four Divas who changed the face of women's wrestling took a curtain call at NXT's biggest event ever.

As it turns out, the last chapter in this grueling rivalry hadn't been written yet. Bayley and Sasha Banks will have another opportunity to change the game at NXT TakeOver. Who will go the distance in a grueling 30-Minute WWE Iron Man Match and walk out of Orlando with the NXT Women's Championship? Find out Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, only on WWE Network!