Triple H Discusses His Reaction To Upcoming WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

This year's WrestleMania weekend will once again see the WWE Hall of Fame take place, which will be headlined by WWE CCO Paul "Triple H" Levesque. At the Royal Rumble Post-Show press conference, Triple H commented on his upcoming Hall of Fame induction.

"Nick [Khan] and I talked about the Hall of Fame many times, and he would always bring up the fact that, 'When are we are gonna put you in?' And I would say, 'Not now because no matter how I do it, it looks like I'm putting myself in the Hall of Fame,'" Triple H remarked. "He would say, 'Well, we have to do it eventually,' and I would say, 'Okay, well if we have to do it eventually, let's wait 3, 4, 5 years and then we'll talk about it.'"

At the company's town hall meeting last week, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker made surprise appearances to give Triple H his Hall of Fame news. When Triple H noticed Khan walk aside, he got the impression that something involving him was happening. Soon to be a two-time Hall of Famer, Triple H's first induction came in 2019 as part of D-Generation X. 

"We did it with DX, it was a lot of fun. It's different when it's you, and while I've been a part of all of these and I've seen some talent see it as the biggest honor, I've seen other talent be like, 'Eh, whatever,'" Triple H continued. "Because of our passion for what we do, it hit me way harder than I thought it would. It's one of the most meaningful things in my career, and to have it come from Shawn and have it come from 'Taker ... [Khan] doing that for me was incredibly meaningful."

credit: "Royal Rumble Post-Show" with a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

WWE Evolve: WWE and Tubi Launch Wednesday Night Wrestling Program to Highlight New Talent

For the future of wrestling, WWE is looking to the past. WWE and Tubi announced the launch of a new weekly wrestling show, “WWE Evolve” which will premiere Wednesday March 5, at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. “Evolve” gets its name from the defunct wrestling promotion Evolve, which was purchased by WWE in 2020 following a five-year partnership.

“WWE Evolve” relaunches as a showcase of in-ring action for up-and-coming WWE prospects, including talent from the recently established WWE ID program, a developmental program that works to provide indie wrestlers a more seamless transition to WWE.

“We are excited to work with our incredible partners at Tubi to showcase our young, rising talent to the WWE Universe, as they start their in-ring journey competing each week to fulfill their lifelong dream of becoming a WWE Superstar,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels.

According to a press release, “Evolve” will feature “the most intense and charismatic prospects recruited from college athletics and independent wrestling as they strive to build their in-ring careers and elevate their personas,” emphasizing a focus on homegrown talent from the WWE performance center in Orlando in addition to talent from the first-of-its-kind ID program and NIL athletes.

Wrestlers featured in the “Evolve” teaser include “NXT” stars Wendy Choo, Brinley Reece and Kali Armstrong, as well as WWE ID prospects Sean Legacy, Brad Baylor and Jack Cartwheel.

“Evolve” will mark the fourth WWE show currently streaming weekly, joining Monday night “Raw” on Netflix, “NXT” Tuesdays on The CW, and Friday night “SmackDown” on USA.

source: variety.com

CM Punk Compares Triple H And Vince McMahon’s Leadership Styles

CM Punk appeared on Friday’s edition of The Pat McAfee Show, where he discussed a range of topics, including the differences between working under Triple H and Vince McMahon.

Punk highlighted Triple H’s openness to feedback and willingness to consider other people’s ideas—something he believes was less common under McMahon. However, he also acknowledged the importance of having a definitive leader in charge.

“I think he’s receptive to other people’s ideas, whereas maybe Vince wasn’t. He was like, ‘I’m the boss. We’re doing this, and this is how we’re doing it.’ And that’s great. If you run a company, you need somebody who is the yes and no man and [has] the final say.”

Punk continued, emphasizing Triple H’s collaborative approach:

“But I think Triple H thinks he’s surrounded, and oftentimes is, by a lot of really, really genius wrestling minds. If he has an idea or see something one way, he’ll look at Michael Hayes and be like, ‘What do you think?’ He’ll turn and look at Paul Heyman. These are people who have Bonafide resumes. They have literally done everything you possibly could do in the sport. I think their voices should be heard. Not all the time everybody’s going to have this dynamite idea. But I think the best idea always wins in today’s WWE.”

WWE legend's name added to Janel Grant's blockbuster lawsuit against Vince McMahon

The blockbuster lawsuit being brought against Vince McMahon and the WWE by former employee Janel Grant has been ammended to include the name of WWE and UFC legend.

In the 104-page lawsuit, Grant now alleges that she was offered to Brock Lesnar “for a sexual encounter” during his contract negotiations with the WWE. In addition, Grant allleges that she was told to sent sexual content to the former WWE champion. It was reported earlier this month that Grant was planning to alter the suit.

The new allegations involving Lesnar come alongside further accusations that McMahon was active in trafficking Grant during her time working at the WWE.

“Ms. Grant's amended complaint reveals new details. That further demonstrates the sexual abuse Janel Grant suffered at the hands of Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis and pulls back the curtain on the dangerous workplace culture McMahon created at WWE. Ms. Grant looks forward to holding her abusers accountable in a court of law,” Grant’s lawyer Ann Callis said in a statement.

The lawsuit was submitted to the U.S. District Court in Connecticut. Grant alleges that the WWE was negligent in allowing McMahon’s behavior to go on unchecked. One of the men previously name in the lawsuit, John Laurinaitis, claims that he too was a victim of McMahon.

Another WWE legend, Michael Hayes, is also named in the new filing with Grant alleging that McMahon told her to make pornographic content for him. At the time, Hayes worked as part of the wrestling company’s creative team.

Other names in the new complaint include Vince McMahon’s daughter and former co-CEO Stephanie McMahon, WWE President Nick Khan, former COO Brad Blum and former legal executive Brian Nurse.

In another section, Grant accuses McMahon of sending her nude photos to others without her consent. At one point, Grant also says that McMahon recorded her naked while he was on a video call with Laurinaitis.

Grant originally accused McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her inside of WWE’s office.

Text messages in the new filing detail McMahon discussing his authority in arranging her sexual encounters and discussing his fantasies involving her. In a voice message, McMahon allegedly pressed Grant to sign an NDA “really f*****g fast.”

In another message, he allegedly wrote: “I’m the only one who owns U and controls who I want to f*** you.”

Vince McMahon’s representatives have responded to the new allegations.

“As expected, the proposed amended complaint is nothing more than the latest publicity stunt in an ongoing smear campaign. It is filled with desperate falsehoods from a team that continues to disregard the law and the truth,” the statement, given to reporter BJ Bethel.

Stephanie McMahon to helm new show on ESPN+

Former WWE exec Stephanie McMahon appeared on the " Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday to announce a new WWE-centric show in partnership with Pro Football HOFer Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, ESPN and WWE. The new show, titled “Stephanie's Places,” will be “a part of” Manning’s “Peyton Places” that currently airs on ESPN+ and will see McMahon travel around the country to “to really find out the stories behind the biggest stars in WWE.” The show will air in March and will include appearances from former and current WWE stars including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Charlotte Flair and Roman Reigns.

McMahon, who will host the show, said the goal of “Stephanie's Places” is to “really tell the stories that haven't been told, and to find out more about the people behind the characters.” She said, “These people are all hugely successful, but like most people, they've been knocked around a lot. So how did they overcome the challenges that were put in front of them?” McMahon said she was “really nervous” to be a part of the show as it was her “first step back” into WWE.

McMahon stepped down as WWE co-CEO in January 2023 after her father, Vince, had forced a return the company. “I never stopped being proud, ever," she told McAfee. "I do think I wanted to disappear for a little while, and I kind of did. It was good for me. I needed it, and now I’m back.”

Paul Levesque To Headline WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2025

Insider reports that WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque, aka Triple H, will headline the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame class. Despite his position of being in charge of the promotion, Levesque was said to be caught off guard by the decision, which was revealed to him today in a meeting by his wife, Stephanie McMahon, and fellow Hall of Famers Undertaker and Shawn Michaels.

Levesque has largely sat atop the WWE pyramid since the initial retirement of his father-in-law, Vince McMahon, in 2022, and has been credited for revitalizing WWE under his direction. However, his Hall of Fame induction has less to do with his executive career and more with his in-ring accolades. 

Levesque first gained notoriety in WCW from 1993 to 1994, before joining WWE and assuming his Triple H moniker. When he ended his in-ring career in 2022, he had wracked up 14 World Title reigns, as well as runs with the WWE Intercontinental, European, and Tag Team Championships. He also won the 1997 King of the Ring, the 2002 and 2016 Royal Rumbles, and along with Michaels was a founding member of the popular stable, D-Generation X.

Major League Soccer to Move Production Studio to WWE Headquarters

Major League Soccer will move its production arm to new studios at the headquarters of WWE in Stamford, Conn., as part of a renewal of a pact with IMG.

Under terms of the new multi-year partnership, MLS and IMG, the latter will continue to produce live match and studio productions and programming for more than 600 annual games on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. MLS Productions will move to the Studios at WWE in Stamford, Conn. The new facility will serve as the hub for popular MLS live studio programming and content in English and Spanish. The new location for MLS Season Pass will enable MLS Productions to add programming in the new season.

source: variety.com

WWE's old Stamford HQ could become apartments after $3.75M sale

For more than 30 years, the six-story building at 1241 E. Main St., on Stamford’s east side, housed the headquarters of one of Connecticut’s best-known companies. Now, it is poised for a transformation under new ownership.

WWE, which is now headquartered in downtown Stamford, last month sold 1241 E. Main for $3.75 million to real estate firm MB Financial Group, which has offices in Branford and Boston. Reflecting its experience with redevelopment, MB Financial wants to convert the property into an apartment complex.

“The location is superb,” Michael Massimino, CEO and managing partner of MB Financial, said Friday. “It’s on the Stamford-Darien line, and it overlooks Long Island Sound and the Noroton River. The views of Long Island Sound really make this property unique.”

A message left for WWE was not immediately returned in time for this story.

MB Financial’s plans for the redeveloped 1241 E. Main, which they expect will have more than 80 units, will be reviewed by local zoning officials. Assuming the project navigates that process, the redevelopment could be completed by the first half of 2027, according to Massimino.

“Our intention is definitely to do this within the existing building,” Massimino said. “Right now, we’re in our conceptual phase, as far as laying out density and common-area amenities.”

Redevelopment of 1241 E. Main would be part of a local trend. In recent years, a number of office complexes in Stamford have been approved or proposed for redevelopment.

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said in her State of the City speech last April that conversion of empty commercial buildings into residential properties is one way to address the need for more affordable housing. It could also grow the grand list and bolster local home values, she said at the time.

MB Financial has experience with redevelopment. In Clinton, several buildings are being repurposed through its Station at Clinton project. When completed, it will have about 200 units across apartments and town homes. The first component, a 45-unit apartment complex known as The Grand, opened in 2023.

“It was formerly a 40,000-square-foot data center. We did a third-floor addition on top of it. The floor plates are very similar to the WWE building,” Massimino said of The Grand.

MB Financial’s portfolio also includes The Lofts at 250 Greene in New Haven. The 23-unit apartment complex, which opened in 2020, repurposed former convent and school buildings of St. Michael’s Church.

As for WWE, its decision to sell 1241 E. Main was not surprising. When the company announced in March 2019 that it would relocate its headquarters to downtown Stamford, it said that it expected to sell 1241 E. Main. The building was also known as Titan Towers when the company was based there, from the early 1990s until 2023.

Among other deals related to its headquarters relocation, WWE recently sold for nearly $7.5 million the site of its former production studio on Hamilton Avenue in Stamford, a property that stands a few blocks from 1241 E. Main.

Meanwhile, WWE has settled in at its current headquarters at 677-707 Washington Blvd. Company officials have said that the hub covers about 400,000 square feet, including offices in the property’s 13-story tower and production space in the adjacent seven-story pavilion. WWE officials have also said that the company would have more than 800 people working at the new base, after the company had opened all of its space there.

Last April, WWE announced the opening of an approximately 30,000-square-foot production facility, with five studios, at the current headquarters.

source: ctinsider.com

Morgan Stanley Says Bankrupt EV Firm Owes $10 Million Deal Fee; Shane McMahon Exec Chairman

Morgan Stanley claims it wasn’t paid most of a $12 million fee for advising now-bankrupt electric-vehicle technology firm Ideanomics Inc. on its acquisition of VIA Motors years earlier.

The transaction fee was described in a claim Morgan Stanley filed the day after Christmas in Ideanomics’ Chapter 11 case. The firm says it’s still owed more than $10 million for advisory work on the VIA Motors acquisition, which closed in January 2023.

Morgan Stanley acted as an exclusive financial adviser to Ideanomics on the acquisition, which — at the time it was announced in 2021 — valued electric-vehicle maker VIA at as much as $630 million, according to a press release.

The acquisition was part of a broader strategy to acquire electric-vehicle assets and technology between 2021 and 2023. But most of Ideanomics’ investments from that time “were unsuccessful, or continue to remain a substantial liquidity drain,” the company’s Chief Restructuring Officer Alpesh Amin said in a December bankruptcy filing. Ideanomics spent about $320 million to fund the acquisitions, he added.

A representative for Morgan Stanley declined to comment. Lawyers for Ideanomics didn’t immediately return messages sent Monday seeking comment.

Ideanomics paid a $2 million “announcement fee”, which Morgan Stanley said it credited the company for. The unpaid portion of the fee will be treated in bankruptcy court as unsecured debt, which is usually repaid in Chapter 11 for pennies on the dollar.

An entity linked to Shane McMahon, the company’s executive chairman, is funding the bankruptcy and has also offered to acquire the firm’s assets, according to court documents. McMahon is the son of Linda McMahon, who is expected to be nominated as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary, and Vince McMahon, the former chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment.

The case is Ideanomics Inc., number 24-12728, in the US Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware.

source: BNNBloomberg

WWE & TNA Wrestling announce multi-year partnership

WWE part of TKO Group Holdings and TNA Wrestling, one of the world’s top wrestling brands and a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, today announced a multi-year partnership aimed at creating unprecedented crossover opportunities within WWE and TNA programming for NXT Superstars and TNA Wrestling Stars.

The agreement will enable talent to garner additional exposure across key WWE and TNA programming, including weekly flagship shows such as NXT – which airs live on The CW – and TNA iMPACT!, select WWE Premium Live Events and TNA pay-per-views, in turn bolstering their in-ring development with exposure to world-class talent and coaching.

“This historic relationship demonstrates that collaboration and competition do not have to be mutually exclusive,” said Ariel Shnerer, Senior Vice President of Content & Distribution for TNA Wrestling and Anthem Sports & Entertainment. “Our partnership allows the TNA Wrestling brand and its incredible athletes to reach a significantly wider audience, while giving WWE and NXT stars an opportunity to cross the line and gain valuable experience, as they join forces with one of the most talented rosters in professional wrestling today. The response to our collaboration over the past year has been tremendous and both companies have benefited, but the fans have reaped the greatest rewards from this talent crossover and working relationship.”

“We look forward to growing and evolving our partnership with TNA Wrestling and its outstanding group of athletes by creating new opportunities to further the development of our talent and to elevate the viewer experience at home,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels.

Former TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace and Joe Hendry frequently appeared on NXT programming in 2024, highlighted by an NXT Championship match featuring Hendry and Ethan Page at No Mercy, and an NXT Women’s Championship match featuring Grace and Roxanne Perez at Battleground.

Many NXT Superstars also crossed the line into TNA Wrestling, including Wes Lee’s short-lived reunion with The Rascalz, Charlie Dempsey and the No Quarter Catch Crew, Riley Osbourne, Dante Chen, Gallus, Arianna Grace, Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame, Wendy Choo, Brinley Reece and more.

TNA iMPACT! airs on AXS TV and TNA+ in the U.S., in addition to being distributed internationally on TNA+ and other leading broadcast platforms, including Sportsnet 360 across Canada.

In November 2023, WWE and The CW announced a five-year agreement to bring NXT to broadcast television for the first time in its 13-year history.

Corey Graves throws shade after being demoted on WWE commentary team: 'Not famous enough'

There appears to be some drama generating at the WWE commentary table.

With Monday Night Raw now on Netflix, WWE welcomed back former NFL punter and sports media giant Pat McAfee to the commentary booth for the show alongside Michael Cole. As a result, there was some reshuffling in the commentators for the company's show.

Joe Tessitore, who joined in July, was originally part of the Raw team but was moved to Friday Night SmackDown, alongside Wade Barrett. That left out Corey Graves, who has been a broadcaster since 2016 after he was forced to medically retire from in-ring competition. Graves has been widely praised for his work on the headset, but he was pushed to WWE's development brand NXT, joining Vic Joseph and Booker T, in a move that could be seen as a demotion.

Graves didn't seem to take the move well. In a now-deleted post on social media, he shaded the move and appeared to take a shot at McAfee.

WWE commentator Corey Graves makes his entrance at WrestleMania 40 night two at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 7, 2024. "Imagine chasing your dream. Then being TOLD (not deciding) that you’re no longer physically able to pursue your dream,” Graves wrote Monday night. "Then you dedicate your life to something 'dream adjacent' and being pretty (expletive) awesome at it. And then, when it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, being told you’re not famous enough for your own job. Just in case you’ve wondered where I’ve been."

Graves followed up the post on Tuesday morning with another now-deleted one that said "I’ve got a lot to say. Don’t miss WWE NXT tonight on The CW." Strange enough, Graves was not present for the NXT show on Tuesday night.

Former WWE commentator Jonathan Coachman offered some perspective on the situation, noting that moving the commentary both has been a normal thing for decades.

"So Corey is upset for being bumped from the main announce roster. Happened to JR 5 times. Happened to Cole multiple times. Happened to me multiple times," Coachman wrote. "He is right he is really good at his job. But playing in the sandbox a little bit better might not hurt next time. Embrace whatever role you have and understand that you are lucky to have it. There are only 3-5 of these jobs at the highest level. Who knows maybe they asked him to be a part of a 3 man booth. We know he doesn’t like that. lol. Sorry had to. Last line a joke. The rest it’s the wrestling business. It happens."

As is the case with wrestling, it's unclear if this frustration is legitimate or a work toward something in the future. Graves could be working toward actually being cleared to compete in the ring, in which case would likely lead to a match against McAfee, who has plenty of in-ring experience and has been an on-screen rival of Graves for some time.

Michael Cole Explains What Makes The Triple H Era Better

The differences between the Paul "Triple H" Levesque "era" of WWE and that of Vince McMahon are noticeable to fans of the product, but it's also being felt backstage.

Veteran WWE commentator Michael Cole discussed the changes on "The Pat McAfee Show" ahead of the Netflix debut of "WWE Raw" on Monday. Cole said he believes everyone, from the talent in the ring to the production crew, is reinvigorated by the lightened schedule with fewer live events, as well as the new regime. He said Levesque takes a step back himself, and lets the talent across the board do what they do best.

"I think that freedom has really allowed the superstars, and I know for me and I know for Pat as well, has allowed us to be more entertaining, to be more relaxed, to be able to sit back and enjoy this product as a fan," he said. "Also, who knows characters better than the character? Seth Rollins knows his character better than anyone on the planet, so why not allow him to be able to bring that character forward."

Cole said that Levesque understands he has an "all-star team" in the company, from the talent to the announcers to camera and audio people, and those who handle props. He agreed with McAfee that Levesque has "empowered" everyone behind the scenes as they put all their energy into WWE's television products.

"I've seen everything in this business for nearly 30 years," Cole said. "I have never had as much fun as I've had the last couple of years. Not only working with you, but working with Paul [Levesque]."

credit "The Pat McAfee Show" Wrestling Inc.

Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon, SEC reach deal over settlements

The Securities and Exchange Commission says it has settled charges against former WWE CEO Vince McMahon over his failure to disclose to the sports entertainment company's board and others that he signed two settlement agreements worth $10.5 million with two women in order for them not to reveal potential claims against himself and WWE.

The SEC said McMahon, without admitting or denying its findings, agreed to cease-and-desist from violating certain provisions, pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE approximately $1.3 million.

"Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today's resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading," McMahon said in a statement. "In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I'm thrilled that I can now put all this behind me."

Manhattan federal prosecutors declined to comment.

McMahon resigned from WWE's parent company in January 2024 after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct. At the time, McMahon stepped down from his position as executive chairman of the board of directors at WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings. He continued to deny wrongdoing following the filing of the lawsuit.

The SEC said Friday that one agreement was signed in 2019 and the other in 2022. One agreement required McMahon to pay a former employee $3 million in exchange for the former worker's agreement to not disclose her relationship with McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon.

The other agreement obligated McMahon to pay a former WWE independent contractor $7.5 million in exchange for the independent contractor's agreement to not disclose her allegations against McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon, the SEC said.

Ann Callis, a lawyer for Janel Grant, who is a former WWE employee who filed a lawsuit against the company and McMahon, accusing him of sexual battery and trafficking, said in a statement that the SEC's charges are confirmation that McMahon broke the law to cover up his behavior.

"The SEC's charges prove that the NDA Vince McMahon coerced Ms. Grant into signing violates the law, and therefore her case must be heard in court," Callis said. "While prosecutors for the Southern District of New York continue their criminal investigation, we look forward to bringing forward new evidence in our civil case."

The Associated Press does not normally name people who make sexual assault allegations unless they come forward publicly, which Grant did.

McMahon has denied Grant's allegations.

By McMahon not disclosing the agreements to WWE's board, legal department, accountants, financial reporting personnel or auditor, it circumvented the company's system of internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in its 2018 and 2021 financial statements, the commission said.

The SEC's order found that, because the payments required by the 2019 and 2022 agreements were not recorded, WWE overstated its 2018 net income by approximately 8% and its 2021 net income by about 1.7%.

Once WWE learned of the settlement agreements, it issued a restatement of its financial statements in August 2022.

"Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the company's control functions and auditor," Thomas P. Smith Jr., associate regional director in the New York Regional Office, said in a statement.

McMahon was the leader and most recognizable face at WWE for decades. When he purchased what was then the World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, wrestling matches took place at small venues and appeared on local cable channels. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and the company's weekly live television program, "Raw," made its debut on Netflix on Monday, where it had 4.9 million views globally and averaged 2.6 million households in the U.S., according to VideoAmp.

WWE’s ‘Monday Night Raw’ Netflix Debut Draws 4.9 Million Views

The first episode of WWE‘s “Monday Night Raw” to stream live on Netflix pulled in 4.9 million views globally.

That is according to Live+1 data provided by Netflix, with a view defined as total hours viewed for the program divided by its runtime. The 4.9 million views came from countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Latin America, but did not include 92 countries/territories where Netflix doesn’t yet distribute WWE, including France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea.

The Netflix debut of “Raw” was also viewed by 2.6 million households in the U.S. according to VideoAmp, compared to the 1.2 million households “Raw” was averaging in 2024.

It is difficult to make a direct comparison between the Netflix and USA Network viewership for “Raw,” as linear channels measure their viewership differently than Netflix does. For the sake of some comparison, however, the final episode of “Raw” on USA Network averaged approximately 1.596 million viewers across its two-hour runtime, according to Nielsen Live + Same Day data. From the beginning of October through the end of December, “Raw” averaged approximately 1.65 million viewers per week on USA Network.

During the first “Raw” on Netflix, Roman Reigns defeated his cousin Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match for the sacred ula fala and the title of Tribal Chief. Later, Rhea Ripley defeated Liv Morgan to regain the women’s world championship title, Jey Uso defeated Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk won a brutal main event match against Seth Rollins.

The night also saw John Cena kick off his 2025 retirement tour, while Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson opened the show and later appeared alongside Reigns. WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan made an appearance toward the end of the show, but was met with a barrage of boos from the crowd.

This is the latest in push by Netflix into live streaming. Previously, the streamer aired a boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that drew an estimated average minute audience (AMA) of 108 million live viewers globally. The event peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, with 38 million concurrent streams in the US. Over Christmas, the NFL matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers on Netflix, while the earlier Chiefs-Steelers bout brought in 24.1 million viewers.

source: variety.com

Paul and Stephanie at the WWE Raw Netflix Premiere

Triple H Responds To Criticism Of WWE Video

During the post-show press conference for WWE RAW on Netflix, Triple H discussed creating the RAW cold open video and their purpose behind it.

The three-minute cold open video featured the use of several “insider” terms, such as “heel,” “face,” “shoot” and “work,” and the WWE CCO explained how the goal was to provide something for everyone while also presenting WWE to new audiences.

You can check out some highlights from the media scrum below:

On their goal with the opening video: “I think when we first started talking about Netflix and this opportunity tonight. And you look at Netflix’s audience, it’s everybody. And it’s one of the things I think Netflix does so well, they have something there that appeals to everybody. They have something for young people, they have something for older folks like different products, different things, documentaries — they have everything under the sun on Netflix and there’s something for everybody. So when you have the opportunity to appeal to those people, you want to give them a little of everything. And we felt like it was important for us to sort of pay homage to the past, talk about what this business is. Like if you’ve never watched this, if you grew up and you never saw it, what is it?”

On criticism of the use of insider terms: “That was the intent, to capture the emotion — and let people know, ‘We’re not hiding what we do.’ You know, I saw a lot of chatter today from people saying like, ‘Oh my God, they said heel and face and shoot and work and one promo.’ Like, we’re not hiding what we do. That’s what we do. And to be honest, I think most of the world understands those terms and sort of now, they’ve almost transcended our business. I see people talking about that in other [venues], ‘He’s a heel, this guy.’ It’s transcended our business. It’s what it is, people know what we are. We talk about it, we’re not insulting anybody’s intelligence.

“But we’re an art form. Absolutely an art form that captures people’s emotions. It’s not — we don’t take ourselves as seriously as most other people take us. So it was all part of trying to capture that and say, ‘If you’ve watched, watch this and hopefully we honor what you love. If you’ve never watched this, watch this, we’ll explain to you what we are.’ That was the attempt.”

WWE Announces Vengeance Day Premium Live Event In Washington D.C.

WWE is bringing NXT to the Nation's Capital, as Vengeance Day will take place Saturday, February 15 at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.

The announcement comes on the heels on Monday night's successful Raw on Netflix premiere.

“Following a historic night, we are excited to bring the first premium live event to Washington, D.C. in nearly nine years with our great partners at Events DC,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels. “We look forward to showcasing our extraordinary talent in front of a rich wrestling town come February 15.”

WWE is advertising that some of the biggest NXT Superstars will be in action including NXT Champion Trick Williams, NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo and NXT Women’s North American Champion Fallon Henley.

Hulk Hogan Gets Booed During WWE’s Netflix Debut

Although WWE‘s Netflix debut was a hit, not everyone was met with a warm welcome.

During Monday Night Raw, Hulk Hogan made a surprise appearance to push his beer brand’s partnership with WWE, but his quick speech in front of an American flag largely attracted boos from the audience at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

As the camera panned across the audience, thumbs could be seen pointed down as the booing intensified throughout his product plug.

“Well you know, brother, in the wrestling business, when you’re getting ready to draw some big money, you got to shoot an angle, put some hot spice on the feud,” he said on Fox News. “And when I had Trump in the back at the Garden, I said, ‘You know something? This Robert Kennedy Jr., he’s onto something with nutrition.’ But if you tag team us up as the mega powers, you know – the MAGA-powers, RFK Jr. and Hulk Hogan – he can get them eating the right food and I can get all of our kids in shape, brother.”

In addition to a star-studded audience, this week’s Monday Night Raw also featured appearances from Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and John Cena. source: deadline.com

Netflix Announces Several New WWE Shows Debuting On Their Platform On January 1

In addition to WWE Raw airing every Monday night on the platform, Netflix will be hosting a number of additional digital and other original WWE shows fans have seen, and some new ones. This week, Netflix announced the following list of WWE programming that will be debuting on their platform starting on January 1, 2025: WWE Top 10 “Monday Night Raw hosts some of the biggest and best matches in WWE history, featuring Superstars John Cena, Triple H, Becky Lynch and more.” WWE RAW Classics “Big E hosts this collection of most-see Raw matches and moments, featuring WWE Superstars and Legends including CM Punk, Becky Lynch and Triple H.” WWE Road to WrestleMania “The Road to WrestleMania goes through Raw, where WWE’s top Superstars raise the stakes in must-see matches and thrilling moments.” WWE Superstar Profiles “WWE Superstars step inside the squared circle in pursuit of championships and glory in front of the WWE Universe.” WWE Legends Profiles “Legendary Superstars of WWE make history with unforgettable matches and moments inside the squared circle.” As noted, WWE Raw debuts on Netflix starting on January 6, 2025 from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, CA.

Why Kevin Nash Says Triple H Is A Better Fit To Run WWE Than The Rock

Recently, former WWE creative writer Vince Russo floated a conspiracy theory suggesting TKO board director Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson might replace Paul "Triple H" Levesque with his longtime collaborator Brian Gewirtz. While there doesn't appear to be any truth to this, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash addressed the possibility on "Kliq This." Nash felt fairly confident that Levesque wouldn't be going anywhere, and used a recent social media clip as proof he's better suited to run WWE's creative than perhaps anyone else. 

"They brought back [Shinsuke Nakamura] and they were working out his entrance," Nash began. "It was on Instagram. And they showed Paul walking the production people through what he wanted. 'I want it lit not so much on the top, but underneath.' And he walked them through this entire process of what he saw personally for this guy's entrance. And I was just like...that's what makes the difference between good and great: Detail. And he's dialing this f***in' in, and I'm saying to myself, Dwayne doesn't have the time for that."

Nash compared the respect WWE talent has for Levesque to the respect players had for legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, noting that both inspire their "players" to perform at their best.  

"It's the Triple H era because...people will run through f***ing walls for him," Nash said. "He gets it. And that's the intangible that Brian Gewirtz or Dwayne, they're not going to have."

At one time, Brian Gewirtz was high on the food chain within WWE's creative team, and was known as the architect behind many of The Rock's promos. Having formed a strong working relationship together, The Rock eventually lured Gewirtz away from wrestling to his Seven Bucks Productions entertainment company. 

Triple H Calls Rhea Ripley And Bianca Belair Superheroes: If They’re Not, I’m Not Sure Who Is

Business is booming in the world of professional wrestling. Especially when it comes to WWE, the company has been seeing huge profits in recent years. One of the key factors in this sudden surge in popularity is the fact that Triple H has taken charge. It is also to be noted that now wrestling is not the only profession for wrestlers. The art of professional wrestling also paves the way for talents to enter into the acting business.

Recently, WWE’s Chief Content Officer Triple H was a special guest on the Roommates Show. During the interview, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared his thoughts on wrestlers entering the world of Hollywood. He also mentioned that stars like the Original Tribal Chief Roman Reigns and former WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley would perfectly fit in an action movie. He also shared that he sees stars like Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill as Superheroes.

“Wrestling is accepted now. If somebody goes and does a movie or TV film, it’s so accepted to where it’s not, ‘What’s this wrestler doing in this movie?’ Now, they can sort of fit in and people are more accepted of it. I think over the years, you’ll see some of that. Guys like Roman Reigns, and some of our women too. Rhea Ripley or people like that. Especially with action movies and the superhero genre, if Rhea Ripley is not a superhero, I’m not sure who is. Bianca Belair is another. Jade Cargill. If they’re not superheroes, what is?” Triple H said.

[H/T Fightful.com]

Triple H Says Batista Was The ‘MVP’ of Evolution, Praises His Work Ethic

In an interview with The Roommates Show (via Fightful), Triple H praised how hard Batista worked in his career and said that the Animal was the MVP of Evolution. In addition to Triple H and Batista, the group also included Randy Orton and Ric Flair. Triple H said:

“The MVP in Evolution is Batista. Ric was established. I was established. Randy was established coming out of the group, but as we were forming the group, and Ric and I are the ones that put that together, solely. We were the ones that picked Randy and Dave. A lot of people had kind of written Dave off as ‘he’s never going to make it.’ Ric and I were adamant about putting him in the group. As we started to do the group, everybody kept saying, ‘Randy is the breakout.’ I kept saying, ‘You guys are wrong. It’s going to be Dave.’ He was a sponge. He got it. You might not have known it at that time, but the level he put into it and how hard he worked, for me, he was the MVP.”

Triple H Calls Chyna The Real MVP of DX: She Is The Glue That Kept It Together

One of the most popular factions in WWE is D-Generation-X. The members of the iconic group were X-Pac, Road Dogg Jessie James, Badass Billy Gunn, former WWE World Champion Shawn Michaels, Chyna, and the Chief Content Officer Triple H. Recently, Paul Levesque [Triple H] named who he thinks was the MVP of the group.

While speaking on the Roommates Show, Triple H named the Ninth Wonder of the World, Chyna as the real MVP of DX.

“On DX, I would say Shawn, but there is part of me that would say Chyna. Shawn, only because, at the time when we first started and Shawn was in DX with me, I was learning so much from him on a day-to-day basis about the business. Chyna was the glue that held that together. If you look at the crew, I’m like the guy that doesn’t drink or do any other stuff, so I’m easy to deal with.

“Shawn is a mess. Road Dogg is a mess. X-Pac is a mess. Billy is a mess. The glue that sort of held that all together is Chyna because she kept everybody in line. There is only so much shit I can tell them and control them before they’re like, ‘F off,’ and we get in a fight about it. Nobody is going to give her a hard time, so whatever she says goes. She is kind of the glue there,” Triple H said.

[H/T Fightful.com]

EV investor Ideanomics files for bankruptcy to sell assets; Shane McMahon Exec Chairman

Electric vehicle tech company Ideanomics Inc. (IDEX.PK), opens new tab filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware on Wednesday to find a buyer for its wireless charging business and other technology investments.

Ideanomics entered bankruptcy with over $30 million in debt and just $189,000 in cash on hand, according to documents filed in Wilmington, Delaware bankruptcy court. Ideanomics said it has lost over $800 million in the past five years.

The company spent $320 million on electric vehicle technology investments between 2021 and 2023, but most of those investments were unprofitable. It has shut down all of its acquired businesses except the wireless charging company WAVE, and laid off all but 17 employees. WAVE, which Ideanomics purchased in 2021, will continue to operate during the bankruptcy, and its wireless charging technology is being used by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority in California, which serves commuters in the cities of Palmdale, Lancaster, and Northern Los Angeles County.

The WAVE system is built into routes on public roads and parking facilities, and it is designed to automatically charge buses during scheduled stops, according to court documents. Ideanomics has lined up an $11 million bankruptcy loan from Tillou Management and Consulting, an entity controlled by former wrestling executive Vince McMahon. McMahon is married to Linda McMahon, who U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated as education secretary in his second administration.

Ideanomics plans to sell WAVE to Tillou unless another buyer steps in with a higher offer, according to court documents. Ideanomics saw its stock surge to over $600 a share in 2021 as retail investor interest in electric vehicles surged. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission later accused the company of misleading investors by overstating its financial performance. Ideanomics’ stock was de-listed from NASDAQ in July 2024, and it settled the SEC lawsuit in August.

Before its pivot to electric vehicles, Ideanomics operated in unrelated markets, providing video-on-demand services in China and later providing financial technology used for trading in petroleum and electronic components.

source: reuters.com

A&E, WWE Expand Partnership With Competition Series

A&E is deepening its partnership with the WWE — including adding an in-ring competition to its roster of programming.

The cable network has picked up a series called WWE LFG, which will feature would-be pro wrestlers vying for a WWE contract while receiving training and coaching from in-ring legends Paul “Triple H” Levesque, the Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and others. (The “LFG” in the title stands for “Legends & Future Greats,” A&E says.)

Along with the competition series, A&E has also ordered a second new series, WWE’s Greatest Moments — which, true to its name, will break down iconic matches and events in the company’s history — and a fifth season of its docuseries WWE Rivals.

“Literally filled with blood, sweat, and tears, there’s never been a series that combines in-ring action, behind-the-scenes reality, high-stakes drama, and some of WWE’s greatest icons all in one package,” A+E Networks president of programming Rob Sharenow said in a statement. “From total unknowns to legends, LFG will give viewers a raw, ground-up, 360-degree view of what it truly takes to make it in the WWE. Our collaboration with WWE has clearly struck a chord with audiences, and we’re excited to continue producing premium content that resonates with a diverse viewership.”

Said Levesque, the WWE’s chief content officer, “A&E has proved to be an excellent home for WWE content, and we’re excited to partner with their fantastic team on these new show concepts and the latest season of WWE Rivals.”

LFG is reminiscent of Tough Enough, a competition series that aired in the early 2000s (and was briefly revived in 2010) that also put would-be WWE stars through their paces. The new show will also feature WWE greats Booker T, Mickie James and Bubba Ray Dudley mentoring the contestants, who will complete in weekly matches in addition to learning the behind-the-scenes aspects of the business.

Levesque, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Michaels and Jeremy Borash executive produce LFG for the WWE, with. Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson serving as EPs for A&E.

WWE play-by-play man Michael Cole will host Greatest Moments, which will feature past and current wrestlers looking back at some of the company’s defining matches. WWE’s Levesque, Fitting, Houser and Marc Pomarico exec produce with A&E’s Bryant, Abramson and Jonathan Partridge.

source: hollywood reporter

WWE Granted Stay In ‘Ring Boy’ Lawsuit

WWE has been granted a motion to stay the lawsuit filed by former “ring boys” against the company as well as Vince and Linda McMahon. As you likely recall, a lawsuit was filed against the parties back in October by five former WWE “ring boys” who allege that Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin sexually abused them, and that Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of the abuse but did nothing to stop it. POST Wrestling reports that Judge James K. Bredar has granted a motion byu the company to stay the lawsuit pending a ruling by the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision on the Child Victims Act.

According to POST, the new Maryland removes the statute of limitations and allows victims to sue “non-perpetrator defendants whose negligence may have led to child sex abuse.” The Maryland Supreme Court is currently considering the constitutionality of the law in a consolidated case, with a decision expected before August 31st, 2025.

WWE filed their motion on Monday asking for the case to be stayed, and the judge agreed to do so. The judge wrote:

“The Complaint raises allegations regarding sexual abuse committed in the 1980s, and the timeliness of the claims depends on the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 (‘CVA’). As Defendants [WWE] explain, the viability of Plaintiffs’ [the ring boys’] claims ‘depends entirely on the constitutionality of the CVA’”.

Triple H Dubs Current WWE Era The Netflix Era, Says It's Bigger Than Attitude Era

WWE has been enjoying a new wave of popularity. The sports-entertainment juggernaut could gain more fans when the company makes the move to Netflix in 2025. "WWE Raw" will debut on the service on January 6, with the live crowd in the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California also getting the chance to see recording artist Travis Scott appear live. During a recent press event to promote the company's move to Netflix, WWE's Chief Content Officer Triple H believes that this new era the company is entering will surpass the popularity of the famed Attitude Era.

"I think the moment that we're going through right now, I was in the Attitude Era at the peak of it as you were. We didn't realize what it was in the moment. Having seen that, I see this, and I see it way bigger bigger. I see this as this different moment of time in the business, and it being something different." Triple H then turned to Michael Cole, who had mentioned that WWE was currently in 'The Triple H Era,' but The Game respectfully disagreed. "You mentioned it being the Triple H Era. I don't think it's that. I think at the end of it, it's going to be called the Netflix Era because that's where the big change is."

It isn't just Triple H who can feel it, as former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest mentioned after the conclusion of WrestleMania 40 that everyone in WWE can sense that a new era is on the horizon, and its one where they can do things that the stars of the Attitude Era could only dream of. 

Whatever the name of the new era, it has not been lost on Triple H, how important this move is to the company, and the wrestling business as a whole.

"It's mind-boggling to me, the moment of us hitting Netflix," Triple H said. "I don't think people truly understand what that means outside of the US when you have that moment where as a WWE fan, and everything has always been either you have to go find it or where is this programming, when is that programming? Where is the PLE going to be? Now it's this one-stop shop, where I think people are talking about it like 'wow, it's going to be great when Netflix gets [WWE].' I don't think they fully get that like the rest of the world 'we're getting everything,' on that date, all at once. Like I can watch anything at any given time. It's a game-changer."

The United States won't be getting every piece of WWE content right away due to contracts with other networks, meaning that in 2025, "Raw" will be the only show to broadcast live on Netflix. A number of other countries, including Canada and all of the United Kingdom, will get every WWE weekly show live on their service, as well as the monthly Premium Live Events and a select number of past events that have historical significance.

credit: Wrestling Inc.

Triple H Comments On People Who Prefer Older Style of Wrestling, Says He Can’t Book For Himself

In an interview with Greg and the Morning Buzz (via Fightful), Triple H gave some insight into his booking process for WWE and how he addresses complaints that WWE isn’t the way that it used to be. He noted that his friends sometimes text him to complain. He said:

“Nobody actually texts me during the show because they know I’m not going to answer, for the most part. It’s interesting the different points of view. I know guys across many different generations, and I think there are some older performers that look at the way kids perform today and they say, ‘They’re just not doing it right. They don’t need to do all this.’ I get that, but it’s the way kids consume it today. There is a saying about when things start to leave you in life. The first thing to go is music. How many people, as you see them get older, ‘Music today sucks. Back in my day, that’s when they made good music. People put their heart and their soul into it and there was real emotion there.’ No, you’re just old, dude. Yeah, the stuff was great in your generation and you learned it a certain way, but the kids today learn it a different way, and what they see and what they think is cool, then that’s what you need to give them. I can’t control that. I learned this 30 years the hard way. It is in no way shape or form about what I want. It’s about what they want. If it becomes about what I want, then the show will die. It is about what they want and that overall big picture.“

source: 411mania.com

The WWE Network Is Officially Shutting Down Ahead Of Netflix Move

The WWE Network has long been the home of WWE's library in international markets.

Here in the States, WWE's streaming channel had a run on its own before getting integrated into Peacock. The library of content includes WCW, ECW, and NWA content, most of WWE's PLEs, replays of weekly shows, and tons of original content. It's pretty amazing.

But, that all ends on January 1, when WWE Raw and WWE's extensive library of content move to Netflix. The following press release was sent to WWE Network's international users:

On January 1, 2025, WWE Network will no longer be available in your area. After January 1, Netflix will be the new exclusive home of WWE.

Netflix will bring WWE’s electrifying content all to one place, including weekly shows, Monday Night RAW, SmackDown and NXT, PLUS Premium Live Events (PLEs) such as WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam.

Many of WWE’s top moments, along with historic PLEs and select programming, will be available on Netflix beginning January 1.

The premiere live episode of Monday Night RAW on Netflix airing on January 6 will feature some of the biggest names in WWE such as John Cena, Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Bianca Belair, in addition to many other Superstars and guests including Travis Scott.

If you are already a Netflix subscriber, you’re all set. If you are not a Netflix subscriber, you will need to subscribe so you don’t miss a moment. We can’t wait for you to experience WWE on Netflix this January.

What does "select programming" mean? We'll have to wait and see.

source: si.com

Bobby Roode Praised For WWE Producing

PWInsider.com reports that WWE producer Booby Roode has been receiving a significant amount of praise for his work in recent months. Roode has been filling in for Michael Hayes, who is currently on leave for person reasons. The WWE Hall of Famer is expected to return at some point in the future.

Ari Emanuel Praises Triple H & Dana White’s Work With WWE & UFC, Talks Netflix/WWE Deal

Ari Emanuel is very happy with how Triple H and Dana White are doing with WWE and the UFC, respectively. Emanuel is the CEO of TKO, the parent company of both WWE and UFC, and he recently spoke on Bloomberg about the success of both companies, WWE’s deal with Netflix and more. You can see highlights below (courtesy of Wrestling Inc):

On the performance of the two companies: “I don’t think it’s Fight Club. I remember watching WWE — WWF, actually — when I was young. Paul [Levesque] has done an amazing job with the WWE, with ‘Raw,’ ‘SmackDown,’ PLEs, ‘NXT.’ And UFC is a sport that Dana [White] created over 30 years ago. Didn’t exist. [It was] His vision. You don’t have to explain the rules of the UFC to anybody in the world.”

On Triple H taking over WWE from Vince McMahon: “When you have guys that are visionaries, take whatever comes through on the cases with Vince McMahon who is no longer with the company, and now Paul, Triple H, is running that. They understand, kind of, the heartbeat. The skills I’ve maybe learned in the talent agency side have helped, but now we’re partners. So, now, that’s how I look at it. You just have to let the talent — and those guys are talent — do what they do and support them with all that they need.”

On WWE’s deal with Netflix: “You can see that Netflix wants to be in the live sports business. I think they [WWE] will perform very well for them. There’s a huge chunk of the audience that are WWE fans that are not right now, based on our research, Netflix subscribers. If they capture a portion of those, it’s a huge win for them and a huge win for us.”

On the potential of UFC moving to Netflix: “Listen, ESPN has been an incredible partner. First quarter we’ll see, that’s where we can start. We would love to be back in ESPN. They have been incredible to us.”

Linda McMahon's Lawyer Confirms Separation from Vince McMahon Amid Ongoing Lawsuits

The Washington Post has published a new feature piece discussing the ongoing lawsuits involving Vince McMahon and WWE. In the article, Linda McMahon's lawyer confirmed that Linda and Vince are separated.

As previously reported, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education.

Laura Brevetti, who represents Linda McMahon and also defended Vince McMahon in his 1994 criminal trial, stated that Linda and Vince are indeed separated. She also commented on the ongoing "ring boys" lawsuit, saying, “This lawsuit based upon thirty-plus-year-old allegations is filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.”