The XFL has folded (again)
 

lol Vince

RIP

XFL 2001-2001

RIP

XFL 2020-2020

HaHa!

Yeah, but much different reasons.

Still tho.....


fuuuuuuck.

Vince stewing in his own juices

Yeah this sucks more than last time because the games were actually good this time.

I still don't think Spring Football will ever be huge, but it was certainly watchable.

How much money did Vince lose this time?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: The XFL suspended operations Friday morning and laid off nearly all of its staff, multiple sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/SeifertESPN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeifertESPN</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldYates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FieldYates</a>.<br><br>The league currently has no plans to return in 2021. <a href="https://t.co/NxZbHAKRsM">pic.twitter.com/NxZbHAKRsM</a></p>&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1248653937844129795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I feel bad for Vince.

I am not a football person but I gathered from people who watched the XFL they enjoyed it this time around.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">XFL done. I'd blame drop in WWE stock and uncertain future economy as the culprits. Far more uncertainty about the ability to garner a paying TV deal. One of the biggest stories in hindsight was TNT giving AEW that deal in January.</p>&mdash; Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) <a href="https://twitter.com/davemeltzerWON/status/1248653229778296832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

lol Dave

I don't.

He is such a shill.

LET'S PARTY!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pB0Uiq4NTs0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Not an embarrassment for Vince this time. He got it started again and things actually looked to be pretty sturdy with the shock and awe tactics. Vince could have been stubborn and kept this going, but I think he kind of proved his point, in a weird sort of way.

Lol wtf with Dave linking this to AEW? You’re over 60, Dave. Watch those knees when you get down on them.

Somewhere around $100-$200 million I'd guess. He was prepared to lose around $125 million per year running the league and likely spent millions more just to set it up.

Sucks for the people who just got jobs with them. XFL was kinda entertaining this time around.

Yeah definitely better than the first incarnation by a country mile. This was basically a last chance for a lot of these players too. Now their dreams of making it to the big time are probably gone for good. Hate it for em.

Yes, it was pretty good, and didn't lean into all the goofy shit the first iteration did trying to make it "WWF, but with football though". It was awesome how St. Louis was getting behind the Battlehawks and how the team my brother and I dubbed the "Not Oilers" seemed pretty legit.

The saddest part will be the detractors talking about how there's no room for spring football and LOL it failed again and allusions to AAF, but this actually was done in by factors that are well and truly out of anyone's hands. Even moreso that it was launching a year AFTER the AAF to make sure all the operations shit was going to be correct. Kinda wish it was planned for NEXT year because of this, even though, again, nobody saw this coming and with this worldwide reaction.

Kind of a sign that you can actually do everything right, and still have something fall apart. Makes me personally think of "Wild West World" - a would-be amusement/theme park in Kansas that fell apart because of the sheer number of record rainfall days that entire summer. I think it was somehing along the lines of 3/4ths of the season, and a lot of it was frontloaded, so they had no chance to recoup their losses or keep promises to pay people with zero income.

In this case, Vince did everything right, and still took it in the ass major.

Apparently XFL shutting down also meant players are getting kicked off of league provided health insurance after the end of this month.

In terms of pay, base pay for the rest of the regular season was covered but players still lost out on all the extra money that would have been earned from game bonuses and playoff games.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The players will stay on league provided health insurance through the end of this month and then can apply for a COBRA insurance plan.</p>&mdash; Konnor Fulk (@KonnorFulk_XFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/KonnorFulk_XFL/status/1248667605487030272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Even with the declining ratings for games this season, XFL would have still been a lock to have a second season air on tv since networks have been way more forgiving when it comes to sports ratings and splurging on deals than when the XFL first launched in the early 2000s.

This happening right now must mean Vince knows about the state of sports economy heading into the future. He was involved in a meeting with Trump and other sporting heads not that long ago. That meeting probably provided enough proof that sporting events are not going to rebound going forward. Pulling the plug at this time when we are talking about something that will get going again a year from now, pretty much guarantees that. I'm guessing, whatever major sporting event you last attended, is going to be your last for a long, long, long time. Maybe not ever again.

If by "going forward" you mean for the duration of the outbreak, then I totally agree. However, if you mean after it's all in the rear-view mirror and life has returned to normal, then I'd respectfully disagree. There will always be a demand for crowds at sporting events. It brings teams and leagues much needed money as well as crowds also bring reactions to games, which if any sporting events were held during this time (wrestling notwithstanding), it'd probably be not only jarring but very difficult for players and others associated with the events themselves to be properly motivated to play.

I honestly believe that crowds will pack stadiums just as much once sports returns, as they did before. Sports are a great means of escapism for the fans, and I can't see many if any giving up the opportunity to go to sporting events.

Nothing will be "normal"ever again. Until a vaccine is ready for everyone (12-18 months) there will be no more crowds for atleast a year or two

The XFL has filed for bankruptcy and is looking for a buyer.

Also, despite Vince saying the two companies had nothing to do with one another - filings revealed WWE owns nearly 1/4th of the XFL


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: XFL files for bankruptcy. N bankruptcy filing reveals that WWE actually does own part of league (23.5% of Class B stock). Among the creditors — Bob Stoops ($1M), Marc Trestman ($777K), Ticketmaster ($655K), other coaches ($583K) and MetLife Stadium lease ($368K). <a href="https://t.co/PRj3CXAnkv">pic.twitter.com/PRj3CXAnkv</a></p>&mdash; Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/1249766388035616771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

How does he keep getting away with this shit?? Didn't he JUST win a lawsuit by a pension company by saying WWE had no financial interest in the XFL like 2 weeks ago???

IDK

Vinny Mac has made some odd choices lately (I still find tossing Barrios/Wilson out very odd with all the $$$ they brought into the company).

I’m not so baffled by Barrios and Wilson. Execs get swapped over all the time. If they were dead-set on the WWE Network and not opening up new performance centers, it was probably just time. That was spun into a way bigger story than it was.

WWE owning XFL stock is pretty lol, but hey, he gets away with it. It’s money coming back into the company if they get it bought up.

Vince is extremely lucky that lawsuit regarding claims of WWE improperly funding the XFL got dismissed before this filing was revealed since it ended up being the truth.

McDevitt is a wizard. Technically, doesn't Vince McMahon's contract say he shouldn't be running a sports league while he's on the board in WWE? He got away with that. They'd find a way to twist the use of the word "improper" (or whatever was used) and file it under than philanthropic work or something.

There's no luck when it comes to Vince McMahon in a courtroom lol. I think the only people they ever lost to were the panda people, yeah?

Vince's WWE contract got updated during the lead up to XFL's launch to include the ability of him running a sports league on the side. The new terms did have several restrictions that didn't allow him to use WWE funds to finance the league nor could WWE itself be involved with the league.

Turns out both were actually happening despite WWE claiming it wouldn't every time the question was brought up by investors.

And Brock Lesnar.

Also the lawsuit they funded against CM Punk over a podcast lol

This is pretty much what I am saying. Just to further add to my point, I know that people would WANT to go to sporting events if they could, but I don't see that actually happening for a VERY long time. Jam packed stadiums are going to be a thing of the past, especially if there is a change come November. New York & New Jersey (where I am) are fucked big time when it comes to sports/recreation/entertainment because of the yayhoos we have in charge. I do not see any sports or events happening in this state again until at least 2021 and even that will not look pretty. If there is a change in November, this country as a whole will be fucked, not just my state.

I think there is still hope that the level of infections is much higher than being reported, meaning the percentage of bad outcomes is far far lower than they are able to prove currently and that once you have it you develop the antibodies and become immune.

Of course, that remains to be seen. It certainly can go the other way though, if people can catch it over and over again, and the quarantine is the only thing keeping cases down.

I think the NFL Season is going to be the benchmark. It starts when summer is ending and the flu season starts back up. If things don't play out like the first scenario and they end up cancelling the NFL season, I think that is when the forever change reality will sink in. At that point I don't think anybody would be eager or willing to be in large gathering until there is a fully proven vaccine.

Even with a vaccine, at that point I think it would still take a long time to fully remove that caution/fear, much like many people are still weary of flying on airplanes after 9/11.

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read.

He's not a wizard and Vince isn't "lucky" in a courtroom, outside of being wealthier than most of his opponents.

They didn't even "win" the lawsuit in this particular case. The plaintiffs chose to dismiss with prejudice, probably because they settled. As part of the settlement, the plaintiffs agreed to file a motion to dismiss with prejudice, so that the suit is permanently over, which they would have to do anyway once a settlement was reached.

That's not legal wizardry, if that was even a thing. That's essentially having enough money to buy/pay people off. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that, but it's not a result of some legal (or always moral or ethical) skill, brilliance, or decision(s).

:roll:

Buahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!

Apparently a bunch of people and companies who were owed money by Vince McMahon and the XFL likely won't see a dime back due to XFL rejecting their contracts as part of their bankruptcy filing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If I’m reading this XFL bankruptcy filing correctly, it sounds like <a href="https://twitter.com/VinceMcMahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VinceMcMahon</a>, who’s worth about $2B, apparently needs the money more than I do. I’m listed as one of 98 vendors whose contracts are being rejected. Sadly, I’ll probably never see that $1000 I’m owed now. Sigh. <a href="https://t.co/eUQEAR4Ib7">pic.twitter.com/eUQEAR4Ib7</a></p>&mdash; ǝlʇʇʎl ɐssılǝɯ (@melissalyttle) <a href="https://twitter.com/melissalyttle/status/1250113802483437568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">17 of the 98 (or almost 20%) listed are freelance photographers.</p>&mdash; ǝlʇʇʎl ɐssılǝɯ (@melissalyttle) <a href="https://twitter.com/melissalyttle/status/1250115587835072525?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

dunno why anyone is surprised. vince is a piece of shit and so is his company. not that they're the only ones but noid needs to join in on the boycott!

Not at all surprising, Vince is carney through and through. If he has to lose money, why shouldn't everybody else.

This is the same dude who fired CM Punk on his wedding day, fought off tears on Austin's podcast saying it was a bad coincidence, then turned around and funded a lawsuit against Punk.

This is the same dude that let 90% of his wrestlers be held hostage in Saudi Arabia because he didn't get his $40 million dollars fast enough.

Of course he would stiff a photographer out of $1100.

Apparently Vince didn't bother to inform XFL officials of his decision to fold the league until the day it happened according to the Observer Newsletter.

Vince went to WWE officials first to discuss what to do and then told XFL officials afterwards he was closing the league. Not even the #2 guy in the XFL was aware of what Vince was doing until it happened.

Also more details regarding WWE's potential involvement in the league despite previously claiming they had no role in its daily activities were revealed.