Triple H Comments On NXT Being A Third Brand

Triple H thinks NXT is a prime proving ground for upcoming stars and main roster talent to grow and evolve and sees it as a major brand for the company. The Cerebral Assassin had the following to say during a conference call yesterday.

“I think you can be at a place where you can see main level talent stay in NXT. We are also at the point where you can see some talent that have been on Raw and SmackDown for periods of time, who have had some success or haven’t for whatever reason, who aren’t being utilized, go back to NXT. A talent who doesn’t get a lot of exposure on SmackDown and moves to Raw, it could be a game-changer for them, and all of a sudden they can do something different. I do think it (NXT) is a third brand.”

New WWE PC YouTube Channel And Series

The WWE Performance Center has launched an official YouTube channel at youtube.com/wwepc. The premiere episode of their new "Arrival" series features WWE NXT Superstar Matt Riddle.

WWE Announces WrestleMania 34's Major Economic Impact For New Orleans Area

WWE and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced today that WrestleMania 34 generated $175 million in economic impact for the greater New Orleans region this past April, according to a study conducted by the Enigma Research Corporation. This marks a significant increase from the $142 million generated for WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans and the seventh consecutive year that WrestleMania generated more than $100 million in economic impact for its host region.

Over the past 12 years, WrestleMania has generated more than $1.2 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the event.WrestleMania 34 also generated approximately $23.7 million in federal, state and local taxes.

“Yet again, WWE delivered on its promise to offer a spectacular event in New Orleans and a boost to the local economy,” said Governor John Bel Edwards. “I would like to thank the WWE fans from around the world that descended on New Orleans for WrestleMania Week.

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Stephanie McMahon And Triple H, More WWE Superstars On Carpool Karaoke

A number of WWE Superstars are featured in the latest edition of Carpool Karaoke exclusively on Apple TV.

You’ll see fun things like Triple H and Stephanie McMahon singing Bust A Move, and Metallica’s Enter Sandman. Braun Strowman also busts out a little Shania Twain and The New Day is as New Day as ever.

Stephanie posted the following on Twitter:

Finally…our episode of @CarpoolKaraoke has come to the @AppleTV app! Check out @TripleH singing “Bust A Move”, @BraunStrowman “feeling like a woman”, and find out which female @WWE Superstar is the biggest flirt! (Just please don’t judge my singing!)

Rumor Mill - Linda McMahon Reportedly Top Candidate for Promotion Within Trump Administration

WWE continues to make a strange amount of geopolitical headlines in 2018 as Linda McMahon is rumored for a bigger role in President Trump's cabinet.

We typically deal in wrestling rumors but turns out political rumors read the exact same. In a report from Politico, McMahon — who's currently running the Small Business Administration —may replace current Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross if he leaves the position.

“The leading candidate to replace Ross if that happens is now Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon, according to two sources familiar with the discussions. McMahon has made clear she is interested in the position and would accept it if it is offered, according to a source familiar with the conversations.”

“Whether Ross stays or goes will depend on the extent to which newly empowered Democrats in the House decide to probe the Commerce secretary’s finances and questions about his divestment of assets, a White House official said. If Democrats decide to press those issues, Ross could have a harder time staying.”

According to Politico's sources, McMahon is said to be interested in the role and would accept the promotion if it came her way.

President Trump and the McMahons have a relationship dating back to the 80's. Trump was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 and his connection to the McMahons has become his administration's most innocent subplot. Vince and Linda McMahon were active supporters of Trump's campaign, contributing millions to pro-Trump Super PACs.

Unlike Trump and the rest of his troops, McMahon rarely makes headlines which could make her potential promotion one of the Trump Administrations least controversial decisions.

However, WWE found itself in the thick of political drama ahead of it's latest trip to Saudi Arabia. After the death of Jamal Khashoggi, many American entities froze or severed their relationship with the Saudis. But despite waves of criticism from fans, the media, and even US Senators, WWE pressed forward with Saudi event, Crown Jewel.

McMahon was asked about WWE's tenacity regarding their relationship with Saudi Arabia, but she gracefully passed the buck to her husband and WWE patriarch Vince McMahon.

Vince McMahon didn't have much to say about WWE's choice to press forward with Crown Jewel, but WWE did release this statement during their Q3 earnings report.

“WWE has operated in the Middle East for nearly 20 years and has developed a sizable and dedicated fan base. Considering the heinous crime committed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the Company faced a very difficult decision as it relates to its event scheduled for November 2 in Riyadh.

Similar to other U.S.-based companies who plan to continue operations in Saudi Arabia, the Company has decided to uphold its contractual obligations to the General Sports Authority and stage the event. Full-year 2018 guidance is predicated on the staging of the Riyadh event as scheduled.”

Outside of the family business having active ties to a contentious Saudi regime, Linda McMahon's still remains one of Trump's most palatable appointments.

ROH Parent Company CEO On State Of ROH: "Ultimately Should Be Something In The Same Light As WWE"

Earlier today, the Sinclair Broadcast Group (parent company of Ring of Honor) had its third quarter earnings and held a stockholders call. During the call, Ring of Honor was asked about from an investment standpoint and if things are working out based on their initial expectations.

Sinclair Broadcast Group President and CEO, Christopher Ripley, noted how quickly they sold out Madison Square Garden for their April 6 co-promotional event with NJPW during WrestleMania weekend.

He said the brand has potential and wants it seen as something similar to WWE, but they are still dialing things in to grow the promotion. Just for clarification, Ripley also mentioned Beyond Tennis, which is a tennis channel the company previously purchased.

"So, look I think saying that we've invested a lot of money is maybe a slight mischaracterization," Ripley said. "Beyond Tennis, we really haven't spent significant dollars on content and Ring of Honor, I think, we bought for a couple hundred thousand dollars. And it's— we think that's an unpolished gem that ultimately should be something in the same light as WWE. We actually sold out Madison Square Gardens for an event next year in 11 minutes. So, we know that that that brand has potential. It just— it hasn't, we haven't quite found the right dials to turn yet, but we keep increasing the grass roots support on it and it has just a very, very loyal and avid fan base, which is what you really need to explode a brand."

(H/T PWInsider)

Stephanie McMahon On WWE Growth: "There’s No Reason We Can’t Be As Big As Or Bigger Than Disney"

Earlier this week, Stephanie McMahon joined Elizabeth Schulze at Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal to talk about WWE's ability to build a global brand. During the conversation, McMahon was asked a number of questions about WWE expanding into the global market, the WWE Network, and the overall growth of the company.

The final question asked was where she saw WWE ten years from now, and she had quite the bold goal in mind for the company.

"10-20-30 years from now, there's no reason we can't be as big [as] or bigger than Disney," McMahon said. "Now that's a tall order, especially given recent transactions. However, there's no reason why we can't get there. You have to dream big, have big, bold goals, and go after them."

Currently, WWE's market cap is $5.8 billion compared to Disney's $172.7 billion, according to The Big Lead. It's fair to say WWE has quite a long way to go before getting close to Disney.

While Raw will remain on the USA Network, in June WWE officially announced the move to FOX to air SmackDown, beginning next October. The 5-year deal is reportedly worth over $1 billion.

Triple H Gives An Update Following Surgery

Triple H posted the following on Twitter:

Out of surgery, happy to report all is well. Thanks to excellent medical care of Dr. Dugas and his team and all the well wishes, messages, tweets, and texts I got over the weekend.
Road to recovery starts... NOW. #GameTime

WWE Purchases Large Wrestling Tape Library

WWE officials finalized a deal to acquire the World Wrestling Council video library last month, according to PWInsider. The long-running WWC promotion is owned by WWE Hall of Famer Carlos Colon and Victor Jovia in Puerto Rico. WWC launched in 1983 by Colon, Jovica and the late WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon, and has featured many notable stars over the years. This library is believed to be one of the largest & oldest wrestling tape libraries that is still available.

WWE has rumored to be in talks to purchase the library for several years as it was believed to be part of the deal to induct Colon into the Hall of Fame back in 2014. The two sides have talked on & off for years but the deal was closed when WWE officials traveled to Puerto Rico last month.

WWE has already shipped the library back to HQ in Stamford, CT and they are set to start preparing for footage for future use on the WWE Network and home video releases. The footage would need to be cleaned up & digitized, so there's no word yet on when they might start airing it. Some of the footage was reportedly damaged during Hurricane Maria, which knocked out all power on the island for weeks. This could cause a delay in WWE using the footage. There's no word yet on how much damage was caused but WWE officials knew of the damage before they finalized the acquisition.

Triple H Set To Undergo Surgery On Tuesday, Will Likely Miss WrestleMania

Triple H wrote on Twitter that he will be undergoing surgery on Tuesday morning. Triple H had suffered a torn pectoral muscle during his match at WWE Crown Jewel this past Friday, where he teamed with Shawn Michaelsto defeat Kane and The Undertaker.

As noted, the return time for other wrestlers with a torn pec has been anywhere from 5-9 months, although it is usually at least 6 months. If he is out of action for six months then he would miss WrestleMania 35, which takes place on Sunday, April 7, 2019. WWE had teased a match between Batista and Triple H at the event.

Triple H Set To Undergo Surgery After Suffering Injury At WWE Crown Jewel

WWE has announced that Triple H suffered a possible torn pectoral muscle at WWE Crown Jewel in the main event.

The Game teamed with WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels as DX to defeat The Brothers of Destruction, Kane and The Undertaker. The finish saw Triple H pin Kane to win.

WWE noted that Triple H is headed back to the United States from Saudi Arabia to undergo surgery. There's no word yet on if he will be re-joining the crew for the upcoming international tour but we will keep you updated.

WWE did not say when the injury occurred but it was noted on commentary that a ringside doctor was checking on Triple H after Kane chokeslammed him through the announce table towards the end of the match.

Below is WWE's announcement on the injury:

Triple H suffers possible torn pectoral muscle

During the epic showdown between D-Generation X and The Brothers of Destruction at WWE Crown Jewel, Triple H sustained what appears to be a torn pectoral muscle, WWE.com has learned.

As a result, The Game plans to return to the United States this week to undergo surgical repair.

WWE Adds Hulk Hogan To Friday's WWE Crown Jewel Event

WWE is quietly advertising Hulk Hogan for Friday's WWE Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

On Wednesday, the company added Hulk Hogan to the list of scheduled Superstars set to appear on their official website and mobile app.

Hogan himself has also been telling friends and media that he will be heading to Saudi Arabia with the company, which means if he appears on Friday, it will be the first time appearing on a WWE show since 2015.