World Wrestling Entertainment

[Evil Vito]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh, good to know! <a href="https://t.co/1DdAz1Y7Pm">https://t.co/1DdAz1Y7Pm</a></p>&mdash; Austin #Creed4G4 - Future King of The Ring (@AustinCreedWins) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinCreedWins/status/1395739639063924739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Seems WWE wrestlers learned of their return to crowds via Twitter.

[Evil Vito]

Ruthless passive aggression.

[Evil Vito]

Beyond the already reported cuts within World Wrestling Entertainment today, PWInsider.com can also report that a number of major international office staffers were let go today.

The story making the rounds is that WWE President Nick Khan, in another show of his growing power, will personally be overseeing those offices in order to keep them in closer alignment with WWE HQ here in the States.

As part of this process, Jay Rosenstock, WWE's Executive Vice President of International was let go. He came to WWE in October 2019 to overall all of the company's eight international regional managers, responsibilities that Khan will now handle.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">my brain can’t comprehend and my heart is fucking breaking for all my friends. along with being great humans, everyone behind the scenes at wwe digital worked their asses off to build a huge money making brand and don’t get near the credit they deserve</p>&mdash; Cathy Kelley (@catherinekelley) <a href="https://twitter.com/catherinekelley/status/1397243658999640072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WWE Digital is now reporting to Kevin Dunn so I'm sure that will go down the shitter.

[drave]

The digital landscape is often underappreciated. Often it isn't until something is seriously broken that those types of roles are given thanks.




Fuck Kevin Dunn, tbh.

[Lock Jaw]

Fuck Kevin Dunn, tbh.

https://i.imgur.com/9ggxWJ9.gif

[Lock Jaw]

When I get my producer job, I am immediately instituting a 500% increase in amount of camera cuts.

[drave]

On hockey games only!


A cut for every punch

[Lock Jaw]

We used to cover the local rassling fed and the producer/director would sometimes do that....

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jimmy Smith joining WWE Raw announce team <a href="https://t.co/5hndTSS8z2">https://t.co/5hndTSS8z2</a> <a href="https://t.co/5WnTQAp5Y5">pic.twitter.com/5WnTQAp5Y5</a></p>&mdash; Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) <a href="https://twitter.com/WONF4W/status/1397633149853519873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Emperor Smeat]

Why they didn't just go with him instead of Virk to begin with is a head scratcher since unlike Virk, he has been getting actual training by WWE for that new job.

Smith auditioned for a WWE commentary job earlier this year and has since been training with WWE and Michael Cole to prepare for a possible role, according to Meltzer, who added that according to sources in WWE, “Cole has praised him heavily and found him to be very versatile.”

[Evil Vito]

SummerSlam to take place on Saturday August 21 at a yet-to-be-announced NFL stadium.

[Evil Vito]

Both Miami and Tampa have home preseason games on August 21 so SummerSlam won't be there. Jacksonville's stadium would be unavailable for obvious reasons. Dallas, LA, New Orleans, Phoenix, Chicago, and NY/NJ are booked as well.

Pats Stadium would be available and SummerSlam was meant to be in Boston last year, but Foxboro is an hour outside of Boston.

[slik]

SummerSlam is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and Cena will be a big part of it.

[Evil Vito]

I've already forgotten Vegas has an NFL stadium.

[screech]

There's a nightclub in one of the endzones, isn't there?

[slik]

There is, but I don't think it's open yet


https://vegas.eater.com/2021/5/11/22430632/allegiant-stadium-nightclub-wynn-field-club-las-vegas-raiders-games

[Emperor Smeat]

I've already forgotten Vegas has an NFL stadium.

Vegas probably wishing they could do the same since the city recently had to withdraw more money from an emergency fund just to pay off the newest round of stadium debt owed from the bonds they issued.

Seems they didn't plan out the payments for these bonds that well since this is the second time in recent months they got hit with unscheduled payments owed.

[erickman]

so tom got the boot now from wwe, i am surprised wwe did not try to get josh mathews back , he is the most cole like person out there.

[Sepholio]

Surprised they let Tom go too.

[erickman]

i am surprised tom did not go sooner, when they hired people around him.

[xrodmuc316]

Tom wasn't my favorite announcer, but he is better than some outsider they bring in that is going to quit after 2 months.

[Bad News Gertner]

They all seem the same. Bland middle aged white dudes.

[Emperor Smeat]

so tom got the boot now from wwe, i am surprised wwe did not try to get josh mathews back , he is the most cole like person out there.

I wouldn't be surprised if his departure was another Nick Khan decision since he's been doing a lot of reshaping behind the scenes to make the company move more towards his vision for the future.

[erickman]

the problem is raw will have 2 color guys and what ever saxen does no lead guy on raw.

[Emperor Smeat]

According to Fightful, WWE's current grand plan for Eva Marie's return is for her to just be a manager for some other female wrestler on the RAW brand.

As we’ve noted, WWE started airing new “Eva-Lution” vignettes for Marie’s return to RAW several weeks ago. While Eva has been training at the WWE Performance Center as of late, the language in the vignettes have led to speculation that Eva may be acting as some sort of manager on the red brand.

In an update, Fightful Select reports that the working plan is not for Eva to wrestle on RAW, but for her to be a vehicle to help get another female Superstar over. There is no word yet on who that will be.

It was first reported last fall that Eva’s WWE return was in the works after she parted ways with the company in 2017. This new report notes that the deal to bring Eva back was worked on for a long time before the vignettes started airing, and had nothing to do with WWE releasing other female talents.

[drave]

Wonder who drew the short straw :D

[Volare]

Random guess? Shayna. Or if they really want people to turn their shit off, she's Alexa's doll.

[Lock Jaw]

Wonder who drew the short straw :D

Whoever it is is lucky

[Fignuts]

Shayna doesn5't need a manager. She's a natural bully, and a great heel.

[Ruien]

Brock was a natural bully and an amazing heel but he became great because of his manager. Granted, his manager was Paul Heyman.

[Fignuts]

Except Shayna can cut natural sounding promos herself, whereas Brock isn't great at promos.

[Bad News Gertner]

Best female heel in the company

[Lock Jaw]

Yeah, whoever gets her as a manager is lucky, like I said. Not a bad thing at all.

[slik]

Cardi B expected to be the host of SummerSlam this year

[screech]

Didn't Cardi B "feud" with a rassler on Twitter some months ago?

[Jordan]

I think WWE will be embarrassed by SummerSlam attendance at Allegiant stadium. I don't see anywhere close to a sell out. It's two months away and on the west coast. If they get Cena vs Roman and Brock vs Bobby they will do well but I can't foresee a sellout. I think booking a stadium was stupid.

[screech]

You might be underestimating people's desire to see a live show. I know WWE will have been on the road for a month by then, but after a year+ with no events, I think fans will flock to big shows for a bit no matter what they are.

[Evil Vito]

I dunno about a stadium show but I think regular TV tapings are gonna be a sellout pretty much everywhere for a while.

[slik]

I don't think WWE or AEW are selling out arenas anytime soon, let alone a stadium.

TX is probably the best market to get close to a sell-out but I just can't see people rushing back to live-attendance outside of the hardcore fans. I also don't think SummerSlam will sell anywhere near 60k tickets, guessing about half that.

[Sepholio]

Have you guys seen Vegas since they fully reopened and removed all restrictions recently? That place is shoulder to shoulder r/n. Probably the most packed it's been in years and years. They know exactly what they are doing by picking Allegiant stadium. Vegas is going to be slammed with people, that weekend especially because there is another big event in town in Manny Pacquiao vs Errol Spence Jr. It would not shock me at all if they sell out or at least get very very close to it.

I also think you guys are drastically underestimating how badly people want to just get out and go to huge events right now.

[slik]

Why do people want to get out so bad? Just go to a park, it's a free. People taking their family to a wrestling event have to drop a lot of money for tix for the fam.

If anything the last year has taught us we don't really have to leave to have things we want...movies will come to our TVs, we can have more things delivered...seems easier.

[Jordan]

Seph, just two moths ago Florida was jam packed with people and WWE had a Mania set up for 25k each night and couldn't draw more than 10k for the biggest show of the year. I think you underestimate the shittiness of WWE and how little people care for it. I have yet to read any reports that WWE has sold out anything that they have put on sale. Unlike real sports which people actually care about WWE was infinitely worse through the pandemic.

Maybe you will be right and if you are I'll be glad to be wrong. But demand for Wrestling is not the same as real sports. Even AEW has struggled to maintain their previous numbers in ticket sales. Gone are the days of 200k waiting In a virtual ticket line. I also believe that Vegas on short notice is a horrible idea because so much of the country would have to decide to take a last minute Vacation to get there.

[Sepholio]

Why do people want to get out so bad? Just go to a park, it's a free. People taking their family to a wrestling event have to drop a lot of money for tix for the fam.

If anything the last year has taught us we don't really have to leave to have things we want...movies will come to our TVs, we can have more things delivered...seems easier.

Slik. Come on. You know we live in America. A large % of our population is dumber than dirt. The park ain't doing it for them. I agree with you personally, but most people in this country are chomping at the bit to resume "normal" life and they are itching to get out around others after being distanced for over a year. Think about how many rons in this country refuse to wear masks, or get vaccinated or socially distance and then ask yourself again why they want to get out so bad. Spoiler alert: it's because their stupid and stubborn and because our national motto is YEE HAW.

[Sepholio]

Seph, just two moths ago Florida was jam packed with people and WWE had a Mania set up for 25k each night and couldn't draw more than 10k for the biggest show of the year. I think you underestimate the shittiness of WWE and how little people care for it. I have yet to read any reports that WWE has sold out anything that they have put on sale. Unlike real sports which people actually care about WWE was infinitely worse through the pandemic.

Maybe you will be right and if you are I'll be glad to be wrong. But demand for Wrestling is not the same as real sports. Even AEW has struggled to maintain their previous numbers in ticket sales. Gone are the days of 200k waiting In a virtual ticket line. I also believe that Vegas on short notice is a horrible idea because so much of the country would have to decide to take a last minute Vacation to get there.

And WM was in an entirely different situation. They didn't pull the trigger on making that a live event until like 15-20 days before show time. People literally did not have time to book trips and make plans to accommodate that. Not to mention that there were still some mandates and social distancing protocols in place (not saying at WM in particular because I don't recall what their stance was at mania, but just in general) deterring people from going out en masse.

If they announce Vegas in the next couple weeks and tickets go on sale, people will have 2 months to plan a trip which is much more doable. Not to mention things are fully reopened now, mandates are gone, more people are vaccinated, etc. All those things make the situation seem more encouraging to people.

Oh, and your WM numbers are wrong. The Tampa Sports Authority reported that out of the 50k cumulative seats available over the 2 nights, just under 41k tickets were sold. So much for not drawing more than 10k per night, huh?

[Jordan]

I don't know that The Tampa Bay Sports authority is reporting facts, the attendance is disputed for Mania. You are saying 41k which is close or similar to what WWE reported. Melter reported about 10k per show and Wiki says 24k combined.

[Ruien]

RP updates Wiki.

[Sepholio]

Ah yes, Meltzer and the wiki said it so the people who own the building and actually know how many tickets sold and the company that has to accurately report things like that because they are publicly traded must be lying. Ok. Sure. That TOTALLY makes sense.

[Sepholio]

I wonder why WWE has ever reported declining ticket sales. Seems so much easier to just lie and say they are selling tons to make the investors happy.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RAW: 1.64 million</p>&mdash; Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) <a href="https://twitter.com/bryanalvarez/status/1402397475529314305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[xrodmuc316]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RAW: 1.64 million</p>&mdash; Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) <a href="https://twitter.com/bryanalvarez/status/1402397475529314305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

4 times as many viewers as Dynamite

[slik]

Very true. Wrestling viewership lately has been a sad state of affairs.

[#1-norm-fan]

So WWE copied the old WCW “rival in the mirror” thing but added a puppet to the mix.

I had a discussion with Fignuts a week or two ago where he said WWE might not want to change on account of the investors not wanting change. Zombie lumberjacks eating wrestlers and demon puppets in mirrors were not very common when WWE went public. Keeping the same vibe but just making it more coherent and better written would have been a shitload LESS of a change. This theory does not hold weight.

[slik]

Looks like WWE's goal is to sell a little more than half of the available seats at Allegiant Stadium. Also, looks like a smaller entrance area, similar to the Royal Rumble the last few years. (seating chart from ticketmaster)


https://i.postimg.cc/B6mZxHtY/Screenshot-2021-06-09-11-56-35-AM.png

[xrodmuc316]

So WWE copied the old WCW “rival in the mirror” thing but added a puppet to the mix.

I had a discussion with Fignuts a week or two ago where he said WWE might not want to change on account of the investors not wanting change. Zombie lumberjacks eating wrestlers and demon puppets in mirrors were not very common when WWE went public. Keeping the same vibe but just making it more coherent and better written would have been a shitload LESS of a change. This theory does not hold weight.

I do have to wonder what they are going for.

Also, logically speaking, wouldn't Shayna be more afraid of pyro exploding around her than of a reflection in the mirror?

Also, how are either of those things more frightful then being relegated to Nia Jax's fucking tag team partner???

They should have had a reflection of the booking sheet if they really wanted to be terrifying :rofl:

[Evil Vito]

By the time WrestleMania happened, I was only a week removed from my first vaccine shot and a lot of people in my age group were in similar boats unless they were able to get it early (healthcare workers, etc). Even if Mania had been at MetLife Stadium and I just had to drive an hour, I wasn't about to go to a big gathering when I wasn't vaxxed and had to be masked the whole time.

If there was a wrestling show nearby on May 15th or later when I'd had my 2nd shot/2 week waiting period, fuck it I'd go. I'll go to the first nearby show I can. Not willing to do any sort of substantial travel at this time but it'd be nice to go to a wrestling event for the first time in ages. I'm comfortable with it now and I trust the science at play.

Rising vax rates I think will just lead to a natural attendance increase, both from venues opening up more tickets and people just wanting to do something they haven't been allowed to. I don't think the attendance boost will last long and I don't think people are chomping at the bit to travel to the other side of the country like many would to get to Vegas....but I think those first couple of months will see some good energetic crowds when wrassling comes to their town for the first time in ages. In AEW's case, they have a shitload of places they've never been so maybe a curiosity bump there.

[xrodmuc316]

By the time WrestleMania happened, I was only a week removed from my first vaccine shot and a lot of people in my age group were in similar boats unless they were able to get it early (healthcare workers, etc). Even if Mania had been at MetLife Stadium and I just had to drive an hour, I wasn't about to go to a big gathering when I wasn't vaxxed and had to be masked the whole time.

If there was a wrestling show nearby on May 15th or later when I'd had my 2nd shot/2 week waiting period, fuck it I'd go. I'll go to the first nearby show I can. Not willing to do any sort of substantial travel at this time but it'd be nice to go to a wrestling event for the first time in ages. I'm comfortable with it now and I trust the science at play.

Rising vax rates I think will just lead to a natural attendance increase, both from venues opening up more tickets and people just wanting to do something they haven't been allowed to. I don't think the attendance boost will last long and I don't think people are chomping at the bit to travel to the other side of the country like many would to get to Vegas....but I think those first couple of months will see some good energetic crowds when wrassling comes to their town for the first time in ages. In AEW's case, they have a shitload of places they've never been so maybe a curiosity bump there.

This is spot on.

I think 1-2 shows is the curve per location. People will go to the first one because they have likely been itching to go to a live show. If the first one is really fun and good, people will be willing to chase that experience with a 2nd show. After that, it will go back to pre pandemic levels of low attendance unless something sparks the product.

[GD]

A good chunk of the WWE 2k22 roster comprises of legends and released talent. No Ali or wrestlers who jumped to AEW.

[drave]

rounded up, its 40% of the roster which is future endeavored.

[Evil Vito]

Mia Yim being in the game twice, both as herself and as RECKONING, gave me a nice chuckle

[GD]

I can’t recall a single RECKONING match on the main roster.

[drave]

Mia Yim being in the game twice, both as herself and as RECKONING, gave me a nice chuckle




Wait..... they for real kept that faction in there? What was it called again, the one led by Ali? Revolution or something?

[screech]

If I can't bust up the set of the show in some mode with RETRIBUTION, then what's even the point of the game?

[Evil Vito]

Wait..... they for real kept that faction in there? What was it called again, the one led by Ali? Revolution or something?

RETRIBUTION (all caps, very important)

fuckin SLAPJACK made it into the game too :lol:

[XL]

But they pulled Ali? lol

[Evil Vito]

Not according to 2k's roster page.

The roster seems like it was finalized at WrestleMania last year (which is normal, then the game got delayed)

Bryan/Cole/Ruby/Fish/Nese/Black/Andrade were all probably in the game and removed due to signing with AEW early enough to pull them. Lee/KOR/Murphy couldn't be pulled since they went to AEW too late.

Only non-AEW released guy that got pulled is Wyatt.

[XL]

Yeah I saw all that. Didn’t see that they pulled Ali. That’ll teach him to ask for his release! Disappointed about no Undisputed Era and Black.

[xrodmuc316]

WWE and Vince getting some sweet A&E Money!

https://corporate.wwe.com/investors/news/press-releases/2022/03-01-2022-180018044

A&E and WWE® Expand Original Programming Multi-Year Partnership With More Than 130 New Hours

[drave]

This is their direction. IMO - wrestling will become secondary in about 10-15ish years with "the E".

[#1-norm-fan]

I think it already has. At least the current product. The past is what they make their money with.

[drave]

Sure, but I meant more along the lines of they won't have wrestling propped up as their main bag anymore. They'll still have it, ofc but it will no longer be their primary thing.

[Triple A]

Tiffany Stratton seems like she could be a "superstar," great look and good gimmick + very charismatic and good "on the mic"

[rez]

Tiffany Stratton seems like she could be a "superstar," great look and good gimmick + very charismatic and good "on the mic"

NERD

/horny

[Evil Vito]

Rok-C has officially signed with WWE along with Tesha Price, The Notorious Mimi, Nikita Knight, Bianca Carelli, Jake Tucker, Cole Karter, and other athletes from various sports.

WWE welcomes newest class of recruits to the WWE Performance Center

The newest class of recruits reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., this past Monday to begin their journey to WWE Superstardom.

The 14 hopefuls include a variety of up-and-comers who have already made names for themselves on the independent scene, one second-generation Superstar, and several standouts from football, gymnastics and rugby.

Theresa Schuessler who debuted on NXT 2.0 as Fallon Henley, is a 24-year old Tampa, Fla., native with five years of experience under her belt competing in the independent circuit under the name of Tesha Price.

Kayla Inlay has already begun to make a name for herself on NXT 2.0 and NXT Level Up. A former collegiate dancer and cheerleader, Inlay was trained by former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze after training at his school “Flatbacks.”

A 6-for-2, 305-pound force, Joseph Sculthorpe was an NCAA All-Conference Offensive Lineman at NC State before signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. Originally from Hampstead, N.C., Sculthorpe was a high school state heavyweight wrestling champion.

18-year-old Maddie Knisley is a six-time state champion in vault, having trained in competitive gymnastics for 11 years. She also competed on the independent wrestling scene as Nikita Knight

Calyx Hampton is a 22-year-old former athlete from the University of Oregon having competed on the school’s Acrobatics & Tumbling team, earning NCATA Individual Event National Championship honors.

Mitchell Lavalley has made a name for himself on the independent circuit under the moniker “Motherlover” Jake Tucker. Trained by the likes of WWE Hall of Famer Kane, Natalya, Tyson Kidd, and Dr. Tom Prichard, Lavalley won the 2014 “WWE Show Us Your Superstar” Contest when he was 19, making a series of videos at the WWE Performance Center before appearing on the SummerSlam Pre-Show Panel.

Bianca Carelli, the daughter of WWE Superstar Santino Marella, comes to the Performance Center after earning her Bachelor’s degree in biology from Western University. Carelli has extensive training in MMA fighting with a focus on Judo, Jiu Jitsu and Boxing.

Cole McKinney from Charleston, W.Va., has been honing his craft for over a year and a half already after foregoing wrestling offers from multiple DI Universities to pursue his passion for professional wrestling, going by the ring name Cole Karter on the independents.

Twenty-three-year-old David Bostian of Wilmington, N.C., has been a folkstyle wrestler for 16 years while simultaneously training as a powerlifter.

6-foot-4 Gabe Wai heads to Florida from Corvallis.Ore., following his tenure as a DI Rugby player at Lindenwood University. The 260-pound Army Reservist was projected to be drafted into the Professional Rugby League.

Carla Gonzalez from Pasadena, Texas is better known as Rok-C after graduating from Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling school as the youngest ROW Diamonds Champion.

Nnamdi Oguayo of Beltsville, Md., stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 245 pounds after playing four years on the defensive line for Washington State University.

Edwin Grande was a standout offensive lineman at the University of Idaho and Monterey Peninsula College. The Oakland, Calif., native played for the Houston Blues football team during the 2020 Spring League.

Amelia Herr is an 18-year-old Criminal Justice major out of West Chester, Pa. With two years of Taekwondo training under her belt, she also competed on the independents as The Notorious Mimi

[ron the dial]

glad to see tesha price get the nod. i really enjoyed her work on dark.

[Bad News Gertner]

I remember ex Front Page reporter Ryan Clark getting roasted for making sexual comments about the then underage Bianca Carelli on a news article he posted

[screech]

I don't remember that but I 100p believe it

[Shisen Kopf]

Whatever happened to Ryan Clark? Is he hanging out with ML Curly?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Looking forward to seeing what Estella Marella does in the WWE.