“Our results reaffirm that Fox Corporation is delivering on the operational and financial objectives that we established less than twelve months ago,” Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said. “Our brands are exhibiting strength in a competitive marketplace and delivering healthy top-line growth as we continue to invest strategically to expand the reach of our portfolio and further diversify our revenue streams. Meanwhile, we are taking a balanced approach to capital allocation, including the return of $500 million to shareholders in the form of share repurchases since our last earnings release. Coming off an incredibly successful Super Bowl LIV and with the buildup to the November Presidential Election ahead of us, we look forward to continuing our momentum through calendar 2020.”
March 10, 2020
March 8, 2020
Triple H Honored With Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award
Triple H was honored with the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.
WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger presented him with the award during the Finals of the Arnold Classic, an annual bodybuilding competition that recognizes Schwarzenegger’s iconic career in the sport.
The award has been presented annually since 2000 to an individual who has made notable contributions to the fitness industry and offered a lifetime of service to the enhancement of sports performance and promotion. Past honorees include Sylvester Stallone, Lou Ferrigno and more.
March 7, 2020
New Lawsuit Against WWE By Stockholders Over Saudi Arabia Ties, Executives Leaving The Company
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announced a class action suit against WWEover its relationship with Saudi Arabia and recent moves at the top that caused the stock to plummet, according to Business Wire.
The lawsuit also claims due to a series of events the WWE stock plummeted from $100 per share to $40.24 in early February.
Back in November, there were major flightdelays out of Saudi Arabia that forced WWE to re-write the following SmackDown due to talent not making it back in time. Initial reports said Saudi Arabia owed WWE money, which caused Vince McMahon to cut the live feed until the two sides apparently worked things out. WWE "swiftly denied" these allegations when asked about it in November.
Due to all of this, the rumor was Saudi Arabia then delayed the flight in retaliation for what WWE did. WWE maintained that the delays were due to mechanical failures. The lawsuit mentioned much of this in the Business Wire report.
The abrupt exit of WWE Co-PresidentsGeorge Barrios and Michelle Wilson in late January, followed by poor financial performance report (causing the stock to drop mightily) in early February was also documented in the lawsuit.
As noted, in a separate lawsuit filed by the Oklahoma firefighters pension fund in December, claimed there is "a credible basis to believe" Vince McMahon and other WWE senior officials are not keeping up with their WWE duties as they focus resources towards the XFL, which is run under McMahon's Alpha Entertainment, LLC.
Triple H's Bio From The WWE 2020 Proxy
Paul Levesque has served as our Executive Vice President, Global Talent Strategy Development since February 2020, and prior thereto was Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative since August 2011. In his current role, he oversees the Company Talent Relations and Talent Development departments. Additionally, Mr. Levesque plays an integral role in the Company creative process, helping shape the creative direction and storylines of WWE programming.
Mr. Levesque is revolutionizing the business with his global recruiting strategy and developmental training processes. In order to create a platform for future success, he established the Company state of the art training facility, the WWE Performance Center, which paved the way for the WWE third global brand, NXT. Mr. Levesque debuted as a WWE Superstar, in 1995 and has held the WWE Heavyweight Championship title 14 times. He has captured every major championship, headlined thousands of WWE events, and entertained millions around the world. Mr. Levesque is married to Stephanie McMahon and together they established Connor's Cure. Mr.Levesque is the son-in-law of Vincent McMahon.
March 4, 2020
WWE Issues Statement On The Coronavirus And WrestleMania 36 Week
WWE is moving forward with WrestleMania 36 plans despite multiple confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Tampa, Florida area.
WWE issued a statement to ESPN this afternoon and said they are monitoring the coronavirus situation closely with partners and government officials in the Tampa Bay area. WWE confirmed that there are no current plans to cancel or postpone any upcoming events due to the virus.
WWE Held Talent Meeting Over Coronavirus Concerns At RAW
According to PWInsider.com, WWE held a talent meeting before RAW last night regarding the Coronavirus pandemic. It was noted that the company wanted to review the latest information on the disease and what talents could do to avoid contracting the disease on the road.
Last week, Stephanie McMahon and other WWE officials were in Tampa for a business luncheon and spoke with the Tampa Bay Times about growing concerns over the disease. McMahon said WWE puts the safety of their performers and fans first but they’ll act if it comes to that point. “The health and safety of not only our fan base, but also our superstars, really does come first. We don’t want to put anyone in a bad situation ever, regardless of the circumstance. Those are not risks worth taking.” McMahon added that the company will “enact those measures” if necessary.
March 2, 2020
Record Number Of Fans Switch To WWE NXT After AEW Dynamite For Charlotte Flair Vs. Bianca Belair End
The closing segment of the Revolution go-home edition of Dynamite, which was the Jon Moxley vs. Chris Jericho weigh-ins, drew higher than the Flair vs. Belair match, but more than 227,000 viewers switched from TNT to the USA Network after Dynamitewent off the air, to catch the end of Flair vs. Belair in the overrun, according to Wrestling Observer Radio.
This was the largest switch from TNT to the USA Network since the Wednesday Night War began.
While more than 227,000 fans tuned in forthe final 5 minutes of Flair vs. Belair in the NXT overrun, there was reportedly a "giant switch" back to TNT for the AEW "Countdown to Revolution" special when Miz & Mrs. came on the USA Network.
Dynamite ended up drawing 865,000 viewers on TNT, topping the 717,000 viewers garnered by NXT on the USA Network by 21%. You can click here for last week's Dynamite vs. NXT viewership report, and you can click here for the report on the Countdown vs. Miz & Mrs. viewership.
February 25, 2020
WWE Suspends Samoa Joe For Wellness Policy Violation
From WWE.com:
XFL TV Ratings Drop Double-Digits In Week 3 While Attendance Continues To Rise
The drop in viewers is not as drastic as the first incarnation of the league, which saw ratings drop 67% from week 1 to week 3. FOX recently told Yahoo Finance that they see 2 million viewers "as satisfactory" for XFL games. This past Sunday's game on FOX averaged 2.051 million viewers, so it was right at the threshold.
Attendance was up for the third straight week, as the week 3 games posted overall attendance of 81,942, up 9.3% from the 76,285 fans the games drew in week 2. The weekend saw the league garner both its largest attendance with 29,554 fans in St. Louis, as well as its least-attended game with only 12,211 fans in Los Angeles.
February 21, 2020
WWE Reportedly Negotiating With ESPN For Content Streaming On ESPN+
WWE is reportedly having talks with ESPN.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the talks would be in regards to WWE content airing on the ESPN+ service. The deal that WWE is likely trying to broker would be similar to the deal UFC has with ESPN, where WWE would sell their rights to air pay-per-views, which would pay more money for the content than WWE could make on its own by selling the content directly to viewers with the WWE Network. The ESPN+ model with UFC is reportedly what opened WWE's eyes to the idea.
The ESPN+ deal could potentially bring more mainstream exposure to WWE's big events and their biggest Superstars. ESPN has proved that when they own rights to a product, they use their various shows to heavily market that product. There's no word yet on how far the talks with ESPN are, but The Observer noted that it looks like the deal has not been agreed on as of this week.
As noted earlier this month at this link, there was no truth to the rumors on WWE possibly talking to Amazon about selling content rights to them. While Amazon might not be interested in WWE, the company has been talking with other potential partners, which would include DAZN, and NBC's Peacock service. ESPN+ was also included in the original report on potential content partners.
The belief was that NBC's Peacock service, which is set to launch later this year, would be the best bet for WWE. TV industry sources recently reported to The Observer that Peacock would look at WWE to be its key initial programming to draw subscribers from the launch moving forward, which would be very similar to how ESPN+ did with UFC. With such a deal with one of these larger streaming services, WWE would be able to get significantly guaranteed money for their big money events, instead of being forced to rely on declining subscription money from the WWE Network.
February 20, 2020
How WWE started a sports tradition: 'Everything about it says you’re a champion'
If you were one of the roughly 102 million people who watched Super Bowl LIV earlier this month, it would have been hard to ignore WWE’s fingerprints on the biggest event in sports.
Sure, one explanation would be that Fox — which broadcast the game — recently signed a multi-billion dollar deal with Vince McMahon’s company, but the influence goes deeper than simple corporate synergy. Although commercials and promotional spots for “Smackdown” were present throughout the NFL season, the biggest example of the crossover came when former WWE star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson did the Super Bowl LIV pre-game introductions for both the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs.
While no one would question handing this task to one of the biggest movie stars in the world, Johnson essentially going back two decades and cutting a vintage “Rock” promo for the two teams illustrates how much WWE has infiltrated professional sports. Just ask George Kittle, arguably San Francisco’s best and most recognizable player. His love for professional wrestling manifests itself on and off the field, earning him the nickname “The People’s Tight End.”
The rise in popularity didn’t happen overnight, but as WWE became more popular among a newer generation of athletes, the company leaned into it and began what has become one of the signature moments in sports.
“When you meet athletes over the years, they would see the championship belt and ask if they could hold it and ask if it was the actual title,” Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE’s executive vice president of talent, live events and creative, told Yahoo Sports. “You’d see these reactions and these moments and you had these opportunities. The WWE title started to symbolize being this over-the-top champion. It’s a little hard with a trophy, but with a title belt I can hold it up in the air, I can wear it around my waist, I can parade around with it. Everything about it says you’re a champion when you have one.”
The birth of a championship tradition
A 14-time heavyweight champion with WWE, Levesque described how the company reached the point where their championships have become like a second trophy for sports teams across the globe. It’s not the Lombardi Trophy or the Stanley Cup, but the WWE championship belt has become one of the most visible parts of celebrations in recent years.
What began as a simple, quiet gesture quickly evolved into a cultural phenomenon.
February 10, 2020
First XFL Game Pulls In 3.3 million Viewers On ABC
It is also interesting to note the rating beat WWE Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
February 7, 2020
WWE Considering Selling Pay-Per-View Rights to ‘Major’ Streaming Service
WWE is in talks to sell some of its video content—including pay-per-view broadcasts—to “major” streaming services, company chairman Vince McMahon said on Thursday’s earnings call.
Currently, the WWE Network streaming service (which costs $9.99 per month) is home to all of the company’s pay-per-view events, as well as documentaries, series and a vast library of archival footage from WWE and other wrestling companies that have since been purchased by McMahon’s behemoth.
WWE has been in the process of expanding the streaming network to include tiers of access at different price points (ranging from free to $14.99 per month). The tiered Network offerings were supposed to launch in January but were put on hold.
February 6, 2020
AEW Dynamite Scores Big Over WWE NXT In Viewership
Wednesday's episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT scored 928,000 viewers against NXT on USA Network's 770,000 viewers, according to Showbuzz Daily.
Dynamite was highlighted by 10 lashes to the back of Cody Rhodes by MJF whilst NXT featured the return of Charlotte Flair and Velveteen Dream.
AEW ranked #11 in the Cable Top 150, while NXT ranked #34. AEW ranked #31 in viewership, while NXT ranked #35 in viewership.
In terms of key demos, AEW drew a 0.36 rating in the 18-49 demo while NXT drew a 0.22 in the same demo. AEW was up in all demos apart from the over 50s.
Despite Costs Of Launching WWE SmackDown, Fox Corp.’s Revenue Up 5% To End 2019
January 31, 2020
WWE stock gets body slammed by executive shakeup
New York (CNN Business)The news just keeps getting worse for World Wrestling Entertainment, and WWE investors must feel like they've been choke slammed and dragged to hell by Universal Champion Bray "The Fiend" Wyatt.
Shares of WWE (WWE) plummeted more than 20% Friday after the company announced that its co-presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson were unexpectedly leaving the WWE. The company did not explain the reason for their abrupt departures.
Longtime WWE board member Frank Riddick will become the company's interim chief financial officer. WWE said that it is now looking for a permanent CFO as well as a new chief revenue officer.
Making matters worse, WWE also announced that its operating profit for 2019 would be lower than expected.
"We have a deep team of talented, experienced and committed executives across the organization, and the Board and I have great confidence in our collective abilities to create compelling content, engage our global fanbase across platforms, increase revenues, and drive shareholder value," said WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon in a statement.
But WWE has been struggling for the past few months. Shares are down more than 40% in the past year.
The sports entertainment company -- as WWE refers to itself -- reported quarterly sales in October that missed forecasts and lowered its profit outlook. The company attributed the weaker forecast to its inability to sign a new TV deal in the Middle East.
Even though the WWE has new domestic TV deals with Comcast (CMCSA)-owned NBCUniversal's cable networks and Fox (FOX), there are worries that fans are losing interest.
"Television ratings have crumbled, while engagement metrics across the company's other business units have followed linear TV ratings down. Fans have continuously complained about the quality of the company's content," said LightShed Partners analyst Brandon Ross in a report Friday.
Fans aren't the only ones getting antsy. Analysts at Morgan Stanley, Evercore ISI and Loop Capital on Friday all lowered their price targets and ratings on WWE in light of the WWE shakeup.
WrestleMania, the company's signature live event, is just two months away. McMahon needs to figure out a plan to get fans excited again or the stock price may remain pinned to the mat. The clock is ticking.
"Content needs to improve at WWE if the company is going to be investable," Ross said in his report. " And no matter who comes in to take the place of the former presidents, the burden of improving the content sits squarely on Vince, who has held tight control over the creative at WWE for decades."
Chyna’s Mother Authorizes Production Of New Documentary About The Star
Jan LaQue, the mother of late WWE star Chyna had authorized production on a new documentary about her daughter’s life. In an official press release, details were given about the documentary. Exclusive, Authorized Documentary About Joanie “Chyna” Laurer Begins Production The documentary will explore Laurer’s tremendous influence both inside and outside the ring to millions of adoring fans through interviews and images with a wide range of subjects selected, including Joanie’s mother, Jan LaQue. But her strength and determination made her more than a groundbreaking force for women in sports. She became a symbol for gender equality around the world and she inspired a generation of woman and men alike. “My daughter, Joanie Laurer, led a remarkable life. I am excited to partner with a production team who is passionate about telling her true life’s story, not just the parts that played out in the ring or the tabloids.” says Jan LaQue, Laurer’s mother. “To that end I have selected a woman producer to work with who understands that the public only knows a small bit of Joanie’s story. I want to restore her legacy, a legacy that has been tarnished by others. Joanie deserves this and so do her true fans.” “Our production team could not be more honored to help tell the story of Joanie “Chyna” Laurer’s life. We are committed to approaching this project with integrity and respect,” says Producer, Erin Hayes. “Laurer showed a generation that women can be strong and smart. Hers is a story we want to tell and to preserve. She wasn’t a wrestler, she was a champion and she inspired the lives of so many people. That’s the story we are going to tell.” Production has already begun on the documentary. The team is currently filming interviews with those who knew Laurer personally, experts, and people who have shared amazing stories about the influence she had on her lives. Additionally, the documentary will expose the manipulation her legacy has endured by those looking to profit from Laurer’s fame/personal struggles and will show her fate was the product of the #metoo era. For the latest information on the documentary, check the production’s website. Regular updates will be made on TheJoanieLaurerStory.com.
Production on the only “Official and Authorized” feature-length documentary of Joanie “Chyna” Laurer has begun.
FRAMINGHAM, MASS. – JANUARY 29, 2020 – Production on the only “Official and Authorized” feature-length documentary of Joanie “Chyna” Laurer has begun. Laurer was known to the world as a groundbreaking professional wrestler and as the “9th Wonder Of The World.” This documentary has been authorized by Joanie Laurer’s estate.
January 30, 2020
Major WWE Corporate Shake-Up As Co-Presidents Leaving The Company, Vince McMahon Issues Statement
There's a major corporate shake-up happening in WWE right now as Co-Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson are leaving the company, and will no longer serve on the Board of Directors.
Vince commented on the shake-up in a press release, and thanked Barrios & Wilson for their work.
"We have a deep team of talented, experienced and committed executives across the organization, and the Board and I have great confidence in our collective abilities to create compelling content, engage our global fanbase across platforms, increase revenues, and drive shareholder value."
Barrios was first hired in March 2008 as WWE's CFO. Wilson was first hired in February 2009 as Executive Vice President of Marketing. They both worked their way up through the company and had roles in the launch & development of the WWE Network.
The timing of the shake-up is interesting as WWE will report its fourth quarter and full 2019 financial results on Thursday, February 6. We will have full coverage of the report and the investors call.
Below is WWE's full press release on the changes:
WWE® Announces Management Transition
01/30/2020STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced that Co-Presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson will depart the company, effective immediately, and will no longer serve on its Board of Directors.
Frank A. Riddick III, who has served as a member of WWE's Board of Directors for more than 11 years, has been named interim Chief Financial Officer, reporting to WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. WWE has commenced a search for both a permanent Chief Financial Officer and Chief Revenue Officer.WWE remains well positioned to continue its growth and operate effectively against its strategic priorities, including content creation and distribution, digitization, and localization in key markets around the world. The Company expects its full year 2019 Adjusted OIBDA to be approximately $180 million.
"I would like to thank George and Michelle for their 10+ years of service and contributions to the organization," said McMahon. "I am grateful for all that was accomplished during their tenure, but the Board and I decided a change was necessary as we have different views on how best to achieve our strategic priorities moving forward.
"We have a deep team of talented, experienced and committed executives across the organization, and the Board and I have great confidence in our collective abilities to create compelling content, engage our global fanbase across platforms, increase revenues, and drive shareholder value."
Riddick previously served as CEO for FloWorks International, LLC, JMC Steel Group, Formica Corporation, and Triangle Pacific Corp., and President/COO of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. He has also served in executive management positions, including Chief Financial Officer, Controller, Treasurer, and Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions during a career that spans 40 years. Riddick also served as Compensation Committee Chairman and member of the Audit Committee as a part of WWE's Board of Directors.
January 23, 2020
Bruce Prichard Debunks Rumor Claiming Triple H Caused Former Intercontinental Champion To Retire
It has long been rumored that issues with Triple H was what resulted in Pat Patterson's retirement.
Patterson famously became 24/7 Champion during the Raw Reunion Show last year, making history as the oldest person to ever win a WWE title - he's 78 - but he's been retired since 2004 and works as a producer and creative consultant for the company.
The former wrestler was a subject of conversation during Bruce Prichard's Something to Wrestle podcast and the host would rubbish the rumors over Triple H and Patterson being at odds being the cause of the latter's retirement.
"It’s complete bulls**t. I mean, I started to laugh when you said ‘Pat Patterson’s retirement’ because yes, he’s still around now," he said. "And Pat, I think that the - okay, first Pat retired from being in the ring. Then Pat retired in the office. He got a big screen TV then. Then he came back, and then he retired again. Got a second big screen TV, and then he came back. And I told him the second time he came back, ‘Okay Pat.’ I said, ‘This is it. No more big screen for you. You’re gonna stay a while this time.’
"So Pat had a tendency to, when he would be on the road for a while, he would get tired. He would just get burned out. And at this point in his career [in 2005], he was single. He was living life, and he couldn’t do that being gone as many days a week as it took to be on the road and everything. So he looked at it and just wanted to have more ‘Me time.’"
Prichard added that Patterson was tired of all of the traveling and everything else that came with being a WWE wrestler.
"Pat was fed up with the business at that point," he explained. "When I say ‘fed up with the business,’ he was fed up with the travel. He was fed up with being at the building at 11:00 for the production meeting, and then having to do the show, and then talk about it afterward."
Patterson is the first-ever Intercontinental champion and is actually the man behind the creation of the Royal Rumble. He's also said to be one of the main persons who helped WWE become what it is today.
As Prichard puts it, the Hall of Famer apparently grew tired of the grind and decided that he could not commit to being a WWE performer at the point that he opted to call it quits.
So, all of that — Pat retiring, him having heat with Triple H. That’s 100% complete just bulls**t. That’s something that someone made up to try and come up with a story to sell news dirt sheet f**king subscriptions or something, to say ‘Oh hey, here’s the real scoop.’ No, there was nothing there. That was Pat being frustrated and wanting to go off and live, and not be tied down every week.
Source: (Lords of Pain)
January 21, 2020
WWE SmackDown Draws Fourth-Highest Viewership Since Moving To FOX, Takes #1 In All Demos
Friday's WWE SmackDown episode, featuring Roman Reigns defeating Robert Roode in a Tables Match main event, drew an average of 2.562 million viewers on FOX, according to Showbuzz Daily.
This final number is down from the overnight viewership that was released on Saturday morning, which was an average of 2.58 million viewers. This number is up 2.6% from last week's final SmackDown viewership of 2.497 million viewers.
This is also the fourth-best SmackDown viewership since the show premiered on FOX back on October 4. This is also the best blue brand viewership since the taped November 8 episode from England, which drew 2.610 million viewers.
Friday's SmackDown drew a 0.8 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, a 0.9 rating in the 25-54 demo, and a 0.5 rating in the 18-34 demographic. Last week's episode also drew a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demo, a 0.9 rating in the 25-54 demo, and a 0.5 rating in the 18-34 demographic.
SmackDown ranked #1 in the 18-49 demographic on network TV this week, for the fifth week in a row. SmackDown also came in at #1 in the 18-34 demo this week, for the fifth week in a row. SmackDown tied for #1 in the 25-54 demo, with Hawaii Five-O and Magnum PI.
SmackDown came in at #8 for the night in viewership on network TV, for the third week in a row, behind Hawaii Five-O, Magnum PI, Blue Bloods, 20/20, American Housewife, Lincoln Rhyme, and Dateline. Blue Bloods topped the night with 5.499 million viewers.
January 18, 2020
Jim Ross Discusses Shane McMahon Leaving WWE In 2009, How Vince McMahon Felt Stephanie Was More Like Him Than Shane
On the latest edition of Grilling JR, Jim Ross discussed Shane McMahon’s resignation from WWE in 2009, reportedly because he felt passed over for power and humiliated by his father, Vince McMahon. Highlights are below.
On Shane McMahon feeling like he was not going to be the heir apparent to takeover WWE: “I never thought Shane would leave, but I also never thought Shane was going to be the heir apparent. And I think at some point around this time is where Shane realized that Vince was going to go another direction as his successor and that was in his daughter, it was Triple H, Paul Leveque was going to be the guy, he still is going to be the guy. But I didn’t know drastic times would take these drastic measures whereby Shane would be leaving his birthright, be leaving the family company, to go out on his own. I think at the end of the day, folks, all Shane McMahon wanted to do was make his dad proud in the family business, and it seemed, in Shane’s view, that that opportunity was never going to exist.”
On his talk with Shane about him leaving WWE: “He came to my office and we talked because we were friends, and he understood my, I had some of those same trepidations. I got tired of some of those things that he was experiencing, just took it as a part, but I wasn’t Vince’s son, I wasn’t in the hunt, or the discussion, of being in that heirachy, which was fine with me, I was making plenty of money and I had my gig and I was happy with it. Shane had a whole different ballgame than anyone could experience. The only son of Vince McMahon felt like he wasn’t going to be able to succeed his father, and that’s what he wanted to do.”
On how Vince thought Stephanie was more like him than Shane: “Vince told me one time, Vince loved both of his kids, still does, great grandchildren, Stephanie’s got all girls, Shane’s got all boys, it’s a great situation, but the bottomline is, Vince told me one time, ‘The girl is more like me than the boy.’ I don’t know how we got in the conversation but Vince always saw that Stephanie had that eye of the tiger, very aggressive, sometimes hyper aggressive in the eyes of some I’m sure, but that’s what he wanted. He wanted controversy, he wanted strong leadership. He wanted impactful players in that role, and he thought Stephanie had more of Vince’s personality than did Shane, and Shane was more like Linda.”
credit: Grilling JR and 411mania
January 15, 2020
WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson passes away
From WWE.com:
WWE is saddened to learn that Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles), a WWE Hall of Famer, former World Tag Team Champion, and father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, has passed away at age 75.
Johnson's sports-entertainment career began in the mid-1960s when he made a memorable impression in the National Wrestling Alliance. However, Johnson found his highest levels of success when he began his WWE tenure in 1983.
The physically imposing and wildly charismatic Johnson had several memorable rivalries with the likes of Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, Don Muraco and Adrian Adonis. He found his greatest success when he teamed up with Tony Atlas as The Soul Patrol. The two men became the first African-American World Tag Team Champions in WWE history when they defeated The Wild Samoans on Dec. 10, 1983.
The "Soul Man" retired from the ring in 1991, but his imprint continued to be felt on WWE for years to come. Post-retirement, Johnson had a hand in training his son, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The Rock would become one of the biggest stars in the history of sports-entertainment and carried on his father's legacy with pride.
In 2008, Johnson achieved the highest honor in sports-entertainment when he was inducted by The Rock into the WWE Hall of Fame where he will be forever enshrined as one of sports-entertainment's most influential performers.
DX To Reunite For WWE Live Event At Madison Square Garden
WWE Hall of Famers DX have been announced for the upcoming WWE live event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
MSG announced today that Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Sean "X-Pac" Waltman, and "Road Dogg" Brian James will be reuniting DX for the March 22 live event.
MSG tweeted, "JUST ANNOUNCED: D-Generation X returns to The Garden for the first time in over a decade! See @TripleH, @ShawnMichaels, @TheRealXPac & @WWERoadDogg on the @wwe Road to WrestleMania on March 22!"
It was previously announced that the MSG show will be headlined by a six-man match with Seth Rollins and The Authors of Pain vs. Samoa Joe, Big Show and Kevin Owens. WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Asuka vs. RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch is also being advertised. Other Superstars advertised to appear are WWE United States Champion Andrade, Rey Mysterio, Rusev, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, Ricochet, Aleister Black, The Street Profits, Charlotte Flair, AJ Styles and Randy Orton.
Tickets for WWE's return to MSG officially go on sale this Friday. The Ticketmaster pre-sale is going on now with the code SOCIAL.
WWE "Fight Like A Girl" Series Details With Stephanie McMahon And Various Superstars
WWE has announced new details on their "Fight Like a Girl" series with Quibi.
It was announced today that individual episodes will be lead by RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch, The Bella Twins, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Paige, Nia Jax, and Natalya.
WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon will be featured in each episode as she pairs a WWE Superstar with a young woman struggling with personal issues. The episodes were filmed at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Stephanie is also an Executive Producer of the series.
"This strong cast of Superstars are leaders and role models who each have personal stories of challenge, perseverance and triumph," Stephanie said in the announcement. "We are thrilled to have them on board to help young women find both their inner and outer strength and overcome adversity in their lives."
Below is the full announcement issued by WWE today:
QUIBI AND WWE ANNOUNCE SUPERSTARS IN FIGHT LIKE A GIRL
LOS ANGELES, CA and STAMFORD, Conn., January 15, 2020 - Quibi and WWE today announced the WWE Superstars participating in the transformational series Fight Like a Girl. Leading individual episodes of the upcoming series are WWE Superstars Sasha Banks, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch and Natalya.
In each episode of Fight Like a Girl, Stephanie McMahon pairs a WWE Superstar with a young woman struggling with a personal issue that has been holding her back. The WWE Superstars draw from their own life experiences to help their trainees overcome obstacles and become tougher, stronger and healthier versions of their former selves inside and out.
"This strong cast of Superstars are leaders and role models who each have personal stories of challenge, perseverance and triumph," said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. "We are thrilled to have them on board to help young women find both their inner and outer strength and overcome adversity in their lives."
Shot at the world-famous WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, each episode features a stunning transformation and heart-pounding reveal as the women change their lives forever.
Produced by WWE Studios and Critical Content. Executive Producers are Stephanie McMahon, Susan Levison and Ben Zierten for WWE Studios, and Tom Forman, Jenny Daly and Jon Beyer for Critical Content.
Paige Speaks Out Regarding Triple H's Inappropriate Joke; Hunter Apologizes
WWE star Paige spoke with Sportskeeda regarding comments that Triple H made earlier this week at her expense.
During a media scrum in the U.K. to promote last week's NXT U.K. Takeover event, Triple H joked, "You know, Edge has kids, Paige... maybe, she probably has some she doesn't know of."
Paige, who has stated in the past that she is unable to have children, said the joke took her by surprise. Paide admitted that she's confused why someone she's always had respectful encounters with would make a joke about something she believes was inappropriate.
"Obviously I was a little bit perplexed, a little bit taken aback, because he's someone that I truly look up to and he's always been very respectful, so I feel like he got caught up, maybe, in a joke, that I just don't think was appropriate to joke about," Paige said. "I don't know, I feel like it's something that I don't need to continually keep talking about because I feel like people have done a pretty good job of that."
Several stars have spoken out about the inappropriate comment, including Renee Young and The Bella Twins. Triple H has reached out to Paige since the incident. Paige says that she intends to speak to him about the matter.
"He's definitely reached out. We're going to be talking about some things," Paige said.
Triple H tweeted an apology:
I’ve reached out to @RealPaigeWWE to apologize. I made a terrible joke and I’m sorry if it offended her or anyone else.
— Triple H (@TripleH) January 15, 2020
January 10, 2020
AEW Dynamite Viewership Remains Strong, Beats WWE NXT Again
The Wednesday Night War has returned with a bang with AEW Dynamite winning the night once more against WWE NXT.
Wednesday's AEW Dynamite on TNT drew 947,000 viewers, well ahead of NXT's 721,000 viewers on the USA Network, according to Showbuzz Daily.
Last week's Dynamite episode drew 967,000 viewers with viewership remaining steady for this week's Anniversary Edition. NXT last week was a taped special and drew 548,000 viewers
AEW drew a 0.36 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic, again beating the 0.19 that NXT drew in the same demo.
AEW ranked #6 in the Cable Top 150, while NXT ranked #55.
Source: Showbuzz Daily
January 9, 2020
Triple H On CM Punk And AJ Lee Potentially Returning To WWE, Getting Older In The Business
"The Game" Triple H recently spoke on a media call that featured questions from Metro.co.uk, including how Hunter feels about a potential return from former stars CM Punk and AJ Lee.
Triple H thinks that as long as everyone involved is satisfied with the deal, he would be open to seeing the power couple back with WWE.
"If it was right for them, for the company, for everyone involved, then absolutely [I'd like to see them return]. I don't think that's ever been a factor, of somebody saying, 'This person should be here, or that person should be here,'" Hunter said. "'Incredible talent are always incredible talent – but there's so much more to the business than just being a talented performer...
"In a perfect world? Yeah, sure. Again, you've heard Vince echo that sentiment so many times of the years, 'Never say never!'"
Hunter says that he wishes he was once again a young man performing in his prime so that he could face today's best talent in epic matches. However, he's well aware that as his age increases, the long storylines and physical matches he's involved in will continue decreasing.
"Sometimes I look at the talent and I think, oh man, if I was 25 and could step in the ring with them – but then the reality quickly comes back to me. 'You're not 25 and you can't do that!' The business evolves, and in some ways I look at it from a story telling standpoint," Hunter said. "That's what we're sort of teaching them, and that comes from experience. But the physicality of it and the things that a lot of talent are able to do, I couldn't do that anyway!
"...There are a lot of talent that I look back on my career and think, if I was in my prime, I'd be all over pitching ideas to do something with this talent," Hunter continued. "But the reality is, you're not young anymore. It all moves on and it's a young man's business, and hopefully that always continues."
Triple H Named Loudwire Metal Ambassador of the Decade
Call him The Game, The Cerebral Assassin, The King of the Kings, and now, The Metal Ambassador of the Decade.
Triple H was given that honor by Loudwire on Wednesday and spoke to the publication about integrating metal into NXT and more. With WrestleMania entrances that have featured the sounds of Motörhead and Metallica, The Game has long brought a metal influence to the world of sports-entertainment — one that is also now seen prominently on the black-and-gold brand.
Click here to see Loudwire's full story and a sit-down interview with The Game.
December 29, 2019
WWE Sued By Stockholder Over XFL Ties
An Oklahoma firefighters pension fund filed a lawsuit on December 26 in Delaware Chancery Court against the WWE, according to Bloomberg Law. The group claims there is "a credible basis to believe" Vince McMahon and other WWE senior officers are not keeping up with their WWE duties as they focus resources towards the XFL, which is being run under McMahon's Alpha Entertainment, LLC.
The lawsuit also claimed that there hasn't been enough oversight on Vince by company board members as he "engages in transactions that are in conflict with WWE's interests" and want a look at WWE's internal records. Vince has previously said he plans on continuing his role as WWE Chairman and CEO for the foreseeable future.
It was reported by ESPN back in 2018 that McMahon had informed insiders that he would spend close to $500 million in the first three years of the XFL's existence. He's sold WWE shares ($100 million in 2017, $270 million in 2019) to help fund Alpha Entertainment, LLC.
December 19, 2019
WWE NXT Tops AEW Dynamite In Viewership And Key Demographic This Week
After last week's tie, Week 12 of the Wednesday Night Wars saw WWE NXT top AEW Dynamite in viewership and the key demographic.
Wednesday's NXT drew 795,000 viewers on the USA Network, beating the 683,000 viewers garnered by Dynamite on TNT by 16%, according to Showbuzz Daily.
This is the second-lowest AEW viewership since the show began airing back in October. The November 27 episode drew 663,000 viewers.
NXT opened with a strong commercial-free opener this week, which saw NXT Champion Adam Cole retain over Finn Balor, and closed just as strong as Rhea Ripley defeated Shayna Baszler in the main event to become the new NXT Women's Champion.
NXT beat AEW in the prime 18-49 demo for the first time ever by 8%. AEW drew a 0.25 rating in the 18-49 demographic while NXT drew a 0.27 in the same demo this week. It was the lowest rating for Dynamite in the demo yet. Last week's AEW episode drew a 0.28 in that demographic while NXT drew a 0.24.
AEW ranked #30 in the Cable Top 150 for the prime 18-49 demo, while NXT ranked slightly above it at #27. AEW ranked #43 in overall viewership, while NXT ranked #37 in viewership.
Last week's Dynamite episode drew 778,000 viewers and ranked #11 in the Cable Top 150, and #34 in viewership. Last week's NXT episode drew 778,000 viewers and ranked #21 in the Cable Top 150, and #34 in viewership.
December 18, 2019
Stephanie McMahon Comments On CM Punk and AJ Lee Return To WWE
Stephanie McMahon Comments On CM Punk and AJ Lee Return To WWE
In an interview with The Metro, Stephanie McMahon commented on wanting CM Punk and AJ Lee back in WWE.
She said:
"I think Punk’s been pretty vocal that he’s not interested in an in-ring return right now, but for sure, that would be interesting. And I would love to see AJ Lee back in the women’s division. I think AJ Lee was an incredibly compelling character,’ she said. ‘You know, I’m a big fan of AJ Lee’s, I really am."
