Eric Bischoff Replaced By Bruce Prichard As Executive Director Of WWE Friday Night SmackDown

WWE announced that Bruce Prichard will replace Eric Bischoff as the Executive Director of WWE Friday Night SmackDown. Prichard will report directly to WWEChairman & CEO Vince McMahon.

Prichard will oversee the creative development of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX and ensure integration across all platforms and lines of business.

WWE had named Bischoff as the Executive Director of WWE SmackDown this past June, while also appointing Paul Heyman as the Executive Director of WWE RAW. There had been reports over recent months about Bischoff not being heavily involved with the SmackDown creative process.

AEW Dynamite Draws More Viewers Than WWE NXT In Week 2, AEW Viewership Down From Premiere

AEW Dynamite has topped WWE NXT in viewership for the second week in a row.

Wednesday's Dynamite episode on TNT drew 1.018 million viewers while NXT drew 790,000 viewers on the USA Network, according to Showbuzz Daily. Dynamite topped NXT by 29%.

AEW ranked #8 in the Cable Top 150 18-49 demographic list, while NXT ranked #27. AEW ranked #25 in viewership, while NXT ranked #33 in viewership.

Last week's Dynamite premiere episode drew 1.409 million viewers and ranked #2 in the Cable Top 150, and #16 in viewership, so the audience was down 28%. NXT was down 11% from last week's season premiere episode, which drew 891,000 viewers and ranked #10 in the Cable Top 150, and #27 in viewership.

AEW drew a 0.46 rating in the 18-49 demographic, topping the 0.22 in the same demo that NXT scored by 109%. Last week's AEW episode drew a 0.68 in that demographic while NXT drew a 0.32.

Big Show Is Getting His Own Reality TV Travel Series

Veteran WWE Superstar Big Show has signed on for his second TV show.

Show will be getting his own travel reality TV series, titled "Big Show vs. The World: A Giant Abroad," from WWE Studios and ITV America's Thinkfactory Media, according to The Wrap.

"Big Show vs. The World: A Giant Abroad" is currently in the development phase ad is being shopped to top broadcast and cable TV networks, and streaming platforms.

Below is the official synopsis for the new series, provided to Wrestling Inc.:

"Through his extensive world travels with WWE, Big Show has collected a lifetime of unusual stories filled with unexplained natural occurrences, local enigmas and fascinating people. "Big Show vs. The World: A Giant Abroad" will follow the larger-than-life WWE Superstar as he travels back to these locations and indulges his lifelong passion for exploring the strange and unknown.

Each self-contained episode will feature Big Show venturing to a new exotic area, where he'll team up with a local guide and dive head first into a native mystery or legend. Navigating the difficulty of travel (at seven feet tall) and the extreme, sometimes awkward situations he encounters with his signature self-deprecating sense of humor, Big Show will do whatever it takes to unearth every quirky and shocking detail during his adventures into the bizarre."

Master P Is Getting Into The Pro Wrestling Business With House Of Glory Ownership

Rapper and multi-millionaire entrepreneur Master P has announced that he is the new owner of the House of Glory indie wrestling promotion.

Master P, who appeared for WCW during the 1999 feud between the No Limit Soldiers and the West Texas Rednecks, announced today that he is taking over HOG, which is the New York City indie fed that was launched in 2012, ran by The Amazing Red and Brian XL.

The No Limit boss and head of the Miller family issued a warning to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, as seen in the new Instagram video below.

"And we're getting into wrestling! I'm just telling y'all," Master P told a TMZ reporter while promoting his new 'Miller's Family Treasures' lifestyle reality TV show. "Vince McMahon, you in trouble, cause I'm about to take over wrestling."

He continued, "Taking hip-hop to a whole different league. HOG - House of Glory Wrestling. I'm hiring all the top wrestlers, come over here. WWE, come over here to us."

The caption on the video reads like this: "TMZ @romeomiller @cymphonique Our new lifestyle of the elite and wealthy tv show is called 'Miller's Family Treasures' and we are making history by bringing Hip Hop to wrestling. We don't own the NFL, NBA, or MLB but we do own House of Glory aka "HOG". Join the movement #weallwegot @hogwrestling"

It looks like the Miller family will feature HOG on their "Miller's Family Treasures" TV show.

There's no word yet on when Master P and his crew will begin running HOG, or what they have planned.

XFL Releases Season Ticket Pricing And Membership Perks

After teasing fans for months, the XFL finally released its season ticket packages for all eight teams. This comes after announcing that the selection process will be taking place today. Fans are now able to choose their location for the 2020 season at 11 a.m. ET.

There will be six tiers plus suite seats for several teams. Prices vary depending on the team and area:

* Dallas Renegades: From Tier 6 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $80 ($500 for a five-game package).

* DC Defenders: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $100 ($500 for a five-game package).

* Houston Roughnecks: From Tier 6 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

* Los Angeles Wildcats: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $85 ($425 for a five-game package).

* New York Guardians: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $25 per seat ($125 for a five-game package) to $115 ($575 for a five-game package).

* St. Louis Battlehawks: From Tier 6 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

* Seattle Dragons: From Tier 7 to Club 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

* Tampa Bay Vipers: From Tier 7 to Tier 1, prices range from $20 per seat ($100 for a five-game package) to $90 ($450 for a five-game package).

Each fan that purchases a season ticket will receive a VIP Field Pass for one home game. Season ticket members will enjoy benefits that include season ticket price locks for the first two seasons, 25% discounts on merchandise, VIP experiences throughout the year, priority status for playoff and season ticket renewals and early access to the XFL's Football Advisory Network. The FAN is an online community that will give fans access to help optimize the team and fan experience.

Fans still have time to secure their depositsfor the season.

In just a few short weeks the XFL Draft will be taking place from Stamford, CT. The relaunched XFL season is expected to start in February of 2020, the weekend after the Super Bowl.

Triple H And FOX Sports President Talk WWE Ratings Drop And Potential Increase After This Week

The Associated Press took a look at WWE TV ahead of the SmackDown FOX premiere and the 20th anniversary celebration from Los Angeles.

FOX Sports President Eric Shanks spoke with The AP for the piece and said SmackDown has potential to do big things for Friday night TV.

"It has the potential to rejuvenate Friday nights," Shanks said.

Triple H was also interviewed. He said FOX is looking to help WWE increase the value of SmackDown, and make it something more. He also said we will see changes right away.

"I think the opportunity to go to a broadcast platform with partners like Fox that not only want to take what you do and embrace it, but help you to make it something more, increases the value," Triple H said. "You'll see changes right away."

Triple H downplayed the drop in WWE TV ratings that we've seen over the past several years.

"I think any show that has been on the air as long as RAW and SmackDown have, you're going to have moments in time where things ebb and flow," Triple H said. "When you look back over it, you hope that as you look back 10 years from now, you go, 'oh, there was a little dip there but it wasn't for long and they corrected course and got right.'"

It was noted how FOX has publicly been nonplussed about the drop in viewership. Shanks pointed to how WWE will now have the FOX promotional machine behind them, and they expect viewership to increase after this week.

"They haven't had the programming and awareness that they will have on Fox," Shanks said. "We're hoping it will grow after the anniversary show."

The piece noted how how WWE has leaned on Hall of Famers like Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan as of late, perhaps as a way to get the lapsed fan, and how RAW and SmackDown are expected to have their own rosters moving forward. Triple H commented on how they want to put stars out that people are engaged with.

"You want to put on something for everybody," Triple H said. "You want to put out stars that people remember, that people are engaged with right now. You want to put something of, this guy's going to be a star in a year or two."

WWE Releases Statement Regarding AEW Dynamite Premiere

AEW Dynamite premiered last night on TNT against WWE NXT on USA Network. As we previously reported, early indicators seemed to suggest a ratings victory for AEW.

WWE sent Wrestling Inc. the following statement regarding the AEW Dynamite premiere, congratulating the organization for a successful debut while noting "this is a marathon, not a one-night sprint":

"Congratulations to AEW on a successful premiere. The real winners of last night's head-to-head telecasts of NXT on USA Network and AEW on TNT are the fans, who can expect Wednesday nights to be a competitive and wild ride as this is a marathon, not a one-night sprint."

AEW Dynamite Tops WWE SmackDown In Major Demo, Most Watched Non-WWE Show In 5 Years

AEW Dynamite premiered on TNT on Wednesday garnering 1.409 million viewers, topping the 891,000 viewers garnered by the season premiere of WWE NXT on the USA Network, which was airing head-to-head, by 58%.

AEW Dynamite was the second highest rated show on cable on Wednesday in the 18-49 demo with a 0.68 rating. It topped WWE NXTin the demo by 112.5%, as NXT did a 0.32 rating and was #10 for the night for the demo.

AEW Dynamite actually narrowly topped last Tuesday's episode of SmackDown Live in the 18-49 demo. While AEW Dynamite scored a 0.68 rating, SmackDown garnered a 0.67 rating in the demo.

AEW Dynamite was also the most watched wrestling show on cable that wasn't RAW or SmackDown in over 5 years, since the April 10, 2014 edition of Impact Wrestling, which did 1.42 million viewers.

AEW Dynamite And WWE NXT Overnight Nielsen Ratings Are In

Last night, AEW Dynamite (results here) and WWE NXT (results here) went head-to-head for the first time. Today's big question: who won week one in the ratings?

Ryan Glasspiegel of The Big Lead is reporting the overnight ratings from Nielsen has AEW at a 0.7 and NXT at 0.5. Final ratings and viewership will be out later this afternoon.

As noted, it was reported by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio that, albeit a small sample, Playstation Vue's streaming service showed Dynamite had three times the amount of viewers that NXT had.

For AEW, Jake Hager (fka WWE's Jack Swagger) made his debut for the promotion. On NXT, Tommaso Ciampa and Finn Balorboth made their returns (here and here).

Triple H Says WWE Is Willing To Forget The Past With CM Punk And Move Forward

Triple H recently appeared on the Sports Illustrated Podcast and was asked about CM Punk possibly working on the WWEBackstage show for FS1, which premieres on Tuesday, November 5 with Renee Young and WWE Hall of Famer Booker T as the hosts. He was asked if Punk working the show would be something he'd sign off on, and be happy to see.

"Look, I've read about that as well," Triple Hsaid of the Punk - FS1 reports. "You know, to be clear, FOX is doing this show, and it's their show, and it's something they're doing to talk about the WWE Universe and everything going on in it. They've had a long list of people they've been interviewing and everything, but as far as for us, one of the things I think this company has shown over and over again, is never say never.

"If the opportunity is right for everybody and it's right for our fans, then we are willing to put the past behind us and move forward. So, I would say, never say never, but that's also probably a long way from coming to. I don't know. That's also a little bit outside of my purview at the moment, but like I said, never say never."

CM Punk Confirms Talks With FOX For WWE Backstage Show, Talks If He's Met With WWE

CM Punk appeared on Collider Live to promote his new horror movie, Girl on the Third Floor. Punk discussed being a fan of the genre, and also talked about comics and comic book movies.

Eventually the conversation turned to pro wrestling. Punk was asked about reports that he tried out for the new "WWE Backstage" studio show on FS1, which he confirmed.

"Yeah I did it," Punk confirmed. "I'm very much in a position where, 'Well come talk to me.'

"I'm open to anything," Punk continued, before adding that it does not necessarily include wrestling. "If they come to me with, 'Hey we want you to wrestle,' I'll say, 'um, I'm not interested'."

Punk noted that he's changed since his last stint with WWE, which ended with a lot of bad blood in 2014.

"I've grown so much as a person and I look back at all the stuff and I don't need it. I don't need the confrontation and I don't need the drama," Punk said. "But I'm a businessman. I also put my morals and my integrity above business deals."

Punk said that while he puts his morals about business, he will be open to the right deal.

"If you want me to do anything, well OK, come talk to me but don't waste my time," Punk stated.

Punk admitted that he doesn't have specifics or numbers in mind regarding what the right deal may be. He noted that his agents contacted him about trying out and he knew that FOX spent a lot of money for the new WWE rights deal. Punk originally thought that the billions that FOX was spending was for the whole WWE package, and was surprised to learn it was just for SmackDown. He said that with all the money that FOX is spending for WWE, they're looking at trying different things.

"Ratings are still dipping and that's been happening for 20+ years," Punk noted. "Trust me, I'm not saying that it's because I'm not there or anything like that. When I was there and I was on top, RAW was doing 3.8's and I was getting blamed for it, like that's a bad rating. Now they would f--king kill to have a 3.8!

"My agents just called me and FOX is throwing everything at this because they spent a lot of money on this and they're all in to make it work. Originally I thought it was a WWE thing, so I was just like, 'meh, no.' But then they said, 'this is FOX.'"

Punk said that he is not dealing with WWE. He noted that if he were to do the job, he would call it down the line, but he would not pretend like something isn't bad if it is.

"I'm not dealing with anybody in WWE," Punk said. "They explained to me what it was and I love Renee Young. Renee Young is a great person... she's Canadian, so obviously she's super over-the-top nice and friendly. I prefaced it with, 'Guys, I'm not going to come in and dump all over stuff just to dump on it. That's old Phil. But if it's bad, I'm not going to be able to pretend it's anything but bad.'

"So they want to present it like it's a real sport and just have a show that recaps stuff, just like they do with the NFL, just like the NHL Network would do with hockey games and stuff like that. That's where we are with that."

Regarding if anyone from WWE has reached out to him since the tryout, Punk joked, "No, I'm the boogeyman!"

Triple H Reveals What Vince McMahon Thinks of WWE NXT

Triple H is at the helm when it comes to running NXT, but Vince McMahon is the man behind WWE and he still has a say in how NXT is run. 

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Triple H revealed what Vince McMahon thinks of NXT and what he wants it to become. 

"Everything that happens within WWE has Vince’s fingerprints on it. There is no NXT without Vince. It wouldn’t exist without him. He wants NXT to be different, something for the more passionate fan base. It’s a darker, grittier feel, it’s different. He totally understands that. But he has no desire to be in the day-to-day operations. Vince has a lot of other things on his plate.”

“This is the next step in our growth. I don’t even think the word ‘developmental’ works for us anymore because we are WWE’s third touring brand. This is a place where talent can work their entire career, across the world with NXT UK and soon other places, too, and have a long-lasting, meaningful career in a global brand."

Source: SI.com