WWE surpassed 100 million subscribers on its official YouTube channel

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, today surpassed 100 million subscribers on its official YouTube channel, becoming one of only 10 channels worldwide to achieve the milestone.

The return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has helped supercharge the channel’s subscriber total in recent months, highlighted by the WrestleMania XL Kickoff event in Las Vegas on Feb. 8 which added more than 100,000 subscribers in a day. Further, every segment featuring “The Rock” since his surprise Friday Night SmackDown return on September 15, 2023, has drawn more than one million views. Prior to The Rock’s return to WWE television in September, the company was tracking to reach the 100 million subscriber milestone in late April.

With more than 100 million subscribers and 81 billion lifetime views, WWE is the largest sports channel on YouTube and No. 10 overall. The new subscriber total is more than the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL combined. An early adopter of the platform, WWE joined YouTube in 2007 and has since created and curated exclusive and original content to super serve the WWE Universe. Today, the channel combines premiere in-ring action highlights from Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown, NXT and premium live events, archival premium live event footage, exclusive interviews and content featuring WWE Superstars, weekly episodes of The Bump, post-event press conferences, and more.

Much of WWE’s success on the platform is owed to original programming created specifically for YouTube. Productions such as WWE Playback where Superstars rewatch classic matches, WWE Now, a news series covering all things WWE, and popular highlight compilations like WWE Top 10 and WWE Playlist have driven massive growth for the channel.

WWE Announcers Are Being Given More Leeway Under Triple H

A ton of things have changed in WWE once Paul "Triple H" Levesque took over creative from Vince McMahon in the summer of 2022 following the hush money scandal. The product has gotten better and morale has increased within those who work for the company. Commentary has also changed after years of McMahon being notorious for yelling at the announcers.

Changes

Corey Graves has been part of the commentary team for years and has worked under both men. Graves took on a new role as the lead SmackDown play-by-play voice last month.

While speaking on the Short and to the Point podcast, Graves talked about the support he has from Triple H, noting he owes a lot, if not his career, due to him supporting his transition from wrestler to commentator.

Experience

“He also is really cool and sort of refreshing in a sense that he gives us [announcers] space. When he's in Gorilla [position] right where the old boss sat, instead of being told and prompted, 'Hey, you've got to say this, you have to do it this way, you have to use this verbiage,' He, I think, understands that we’re all fans and we all love this in different ways. And as the business grows and evolves, you kind of have to let go of the reins a little bit. I still have my guide rails, I just feel like they’re a little bit wider on each side now where rather than trying to stay on a particular path and walk in a certain rhythm and do things a certain way, I have a little bit more leeway to be me and develop my own style.”

Triple H Announces Women's Wrestling Legend For 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame Class

Following the news earlier this week that Paul Heyman would be part of the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class, the company's Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque has now announced the second performer set to be recognized — former All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling star Bull Nakano. Levesque revealed the news on X and recognized the retired wrestler for her contributions to the industry.

"An unbelievable talent with an unforgettable look, and a mean streak a mile long," Levesque said. "Bull Nakano isn't just one of the best women's wrestlers of all time — she's one of the best of all time, period."

Following the news earlier this week that Paul Heyman would be part of the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame class, the company's Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque has now announced the second performer set to be recognized — former All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling star Bull Nakano. Levesque revealed the news on X and recognized the retired wrestler for her contributions to the industry.

"An unbelievable talent with an unforgettable look, and a mean streak a mile long," Levesque said. "Bull Nakano isn't just one of the best women's wrestlers of all time — she's one of the best of all time, period."

Nakano began her wrestling career in the early 1980s when she was still a teenager. She captured the AJW Championship before the age of 18 and promptly held onto the title for more than three years. In the early 1990s, after years at the top of the promotion, Nakano left AJW.

In addition to her main body of work in Japan, Nakano made various appearances for both WWE and WCW, primarily from 1994 to 1996. Throughout this time, Nakano had a lengthy rivalry with Alundra Blayze (AKA Madusa). The two feuded in WWE in 1994 and 1995, including a match at WWE SummerSlam 1994, and Nakano later won the WWF Women's Championship for a time. Both Nakano and Blayze wound up leaving the WWF for WCW in 1996 and their feud continued there.

After retiring due to injuries in 1997, Nakano spent some time as a professional golfer. She would later come out of retirement twice for very brief spots in gauntlet matches. It was also recently announced that Nakano would serve as the onscreen commissioner for Sukeban, a United States-based promotion that focuses on Japanese women's wrestling.

Paul Heyman Set for 2024 WWE Hall of Fame Induction

Paul  Heyman, the manager behind some of WWE's greatest talents, is set to join the prestigious ranks of the WWE Hall of Fame later this year.

The announcement of Heyman's induction, reported by The Associated Press, carries special significance as it will take place in Philadelphia, PA. This city holds a profound connection to Heyman, as it was the epicenter of ECW's electrifying shows during his tenure as a key figure in the promotion.

Reflecting on his time with ECW, Heyman emphasized the ethos of hard work and staying ahead of the curve that defined the promotion's legacy.

"The extreme in ECW stood for the work ethic involved... The legacy of ECW is firmly rooted in the very simple concepts of paying attention to the cultural curve and obsessively trying to stay a few steps ahead of it.”

WWE & MLW Settled Lawsuit For $20 Million

The MLW lawsuit against WWE was settled for $20 million, according to a new filing. As you may recall, WWE and MLW settled the antitrust lawsuit in December of last year. MLW had originally filed the lawsuit back in 2022, alleging that WWE violated the Sherman Act regarding anti-trust practices and more.

According to a 10-K filing that WWE made with the SEC, the settlement was for $20 million. The filing reads:

On January 11, 2022, a complaint was filed against WWE by MLW Media LLC (“MLW”), captioned MLW Media LLC v. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., No. 5:22-cv-00179-EJD (N.D. Cal.), alleging that WWE interfered with MLW’s contractual relationship with certain media platforms and engaged in other anticompetitive and unfair business practices in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and California law. On December 22, 2023, the parties notified the court that they had entered into a settlement agreement in the amount of $20.0 million and stipulated that the case should be voluntarily dismissed with prejudice. In light of the settlement, the case was dismissed with prejudice on December 26, 2023.

The lawsuit was originally dismissed in February of 2023 but MLW refiled it with amendments, and a judge denied a motion to dismiss last June.

UFC, WWE partner on 5-year deal to bring events to Anaheim

The UFC and WWE merged last year into one company, the publicly traded TKO Group owned by Hollywood talent agency Endeavor. And now, some of the effects of that merger are coming to light. 

The UFC and WWE have signed a joint live event partnership with sports and entertainment district OC Vibe that will bring multiple events from both promotions to Honda Center in Anaheim, California, over the next five years, officials told ESPN on Thursday. An official announcement is expected later Thursday. 

Beginning this year, the UFC and WWE will hold at least three events each at the arena through 2028, including the possibility of UFC pay-per-view and Fight Night cards and WWE Raw or SmackDown television programs.

The deal does not specifically call for the UFC and WWE to hold events on back-to-back days or in the same week, though it's a possibility. The deal is the first of its kind since TKO Group formed officially last September -- and it could be indicative of how the new company will package the UFC and WWE together to jurisdictions and tourism authorities in the future. Both promotions have been actively looking for partners for these types of arrangements across the world, where local governments or private companies will pay to bring either one -- or both -- to their respective regions.

source:  espn.com

The Rock Recalls Getting Emotional After Recent WWE Headquarters Tour With Triple H

With The Rock recently confronting Triple H and the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff, and Triple H firing shots at The Rock on SmackDown, there has been a lot of speculation about the two names’ dynamics backstage.

Speaking with ET ahead of the Kickoff event, The Rock revealed that Triple H recently gave him a tour of WWE Headquarters. Admitting that he got choked up at one point during the tour, The Rock said: “(Triple H) goes, ‘Hey, I got one more thing to show you,’ and we went downstairs, (where) you see on the wall these pictures of these wrestlers. He goes, ‘Oh, look at that one.’ And over in the corner is this incredibly well-lit picture, black-and-white, of my dad and Tony Atlas, the day they made history and became the first Black tag team champions.” 

“I have never seen that picture before and I was so choked up… I was really moved. In that moment, I thought, ‘Man, they were wrestling in what was a field house back then and wrestling has changed!’ My dad just made history and the bumps and the bruises and the sacrifices that he made and that all those guys made. “Now we’re talking about the biggest WrestleMania of all time and the company signs a $5 billion deal with Netflix. It’s just incredible.”

The Rock’s father Rocky Johnson won the World Tag Team Championship alongside Tony Atlas in 1983 to become the first black tag-team champions in WWE history. 

The Undertaker Comments On Triple H’s Management Style in WWE

During the latest episode of Six Feet Under (via Fightful), The Undertaker gave his thoughts on how Triple H runs WWE creative, describing it as a ‘very calm’ management style. He also noted that it was almost “too calm” for him.

He said:

 “He’s doing it calmly. So I’m not I’m not around, obviously, like I used to be. When I was working full-time, or even when I wasn’t working full-time. It was just so chaotic. There is like this calm backstage. The crew itself, the talent, they’re relatively young. Top to bottom, they’re young people. They’re all so chill. I’ve seen Triple H get worked up, but I haven’t seen him yell at Talent. I haven’t seen him bad mouth anybody. There’s been times where you come back through the curtain and you know that ass-chewing is coming. I haven’t seen that with him. Like I said, I haven’t been around a whole lot, but I’ve been around enough, and I know him well enough, and I can just tell it’s such a chill vibe. For me, I almost don’t like it because it’s almost too calm. To me, and this is just me on the outside looking in, it’s like they don’t care enough. It’s not that. It’s just the atmosphere.”

WWE and X Partner Up to Launch "WWE Speed"

WWE has unveiled its latest venture into the world of fast-paced entertainment: WWE Speed. This innovative weekly video series is set to revolutionize the wrestling landscape by featuring explosive, up to 5-minute matches, ensuring a high-octane experience from start to finish. Scheduled to kick off in Spring 2024, WWE Speed is tailored to cater to fans craving quick, action-packed bouts without compromising the quality and intensity synonymous with WWE's brand of wrestling.

WWE Speed will be distributed exclusively on X, marking a significant partnership that leverages the platform's vast reach and dynamic content delivery capabilities. This collaboration promises to bring WWE's thrilling action to an even broader audience, offering a unique format that's perfectly suited for the digital age.

Attorney For John Laurinaitis: Most WWE Management Knew Of Ashley Massaro’s Allegations

Tim Marchman of VICE News reports that a lawyer for former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, says that most WWE management knew about Ashley Massaro’s allegations that she was raped in Kuwait during a WWE tour in 2006. Massaro had claimed that top executives, including Vince McMahon and Laurinaitis, told her not to talk about it.

McMahon was accused of covering up the alleged incident and of sexually harassing Massaro, according to legal documents and people who knew her. Marchman writes that an attorney for Laurinaitis confirmed that the latter was aware of the allegations, and that “most upper-level management did.” WWE previously claimed that executives were unaware of the claims.

Per Marchman, the Naval Criminal Investigation Service opened an investigation into Massaro’s claims after her death by apparent suicide in 2019. The investigation closed in January 2020, per an NCIS spokesperson, and further information could not be released without doing so through the Freedom of Information Act.

Massaro previously said WWE covered up her rape. Marchman states that people who knew Massaro say that Vince McMahon sexually harassed her. Additionally, Marchman states that what Laurinaitis’s lawyer says is corroborated by a former WWE doctor.

Laurinaitis’ Lawyer Responds To Ashley Massaro’s Allegations

In the report, Marchman cites Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, who responded to questions about Ashley Massaro’s allegations.

“Any allegations that Mr. Laurinaitus helped to cover up an alleged rape allegation is an outright lie,” Brennan wrote. “Johnny, like most upper level management at sometime became aware of the allegations and ensured all proper WWE protocols were followed, including privacy for the alleged victim. We object to the use of the term cover up as no such plan or plot ever took place to hide or assist in the alleged rape.”  

Furthermore, Marchman states that a spokesperson for TKO declined to comment. A lawyer said to represent McMahon did not respond to requests for comment either.

McMahon and Laurinaitis are both implicated in Janel Grant’s lawsuit, in which she alleges that they engaged in sexual assault and sex trafficking of her. 

Federal Prosecutors Investigate Vince McMahon Sex-Trafficking Allegations

WWE co-founder Vince McMahon is under federal investigation over the allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking against him, according to a report

Prosecutors in New York have been in touch with alleged victims of McMahon, people familiar with the investigation told the Wall Street Journal.

McMahon resigned last week from the WWE after former employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexually abusing her and trafficking her to other men inside the wresting giant.

The former honcho has denied the allegations and said the federal investigation won’t find wrongdoing.

“I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name,” he told the outlet in a statement.

 WWE didn’t respond to requests from the Journal about the investigation or about the individual women’s allegations. 

Brock Lesnar Pulled From WWE Digital Game Following Janel Grant Allegations

WWE star Brock Lesnar has reportedly been removed from the WWE 2K Supercard Digital Collectible Game, following allegations against him in the Janel Grant case. 

As per "PWInsider," Lesnar has been taken off the digital card game, and he will likely be "downplayed" or removed from various 2K games going forward. This is following the company's stance on Lesnar, who was originally supposed to be part of the men's Royal Rumble match last weekend, but was removed at the last minute following the news of the Vince McMahon allegations. 

The recent lawsuit filed by Janel Grant against McMahon alleged that the former WWE CEO asked Grant to reportedly create "personalized sexual content" for Lesnar, to persuade him to sign a new deal with WWE in 2020. Lesnar, who was to return to WWE at the Royal Rumble, was replaced by Bron Breakker in the match and the young star impressed in his Royal Rumble debut.

Following the allegations, Slim Jim, who had signed a deal with WWE last year, paused their contract with WWE, before returning to the fold after McMahon's resignation from TKO. WWE also removed a Vince McMahon shirt that was being sold at the Royal Rumble venue last Saturday after the allegations against McMahon came to light, while his WWE.com profile page was also removed. 

Dave Meltzer recently claimed that fans may have seen the last of Lesnar and McMahon in a WWE ring, due to the seriousness of the allegations against them.