TKO President Mark Shapiro Comments on WWE Potentially Cutting Back on House Show Events
A recent UBS Global Media And Communication Conference event featured TKO Group President Mark Shapiro as one of the guests.
One of the topics discussed included Shapiro’s thoughts about the potential of WWE cutting back on running non-televised events or house show events in the future as a way to both save money and improve their profit margins.
“WWE has over 300 events a year, with 170 televised. There is probably, while all those other superstars events, there is a reason to have them because it’s good for the brand, we’re building the audience, we’re putting them on C and D counties, so we’re really stretching the brand and amassing a greater array of eyeballs for all demos, it’s good for our long-term growth. For a margin perspective, they are dilutive. There are probably opportunities, as we go through our efficiencies and synergies, to cut back those non-televised events, which will, of course, push our margin up. We’re going through that exercise now
Transcript h/t: Fightful.com
WWE to Discontinue WWE Home Video Series DVDs & Blu-rays After End of 2023
WWE Home Video distributor company Fremantle announced that WWE has recently withdrawn from their licensing deal with their company for the distribution of WWE DVDs and Blu-rays in the United Kingdom. It was also announced that the reason is due to WWE pulling out of the home video business for the U.K. market after the end of this year.
With great sadness we must announce that WWE have taken the decision to withdraw from the Home Video category. No licensing deals will be renewed after 2023.
This means the very last WWE Home Video release from Fremantle will be CROWN JEWEL 2023 (2 disc-DVD) on 18th December (UK) and 22nd December (GER).
WWE Home Video has been releasing VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray for 36 years, the last 11 through Fremantle in Europe, but this will come to an end on 31st December with no further WWE DVD or Blu-Ray stock manufactured.
Everyone at WWE Home Video UK would like to thank all of our collectors and fan for their many years of support and passion.
— WWE Home Video UK (@WWEHomeVideoUK) December 5, 2023
In regards to the United States and other regions, Wrestling DVD Network reported that their sources stated that WWE will be ending their longtime Home Video series at the end of this year and there will not be any new releases of WWE DVDs and Blu-rays going forward starting in 2024. Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman reported that one high level WWE official spoken to confirmed that WWE will be cancelling their Hone Video business due to the “home video business has long been in decline, and it will no longer be a place where the company dedicates time and resources.”
WWE News & Notes
As noted before, NXT talent Nikkita Lyons has been out of action for WWE since this past January due to a torn ACL and meniscus injury. Tuesday’s NXT show featured Lyons making a surprise appearance and her official return from injury. Lyons’ made her appearance during the show and attacked Blair Davenport as storyline payback for being injured at the hands of Davenport.
WWE recently announced that Country music band War and Treaty will be making a special guest appearance at this Friday’s SmackDown Tribute to the Troops 2023 show in Providence, Rhode Island. It was announced that the band will be performing a live musical concert during the show.
Former WWE and Impact/TNA wrestler Ken Shamrock is currently believed to have recently signed a Legends contract with WWE, according to PWInsider. Mike Johnson reported that the basis for this belief is due to WWE releasing several new Shamrock merchandise for sale on their official WWEShop online store this past Monday.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Executive Director Bruce Prichard, Tegan Nox, Ivy Nile, Piper Niven, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, Byron Saxton, Erik, and Valhalla were among those who visited the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum prior to the start of this past Monday’s WWE RAW show in Albany, New York. The reason for the visit was due to the IPWHF being located in the same venue as that night’s WWE show.
Bloomberg reported that television broadcast company Tegna is currently in dispute with cable television provider DirectTV over carriage fee issues resulting in Tegna cutting off access to their channels to DirectTV subscribers. It was reported that around 40% of DirectTV’s subscribers have been affected by this loss of channels and ongoing dispute. In regards to the effect on WWE, Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston reported that it is currently not known how much of DirectTV’s affected subscribers have lost access to SmackDown’s home network FOX as a result of this dispute.
As noted before, Ricochet has been out of action for WWE since this past November due to a concussion injury. Ricochet made his official return from injury at this past Saturday’s house show event in Bangor, Maine. Ricochet competed in a singles match against Bronson Reed, which was won by Ricochet, at the event.
As noted before, WWE had a new round of layoffs this past Friday at their corporate office headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that WWE’s recent round of layoffs were in departments that had not yet been hit with any firings since their sale to Endeavor being finalized.
CM Punk recently reflected on Instagram about his recent return to WWE at this past November’s Survivor Series WarGames 2023 and his “I’m home” return promo at last week’s RAW show. Punk stated “Spiritually still living in this moment, Saturdays moment, and looking forward to Friday.“
In a recent interview with the Impaulsive podcast, Randy Orton gave his thoughts about his current plans for the future of his wrestling career. Orton stated “And that’s kind of my big thing is how long can I do it? I’m already the longest tenured WWE superstar in history and it sounds weird because I’m 43. I just got started early. Not that I’m a spring chicken or anything now, but I still feel like I got a lot of gas in the tank. Longevity is everything to me.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)
In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, NXT talent Kelani Jordan gave her thoughts about which wrestlers she has been studying to help improve her in-ring work. Jordan stated “Oh yes, absolutely. Starting with in-ring wise, I would say RVD is someone whose style I absolutely love. I love how authentic he is, how unapologetically himself he is, and that’s something that I want to strive to be. I want people to be able to relate to me. Also, Bianca Belair is someone because she’s so elegant, but she also so powerful and she has this sass to her where she doesn’t let anyone walk over her.” Jordan also stated that she has been studying the promo work of Bryan Danielson to help improve her own promo skills. Jordan stated “Promo wise, I love hearing Daniel Bryan cut his promos, he’s very energetic and it’s cool to see his evolution of how he started promos to where he was doing promos.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
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