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Backstage News On The Original Sin Cara’s Future, Battle Over The Name

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Luis Urive, better known as the original Sin Cara in WWE, will be debuting for Mexico’s AAA promotion this weekend in a Rey de Reyes qualifying match. He will compete in a four-way against Pyscho Clown, Psicosis and AAA Champion El Texano Jr.

Speaking of Urive, there are many people questioning why he would continue to use the Sin Cara name, as most view it as an association with being a failure in WWE. He can’t go back to using his old Mistico character, as CMLL owns the name and has given it to another wrestler.

As far as the name Sin Cara, WWE believes they own the name, however Urive insists that he has the legal rights to it.

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Updated Lineup For TNA’s “One Night Only: Outbreak” PPV In Japan

    0

    The following is the updated lineup for the TNA “One Night Only: Outbreak” pay-per-view, which is taped in conjunction with Wrestle-1 in Tokyo, Japan on March 2nd:

    TNA World Heavyweight Championship
    – Magnus (c) vs. Kai

    TNA World Tag-Team Championships
    – The Bro Mans (c) vs. Shuji Kondo & Kaz Hayashi

    TNA X-Division Championship
    – Austin Aries (c) vs. Seiya Sanada

    – Bobby Roode vs. Masakatsu Funaki

    – Kazarian & Daniels vs. Minoru Tanaka & Koji Kanemoto

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates
  • New Poll For “WWE Countdown” Show, Ultimate Warrior DVD Extras, More

    7

    – The official WWE website has a new poll up for another edition of their “WWE Countdown” show, which will air exclusively on the WWE Network. This poll asks fans to vote on the greatest tag-teams of all-time. The options are:

    Edge and Christian
    The New Age Outlaws
    The Rockers
    The Legion of Doom
    The British Bulldogs
    The Dudley Boyz
    Demolition
    The Rock ‘n’ Sock Connection
    The Fabulous Freebirds
    The Hardy Boyz

    You can vote at WWE.com.

    – The following are the Blu-ray extras for WWE’s new Ultimate Warrior DVD, which is scheduled for an April 1st release:

    Dingo Warrior vs. Matt Bourne, WCCW – 10/24/1986
    Ultimate Warrior & British Bulldogs vs. Mr. Fuji & Demolition, Maple Leaf Gardens – 7/24/1988
    IC Title Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Dino Bravo, The Main Event – 2/23/1990
    WrestleMania VIII Contract Signing – 3/17/1991
    Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter, WrestleFest – 3/30/1991
    IC Title Match: Ultimate Warrior vs. Goldust, In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies – 4/28/1996

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates
  • TNA To Sign Former WWE Star?, Recent TNA Attendance Figures

    17

    – While no official deal is in place at this point, there is said to be a strong push within TNA to bring Chris Hero (aka Kassius Ohno) into the company.

    – The following are some recent TNA live event attendance figures:

    February 14th live event in Abilene, Texas drew approximately 300 fans
    February 15th live event in Cedar Park, Texas drew approximately 900 fans
    February 16th live event in Huntsville, Texas drew approximately 350 fans

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • TNA Impact Wrestling Preview For Tonight, Opening For Tonight’s Show (Video)

    1

    Tonight’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling features Gunner vs. Magnus for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, The Wolves vs. Bad Influence, Madison Rayne vs. Gail Kim in a Street Fight and the latest drama between MVP and TNA president Dixie Carter.

    Below is the official opener for tonight’s show:

    http://youtu.be/PewHDQBH4Hk

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates
  • TNA Losing Money On Live Events, Paying Arena’s With Their Own Money

    7

    Due to TNA’s live event crowds being so small, the company reportedly has to write checks to the arena to settle out. In most cases, when wrestling shows run arenas, they simply give the building a cut of the profits generated from the shows. In TNA’s case, because they don’t generate enough income off of their shows, they end up writing a check to the building.

    A good example is the TNA live event at Temple University last December. Apparently TNA had to write a $15,000 check to the building because the money they took in that night wasn’t enough to cover what they owed to the arena for renting the place.

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Cena/Make-A-Wish Note, Extreme Rules Pre-Sale, WWE Signature Sounds Extras

    4

    – WWE Superstar John Cena granted his 401st wish for the Make-A-Wish Foundation this past Monday prior to the RAW show in Denver, Colorado. The WWE Community website has photos of Cena meeting 5-year old Amir at Community.WWE.com.

    – The pre-sale for tickets to the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view begins today with the password EXTREME. The event takes place on May 4th from the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

    – As previously reported, WWE will be releasing their “Signature Sounds: The Music of WWE” DVD set on March 18th. The following are the DVD extras for the project:

    Shawn Michaels – Tell Me A Lie
    Val Venis – Hello Ladies
    Hakushi – Angel
    Billy Gunn – Ass Man
    Maria – Legs Like That
    William Regal – He’s a Man
    The Making of GoldLust
    The Music of WWE Studios

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates
  • Jim Ross Blog: Thoughts On Wrestling Spoilers, Ross Report Success & More

    6

    The following are highlights from a new blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:

    On wrestling spoilers: “Not sure that I would be as motivated to watch TNA tonight or Friday Night Smackdown if I succumb to reading the “Spoilers.” As you know the only “Spoiler” that I enjoy are the memories of the work done by the late, Don Jardine who’s in every conversation that one can have regarding the best masked wrestlers of all time.”

    On the success of his new podcast and upcoming guests: “Our team is very happy with the results of the first Ross Report podcast that dropped this week. Thanks to the efforts of Steve Austin and Podcast One and, of course, many of you, our first venture into Podcasting was a hit.”

    “We had some audio issues that will be evident on the first two shows but after that we will good to go. It’s my responsibility to make every show better than the last and I can assure you that I won’t phone any thing in and hope that you will come along on this journey with us.”

    “We have some great guests lined up for future shows including Trish Stratus, Mauro Ranallo, Mick Foley, Lita, Scott Hall, and ESPN’s Robert Flores among many others.”

    On the best feedback wrestling companies can get: “Just food for thought but the more ‘corporate’ wrestling organizations become the more they should remember that the best feedback they can receive isn’t from focus groups or the opinion from executives who aren’t passionate about the biz or students of the game. The best feedback one can receive is from the paying customers who are sitting in the arenas.”

    “Always remember that an empty seat speaks volumes.”

    Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com.

  • Latest On CM Punk’s WWE Return, Ultimate Warrior/WMXXX Plans & WWE HOF Updates
  • Dish Network Issues Another Statement Regarding Why They Dropped WWE PPVs

    5

    On Wednesday, WWE issued the following statement in response to Dish Network dropping all WWE pay-per-view events, including Sunday’s Elimination Chamber:

    “WWE is pleased that the majority of our cable and satellite Pay-Per-View distributors are giving our fans an option to purchase traditional Pay-Per-Views as we prepare to launch WWE Network on Monday, February 24. Unfortunately, DISH will not be doing so. We hope DISH will reconsider for this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View event and especially for WrestleMania 30.”

    In response to a customer who emailed Dish Network about why they are dropping WWE pay-per-views, they responded:

    “WWE has chosen to launch a 24/7 online network, without its TV partners, that includes all of its pay-per-view events. As WWE enters the increasingly fragmented media world by themselves, DISH will continue to consider the value of WWE pay-per-view on an event by event basis.

    “DISH continues to provide a variety of WWE programming, including WWE Raw on USA, WWE Smackdown on Syfy, WWE Main Event on Ion and WWE Total Divas on E!. At this time, WWE pay-per-view events are not available on DISH.”

    WWE Network Update: When Subscriber Data Will Be Reported, Current Estimates

    6

    Here are some highlights of what WWE said about the WWE Network at Thursday morning’s investor conference call:

    – WWE hopes to end the year with 1 million subscribers. When asked about a a ballpark figure for the payout for the Network, they said approximately $12 million.

    – They think that they can reach 2-3 million subscribers in the United States.

    – WWE will give the first Network Subscriber update on April 7th, the day after WrestleMania XXX.

    – The buzz on on Social Media and the wide distribution of the WWE App (over 10 million downloads).

    – They expect to launch the Network outside of the US by the end of 2014, or early next year.

    Big Update On WWE’s TV Rights Fees Negotiations

    8

    WWE spoke about the company’s ongoing TV rights fees negotiations at Thursday morning’s investor conference call. Here are some highlights:

    – WWE is now engaged in negotiations with several other companies now that they are outside of their exclusive window with NBCU.

    – They expect to have a deal done by the end of April.

    – George Barrios would not comment on how many bidders they expect for WWE TV, but they are confident in the final outcome due to the strength of the product.

    – When asked why they couldn’t reach a deal with NBC Universal, Barrios said NBC U didn’t want to pay what they were looking for. He would not comment if the WWE Network played a factor in the negotiations.

    – Regarding whether WWE will realize the benefits of the new TV deal at once or gradually, they said the deals have “escalation clauses” built in.

    Vince McMahon Comments On CM Punk’s WWE Status

    51

    Here are some highlights from Thursday’s WWE investor conference call:

    – Vince McMahon was asked about CM Punk’s status with the company. He replied,

    “CM Punk is taking a sabbatical. Let’s just put it that way.”

    – Overall, Vince said that their results were right around expectation (down due to “investment in the future”).

    –  TV Viewership was up 17% to 14.2 million viewers a week. Total Divas has helped drive up TV revenue. Live events increased 2 percent in 2014.

    – Due to expenses related to the WWE Network and a loss of revenue from PPV cannibalization, 2014 could see lower earnings than 2013. They expect a net loss of $12-15 million dollars in the first quarter of this year. They will have a better idea of this year’s outlook at the first quarter conference call in May.

    – WWE has new TV deals in the UK and Thailand and the deals are 3-7 times more than they were in the past. The UK and Thailand deals are now their number one and three deals outside of the US.

    – WWE has the second-highest selling line of action figure brands in the country.

    – When asked why WWE is still in the movie business, Vince said that their third business model for movies is finally making them money. They are a content company and they are still optimistic about the earnings potential of WWE Studios. The WWE Studios division did much better in Q4 2013 and they plan to “stay the course” with the studio this year. They mentioned the upcoming Scooby-Doo and Flintstones animated movies.

    Breakdown Of WWE’s Full Year Earnings Report, Vince McMahon Comments

    0

    WWE released their full year 2013 financial results on Thursday morning, reporting $508 million in total revenue (up from $484 million in 2013). Despite taking in more than half a billion dollars, the company was barely profitable, with Operating Income of only $5.9 million (down from. $43.2 million in 2012). Net Income was $2.8 million (down from $43.2 million in 2012).

    The revenue increase was primarily driven by increases in domestic business and in the Live Event/TV division. Domestic business accounted for 77.1% of total revenue in 2013, up from 75.6% in 2012 and 72.4% in 2011. WWE attributed the decline in international business to “lower sales of consumer products” that “more than offset contractual increases in international television agreements.”

    WWE explained that their heavy spending was “building for the future” – on infrastructure for the WWE Network and other long-term projects.

    In a press release issued by WWE, WWE CEO Vince McMahon stated:

    “During the past year, we laid the foundation for future growth and enhanced our brand strength. We have now announced the renewal of our television distribution agreement in the U.K., are continuing the negotiations regarding our domestic content, and are poised to launch our global WWE Network in the next few days. With preparations for WrestleMania 30 fully underway, we look forward to celebrating our enduring legacy and ushering in a new era as we blaze new trails in the media industry.”

    WWE financial executive George Barrios added onto the TV negotiations item after discussing WWE’s long-term planning.

    “As we prepared to transform our business, we invested in content production and talent. Although our earnings declined in 2013, our performance was in-line with our guidance, which targeted a range of OIBDA results, excluding film impairments, of $40 million to $50 million.”

    “Regarding our domestic TV licensing agreements, we are now engaged with potential partners after exiting our exclusive negotiating period with NBCU. Based on our analysis of the value of comparable programs and our extensive research regarding consumer interest in WWE Network, we continue to believe that we can double or triple our 2012 OIBDA results of $63 million by 2015.”

    PPV Buyrates For WWE Battleground, Hell In A Cell, Survivor Series & TLC

    36

    WWE released their Q4 2013 and Full Year financial results on Thursday morning. Here are the final pay-per-view buy rates:

    • Battleground in October: 114,000
    • Hell in a Cell in October: 228,000 (up from 199,000 in 2012)
    • Survivor Series in November: 177,000 (down from 208,000 in 2012)
    • TLC in December: 181,000 (up from 175,000 in 2012)

    Without factoring in WWE Battleground (which was a new pay-per-view in 2013), WWE sold 586,000 buyrates in the quarter, up from 582,000 in 2012.

    The buyrate for Hell in a Cell was the show’s best since it debuted in 2009 – and the Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton main event outdrew the John Cena vs. Randy Orton WWE World Heavyweight Championship Unification match by a wide margin (26%).

    Overall, you can see that pay-per-view is no longer a growth sector for WWE, which makes it an opportune time for WWE to transition those shows to the WWE Network.

    WWE Reports Q4 2013 & Full Year Financial Results

    Here are the buyrates for Hell in a Cell, Survivor Series and TLC over the past 4 years:

    Hell in a Cell:

    • 2013 – 228,000 buys
    • 2012 – 199,000 buys
    • 2011 – 182,000 buys
    • 2010 – 210,000 buys

    Survivor Series:

    • 2013 – 177,000 buys
    • 2012 – 208,000 buys
    • 2011 – 281,000 buys
    • 2010 – 244,000 buys

    TLC:

    • 2013 – 181,000 buys
    • 2012 – 175,000 buys
    • 2011 – 179,000 buys
    • 2010 – 195,000 buys

    WWE Reports Q4 2013 & Full Year Financial Results

    2

    STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013. Revenues totaled $118.4 million as compared to $115.1 million in the prior year quarter. Operating loss was $12.2 million as compared to income of $2.6 million in the prior year quarter. Net loss was $7.9 million, or $0.10 per share, as compared to income of $0.6 million, or $0.01 per share, in the prior year quarter. OIBDA in the fourth quarter 2013 decreased to a $5.6 million loss from income of $8.5 million in the prior year quarter.

    The decline in OIBDA and Operating income was primarily attributable to increased investment in staffing, talent and marketing to support our strategic content initiatives, including the launch of WWE Network. Lower sales of new DVD releases and a corresponding shift in product mix to lower priced catalog titles, as well as compressed television production margins that derived from changes in the mix of programming also contributed to the year-over-year decline.

    During the past year, we laid the foundation for future growth and enhanced our brand strength, stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. We have now announced the renewal of our television distribution agreement in the U.K., are continuing the negotiations regarding our domestic content, and are poised to launch our global WWE Network in the next few days. With preparations for WrestleMania 30 fully underway, we look forward to celebrating our enduring legacy and ushering in a new era as we blaze new trails in the media industry.

    As we prepared to transform our business, we invested in content production and talent. Although our earnings declined in 2013, our performance was in-line with our guidance, which targeted a range of OIBDA results, excluding film impairments, of $40 million to $50 million, added George Barrios, Chief Strategy & Financial Officer. Regarding our domestic TV licensing agreements, we are now engaged with potential partners after exiting our exclusive negotiating period with NBCU. Based on our analysis of the value of comparable programs and our extensive research regarding consumer interest in WWE Network, we continue to believe that we can double or triple our 2012 OIBDA results of $63 million by 2015.

    Comparability of Results

    For the full year 2013, OIBDA results included $11.7 million in film impairment charges primarily related to the Companys 2010-2012 film release slate, and an approximate $3.4 million positive impact from the transition of the Company’s video game business to a new licensee in 2013. For the full year ended 2012, OIBDA results included $1.2 million in film impairment charges, and net income included a $4.1 million benefit due to the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits. For the fourth quarter 2012, OIBDA results included a $0.5 million in film impairment charges. In order to facilitate an analysis of financial results on a comparable basis, where noted, fourth quarter and full year results have been adjusted to exclude these items. (See Schedule of Adjustments in Supplemental Information).

    Three Months Ended December 31, 2013 – Results by Region and Business Segment

    Revenues of $118.4 million increased 3% from the prior year quarter based on growth in international markets. Revenues from outside North Americagrew 12%, or $3.4 million, driven by the impact of scheduling three additional events in international markets, stronger performance of our live event tours, and contractual increases in international television agreements. These factors more than offset lower sales of licensed consumer products. North American revenues were essentially unchanged from the prior year quarter as revenue from the release of Christmas Bounty, a made-for TV movie, and the timing impact of an additional pay-per-view event during the quarter were offset by lower home entertainment sales and the impact to television rights from one less episode of Raw.

    The following tables reflect net revenues by region and by segment (in millions):

    Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
    Net Revenues By Region:
    North America $ 87.5 $ 87.6
    Europe/Middle East/Africa(EMEA) 21.0 19.1
    Asia Pacific (APAC) 7.7 7.0
    Latin America 2.2 1.4
    Total net revenues $ 118.4 $ 115.1
    Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
    Net Revenues By Segment:
    Live and Televised Entertainment $ 87.6 $ 82.0
    Consumer Products 14.1 20.4
    Digital Media 11.7 12.1
    WWE Studios 5.0 0.6
    Total net revenues $ 118.4 $ 115.1

    Live and Televised Entertainment

    Revenues from our Live and Televised Entertainment businesses increased 7% to $87.6 million primarily due to the timing of an additional pay-per-view event (4 vs. 3 in the prior year quarter), the staging of three additional live events, and changes in the mix of live events.

    • Live Event revenues increased 9% to $25.4 million from $23.3 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to staging three additional events in international markets that in aggregate garnered a higher average ticket price in the current year quarter.
      • There were 78 total events, including 52 events in North America and 26 events in international markets, in the current quarter as compared to 75 events in the prior year quarter, including 52 events in North America and 23 in international markets.
      • North American live event revenue of $13.8 million was essentially unchanged from the prior year quarter, as a 4% increase average attendance to approximately 5,900 fans was offset by a reduction in live event sponsorship sales. The average realized ticket price of $44.59 also remained essentially unchanged from the prior year quarter.
      • International live event revenue increased 23% to $11.6 million from $9.4 million in the prior year quarter. The growth reflected the impact of staging three additional events in the quarter. Additionally, changes in venue mix contributed to both an increase in average ticket price and a partially offsetting decline in average attendance. The average ticket price rose 17% to $81.98 as the current year quarter included three events in Abu Dhabi, an international market that has historically garnered higher ticket prices. Average international attendance declined 7% to 5,200.
    • Pay-Per-View revenues were $15.7 million as compared to $13.0 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the production of four pay-per-view events in the current quarter as compared to three in the prior year quarter. Revenue for the events held in both the current and prior year quarter increased 2% based on a comparable increase in pay-per-view buys. The average revenue per buy for these events was essentially unchanged from the prior year.

    The details for the number of buys (in 000s) are as follows:

    Three Months Ended
    BroadcastMonth Events (in chronological order) December 31,
    2013
    December 31,
    2012
    October WWE Battleground 114
    October Hell in a Cell 228 199
    November Survivor Series 177 208
    December WWE TLC 181 175
    Prior events 82 70
    Total 782 652
    • Television revenues increased 2% to $41.3 million from $40.6 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the production and monetization of Total Divas, a new program, which debuted in July 2013, as well as contractual increases for existing programs licensed in international markets. These increases were partially offset by the timing of one less episode of Raw in the U.S. (due to one less Monday in the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to the fourth quarter 2012).
    • Venue Merchandise revenues were $3.4 million as compared to $3.8 million in the prior year quarter reflecting a 17% decline in merchandise sales per capita at our North American events due in part to the mix of products and timing of new merchandise offers.

    Consumer Products

    Revenues from our Consumer Products businesses decreased 31% to $14.1 million from $20.4 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to declines in the Company’s home entertainment business and toy licensing as described below.

    • Home Entertainment net revenues were $5.0 million as compared to $9.6 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease was driven by a 33% decline in the average price per unit to approximately $8 due, in part, to a higher proportion of catalog sales than in the prior year quarter. This shift derived from changes at retail, including reduced space for DVD inventory and demand for lower priced product. Shipments of catalog titles increased 51% and accounted for 57% of total unit shipments compared to 35% in the prior year quarter. Based on the sustained increase in catalog shipments, which historically have been characterized by lower sell-through rates, estimated returns increased to 51% from 37% of gross revenue. Also contributing to the decline in net home entertainment revenue, overall shipments fell 8% to 1.1 million with two fewer releases in the quarter (9 in Q4 2013 vs. 11 in Q4 2012).
    • Licensing revenues declined 14% to $7.2 million from $8.4 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to reduced sales of toy products in the U.S. and international markets. Despite the fourth quarter decline, domestic retail toy sales increased for the full year and WWE maintained its position with the second highest selling action figure property in the U.S. market. In late 2013, the Company launched a new line of construction toys, a segment of the toy category that has demonstrated strong growth over the last several years. Royalties from the sale of video game and apparel products were essentially flat to the prior year quarter, as modest growth in the U.S. was offset by lower sales in international markets.
    • Magazine publishing net revenues were $1.3 million as compared to $1.7 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting lower newsstand sales in the current year quarter.

    Digital Media

    Revenues from our Digital Media related businesses were $11.7 million as compared to $12.1 million in the prior year quarter.

    • WWE.com revenues were $5.7 million as compared to $6.2 million in the prior year quarter with lower aggregate sales of digital content. Key digital metrics such as unique visitors to the Company’s website and mobile app as well as average monthly page views increased from the prior year quarter.
    • WWEShop revenues were $6.0 million as compared to $5.9 million in the prior year quarter reflecting a comparable percentage increase in revenue per order to $47.88. The volume of online merchandise sales remained essentially unchanged at approximately 124,300 orders.

    WWE Studios

    WWE Studios recognized revenue of $5.0 million as compared to revenue of $0.6 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the performance and timing of results from the Companys portfolio of movies. The fourth quarter 2013 reflected revenue from Christmas Bounty, a made-for-TV movie that aired in November 2013, and to a lesser extent, revenue from The Call (starring Halle Berry), which was released theatrically in March 2013. Although four movies were released during 2012, these releases had limited impact on revenue recognized in the fourth quarter of that year. WWE Studios’ movie portfolio generated income of $0.1 million in the quarter compared to a loss of $1.2 million in the prior year quarter, which included $0.5 million in film impairment charges. Excluding the impact of film impairment charges, theWWE Studios’ movie portfolio contributed to essentially break-even results in the current year as compared to a loss of $0.7 million in the prior year quarter.

    Unallocated SG&A

    Unallocated SG&A expense was $35.1 million for the current year quarter as compared to $32.0 million in the prior year quarter. The 10% increase was primarily due to increased marketing, recruiting and relocation expenses to support the Companys brands and key initiatives. A $1.0 million increase in salary was offset by a year-over-year reduction in accrued management incentive compensation.

    Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA)

    OIBDA declined $14.1 million to a loss of $5.6 million primarily due to lower results from the Companys home entertainment, licensing and television operations as well as sustained investment to support our content initiatives. Profits from home entertainment declined $3.5 million reflecting lower sales of new releases and a shift in product mix to lower priced catalog titles. Profits from the Companys licensing business declined $2.9 million with lower sales of toy products in both domestic and international markets. Profits from the Companys television operations declined $3.2 million reflecting changes in the mix of programming as well as increased production costs. Salary expense increased approximately $2.7 million with a 9% increase in headcount, talent expense increased $2.2 million and marketing expense increased nearly $1 million predominantly to support our strategic initiatives and brand strength. Partially offsetting these factors, the quarters results were favorably impacted by a year-over-year reduction in accrued management incentive compensation and increased profits from the timing of an additional pay-per-view event.

    Based on the increased investment and changes in business mix, WWE’s OIBDA margin was a negative 5% in the quarter as compared to 7% in the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact of film impairments, Adjusted OIBDA declined $14.6 million to a loss of $5.6 million and the Adjusted OIBDA margin was a negative 5% as compared to 8% in the prior year quarter. (See Schedules of Adjustments in Supplemental Information).

    Depreciation and amortization

    Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $6.6 million for the current year quarter as compared to $5.9 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense derived from investment in assets to support the Company’s content initiatives, including efforts to launch WWE Network.

    Investment Income, Interest and Other Income, Net

    Investment income, interest and other income, net yielded income of $0.3 million in the current year quarter compared to expense of $0.2 million in the prior year quarter.

    Effective tax rate

    The current year quarter’s effective tax rate was 34% versus the prior year tax rate of 75%. The tax rate in the fourth quarter of 2012 was adversely impacted by $0.4 million of additional tax expense as a result of differences between estimated and actual full year taxable income. Additionally, the fourth quarter of 2012 tax rate reflected a $0.2 million increase in unrecognized tax benefits and $0.2 million to provide for dividends from a foreign subsidiary. In total, these items were responsible for 33 percentage points of the prior year quarter’s 75% effective tax rate.

    Summary Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2013

    Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $508.0 million as compared to $484.0 million in the prior year. Operating income for the current year was $5.9 million versus $43.2 million in the prior year. Net income was $2.8 million, or $0.04 per share, as compared to $31.4 million, or $0.42 per share, in the prior year. OIBDA was $30.4 million for the current year as compared to $63.2 million in the prior year.

    Excluding items that impacted comparability on a year-over-year basis, Adjusted Operating income was $14.2 million compared to $44.4 million in the prior year, Adjusted OIBDA was $38.7 million as compared to $64.4 million and Adjusted Net income was $8.2 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to $28.1 million, or $0.38 per share, in the prior year.

    Year Ended December 31, 2013 – Results by Region and Business Segment

    Revenues increased 5% to $508.0 million driven by growth in North America, which was primarily from the licensing of new television and digital content, improved performance of our live events, and the timing of our movie releases. Revenues from outside North America declined less than 2% as lower sales of consumer products more than offset contractual increases in our international television agreements. Changes in foreign exchange rates also reduced current year revenue by approximately $1 million.

    The following tables reflect net revenues by region and by segment (in millions):

    Year Ended
    December 31,2013 December 31,
    2012
    Net Revenues By Region:
    North America $ 391.7 $ 365.9
    Europe/Middle East/Africa 72.4 70.7
    Asia Pacific 37.3 37.1
    Latin America 6.6 10.3
    Total net revenues $ 508.0 $ 484.0
    Year Ended
    December 31,
    2013
    December 31,
    2012
    Net Revenues By Segment:
    Live and Televised Entertainment $ 382.3 $ 353.8
    Consumer Products 76.4 87.8
    Digital Media 38.5 34.5
    WWE Studios 10.8 7.9
    Total net revenues $ 508.0 $ 484.0

    Live and Televised Entertainment

    Revenues from our Live and Televised Entertainment businesses were $382.3 million for the current year as compared to $353.8 million in the prior year, representing an increase of 8%.

    Year Ended
    December 31,2013 December 31,
    2012
    Live events $ 111.5 $ 103.7
    Venue merchandise 19.4 18.8
    Pay-per-view 82.5 83.6
    Television rights fees 160.9 139.5
    Other 8.0 8.2
    Total $ 382.3 $ 353.8

    Consumer Products

    Revenues from our Consumer Products businesses were $76.4 million for the current year as compared to $87.8 million in the prior year, representing a decrease of 13%.

    Year Ended
    December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
    Licensing $ 43.6 $ 46.3
    Home entertainment 24.3 33.0
    Magazine publishing 5.7 6.0
    Other 2.8 2.5
    Total $ 76.4 $ 87.8

    Digital Media

    Revenues from our Digital Media related businesses were $38.5 million as compared to $34.5 million in the prior year, representing an increase of 12%.

    Year Ended
    December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
    WWE.com $ 23.0 $ 19.7
    WWEShop 15.5 14.8
    Total $ 38.5 $ 34.5

    WWE Studios

    During the current year, WWE Studios recognized revenue of $10.8 million as compared to $7.9 million in the prior year, reflecting the timing of results generated by the Company’s portfolio of movies. In November 2013, the Company released Christmas Bounty, a made-for-TV film. Additionally, five other films were released in the current year (12 Rounds 2: Reloaded, No One Lives, Dead Man Down, The Call and The Marine 3: Homefront) versus four in the prior year.

    Based on revised ultimate expectations for the Company’s movies, film impairment charges increased to $11.7 million in the current year compared to $1.2 million in the prior year. Impairments were primarily related to the Company’s 2010-2012 film slate, as well as Dead Man Down, which was released earlier in 2013. As a result, WWE Studios generated a loss of $12.7 million compared to a loss of $5.5 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of film impairment charges, the WWE Studios’ movie portfolio generated an adjusted loss of $1.0 million compared to an adjusted loss of $4.3 million in the prior year.

    Unallocated SG&A

    Unallocated SG&A expenses were $125.1 million in the current year as compared to $116.7 million in the prior year. The rise in expense was driven by an increase in salary and benefit costs of $5.2 million, consulting and professional fees of $3.3 million, marketing expenses of $1.9 million, and talent development costs, which were primarily to support the Company’s content related initiatives, including the launch of WWE Network. These items were partially offset by a $3.2 million reduction in accrued management incentive compensation and a $2.5 million reduction in bad debt expense.

    Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA)

    OIBDA was $30.4 million in the current year as compared to $63.2 million in the prior year. The decline in OIBDA was primarily due to a $10.8 million reduction in profits from the Pay-Per-View business reflecting increased production costs, a $10.5 million increase in film impairment charges primarily associated with the Company’s 2010-2012 film slate and the current year release of Dead Man Down, a $5.2 million increase in compensation and benefit costs, and lower results from Home Entertainment. These items more than offset the increased monetization of our content licensing on broadcast and digital platforms and the strong performance of the Live Event business. Based on the impact of film impairments, increased investment and resulting changes in business mix, the Company’s OIBDA margin was 6% in the current year as compared to 13% in the prior year. Excluding the impact of film impairments and video game transition, Adjusted OIBDA was $38.7 million in the current year as compared to $64.4 million in the prior year, and the Adjusted OIBDA margin was 8% in the current year as compared to 13% in the prior year. (See Schedules of Adjustments in Supplemental Information).

    Depreciation and amortization

    Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $24.5 million for the current year as compared to $20.0 million in the prior year. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense derived from investment in assets to support the Company’s content initiatives, including efforts to launch WWE Network.

    Investment Income, Interest and Other Income, Net

    Investment income, interest and other income, net yielded expense of $1.3 million in the current year as compared to $0.5 million in the prior year as investment income, net declined by $0.8 million due to lower average balances of cash and short term investments. Interest expense and other expense were essentially unchanged from the prior year.

    Effective tax rate

    The effective tax rate was 40% in the current year as compared to 26% in the prior year. The prior year effective tax rates were positively impacted by the recognition of previously unrecognized tax benefits, primarily related to the settlement of several audits including the State of Connecticut, the IRS (IRS) and other state and local jurisdictions.

    Cash Flows & Liquidity

    Net cash generated by operating activities was $23.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to $63.0 million in the prior year. This $39.2 million decrease was driven by the decline in operating performance and changes in working capital, including an $11.0 million increase in the annual payout of management incentive compensation related to the Companys previous year performance, increased spending on television production assets, and timing differences in the collection of receivables, that negatively impacted current year cash flow as compared to the prior year.

    The Company completed the purchase of a corporate aircraft and made related aircraft improvements for $30.9 million. The Company utilized debt financing for this purchase. Excluding the purchase of the corporate aircraft, purchases of property and equipment and other assets declined by $8.9 million primarily due to lower current year investment in assets to support the creation and distribution of new content, including through WWE Network.

    As of December 31, 2013, the Company held $109.4 million in cash and short-term investments and estimates debt capacity under the Company’s revolving line of credit to be approximately $83 million.

    Additional Information

    Additional key performance indicators are made available to investors on a monthly basis on our corporate website – corporate.wwe.com.

    Note: As previously announced, the Companys Chairman & CEO, Vincent K. McMahon, and the Companys Chief Strategy & Financial Officer, George Barrios, will host a conference call on February 20, 2014 beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss the Company’s earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013.

    All interested parties are welcome to listen to a live web cast that will be hosted through the Companys web site at ir.corporate.wwe.com. Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-800-697-5978 (US Toll Free) or 1-630-691-2750 using the passcode 6775847. Please reserve a line 10-15 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call.

    WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE:WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices inNew York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

    Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitations, forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s growth plans. All of those forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to entering into, maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming and our new network distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the network; risks relating to new businesses generally and risks specific to the new network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.

     

    World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE)Consolidated Income Statements

    (In millions, except per share data)

    (Unaudited)

    Three Months Ended Year Ended
    December 31,2013 December 31,2012 December 31,
    2013
    December 31,
    2012
    Net revenues $ 118.4 $ 115.1 $ 508.0 $ 484.0
    Cost of revenues 80.4 69.2 323.0 284.4
    Selling, general and administrative expenses 43.6 37.4 154.6 136.4
    Depreciation and amortization 6.6 5.9 24.5 20.0
    Operating income (loss) (12.2 ) 2.6 5.9 43.2
    Investment income, net 0.3 0.5 1.4 2.2
    Interest expense (0.5 ) (0.3 ) (1.7 ) (1.7 )
    Other income (expense), net 0.5 (0.4 ) (1.0 ) (1.0 )
    Income (loss) before income taxes (11.9 ) 2.4 4.6 42.7
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes (4.0 ) 1.8 1.8 11.3
    Net income (loss) $ (7.9 ) $ 0.6 $ 2.8 $ 31.4
    Earnings (loss) per share:
    Basic $ (0.11 ) $ 0.01 $ 0.04 $ 0.42
    Diluted $ (0.10 ) $ 0.01 $ 0.04 $ 0.42
    Weighted average common shares outstanding:
    Basic 75.1 74.8 74.9 74.6
    Diluted 75.5 75.1 75.4 75.0
    World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.Consolidated Balance Sheets

    (In millions)

    (Unaudited)

    As of
    December 31,
    2013
    December 31,
    2012
    ASSETS
    CURRENT ASSETS:
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 32.9 $ 66.0
    Short-term investments, net 76.5 86.3
    Accounts receivable, net 59.6 50.7
    Inventory 2.9 1.8
    Deferred income taxes 12.2 14.4
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets 16.1 15.3
    Total current assets 200.2 234.5
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET 133.5 102.2
    FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION ASSETS, NET 16.0 23.7
    TELEVISION PRODUCTION ASSETS, NET 10.8 6.3
    INVESTMENT SECURITIES 8.3 5.2
    OTHER ASSETS 9.7 9.5
    TOTAL ASSETS $ 378.5 $ 381.4
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
    CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Current portion of long-term debt $ 4.3 $
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses 47.9 49.0
    Deferred income 30.1 28.6
    Total current liabilities 82.3 77.6
    LONG-TERM DEBT 25.4
    NON-CURRENT INCOME TAX LIABILITIES 4.9 9.1
    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY:
    Class A common stock 0.3 0.3
    Class B convertible common stock 0.4 0.5
    Additional paid-in capital 347.0 341.7
    Accumulated other comprehensive income 3.5 4.0
    Accumulated deficit (85.3 ) (51.8 )
    Total stockholders equity 265.9 294.7
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY $ 378.5 $ 381.4
    World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

    (In millions)

    (Unaudited)

    Year Ended
    December 31,
    2013
    December 31,
    2012
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
    Net income $ 2.8 $ 31.4
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities:
    Amortization and impairments of feature film production assets 19.1 8.8
    Amortization of television production assets 7.0
    Depreciation and amortization 24.5 20.0
    Amortization of bond premium 2.0 2.3
    Amortization of debt issuance costs 0.5 0.6
    Stock-based compensation 5.5 3.8
    Provision for doubtful accounts 2.5
    Services provided in exchange for equity instruments (0.9 ) (0.4 )
    Loss on disposal of property and equipment 0.1
    Provision for deferred income taxes 1.4 6.2
    Other non-cash adjustments (0.1 ) (0.1 )
    Cash (used in)/provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable (9.0 ) 4.5
    Inventory (1.1 ) (0.1 )
    Prepaid expenses and other assets (2.1 ) (2.8 )
    Feature film production assets (9.1 ) (8.9 )
    Television production assets (11.5 ) (6.1 )
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses (6.7 ) 2.5
    Deferred income 1.5 (1.3 )
    Net cash provided by operating activities 23.8 63.0
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
    Purchase of corporate aircraft and related improvements (30.9 )
    Purchases of other property and equipment and other assets (25.0 ) (33.9 )
    Purchases of short-term investments (37.0 ) (19.2 )
    Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments 44.3 45.2
    Purchase of cost method investments (2.2 ) (5.0 )
    Net cash used in investing activities (50.8 ) (12.9 )
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Proceeds from the issuance of note payable 31.0
    Repayment of long-term debt (1.4 ) (1.6 )
    Dividends paid (36.0 ) (35.8 )
    Debt issuance costs (0.7 )
    Issuance of stock, net 0.7 0.8
    Excess tax benefits from stock-based payment arrangements 0.3
    Net cash used in financing activities (6.1 ) (36.6 )
    NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (33.1 ) 13.5
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 66.0 52.5
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $ 32.9 $ 66.0
    SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
    Cash (received) paid for income taxes, net of refunds $ (3.1 ) $ 7.2
    Cash paid for interest $ 1.0 $ 0.8
    NON-CASH INVESTING TRANSACTIONS:
    Non-cash purchase of property and equipment $ 1.7 $ 1.4

     

    World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.Supplemental Information Schedule of Adjustments

    (In millions, except per share data)

    (Unaudited)

    Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2013
    Three Months Ended
    December 31, 2012
    AsReported FilmImpairment VideoGame

    Transition

    Adjusted AsReported FilmImpairment TaxBenefit Adjusted
    Operating (loss) income $ (12.2 ) $ $ $ (12.2 ) $ 2.6 $ 0.5 $ $ 3.1
    Investment, interest and other income, net 0.3 0.3 (0.2 ) (0.2 )
    (Loss) Income before taxes (11.9 ) (11.9 ) 2.4 0.5 2.9
    Benefit (Provision) for taxes 4.0 4.0 (1.8 ) (0.2 ) (2.0 )
    Net (loss) income $ (7.9 ) $ $ $ (7.9 ) $ 0.6 $ 0.3 $ $ 0.9
    (Loss) Earnings per share $ (0.10 ) $ $ $ (0.10 ) $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ $ 0.02
    Reconciliation of Operating income to OIBDA
    Operating (loss) income $ (12.2 ) $ $ $ (12.2 ) $ 2.6 $ 0.5 $ $ 3.1
    Depreciation & amortization 6.6 6.6 5.9 5.9
    OIBDA $ (5.6 ) $ $ $ (5.6 ) $ 8.5 $ 0.5 $ $ 9.0

    Non-GAAP Measures:

    We define OIBDA as operating income before depreciation and amortization, excluding feature film and television production amortization and related impairments. OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may be different than similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A limitation of OIBDA is that it excludes depreciation and amortization, which represents the periodic charge for certain fixed assets and intangible assets used in generating revenues for the Company’s business. OIBDA should not be regarded as an alternative to operating income or net income as an indicator of operating performance, or to the statement of cash flows as a measure of liquidity, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that operating income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to OIBDA.

    Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Earnings per share exclude certain material items, which otherwise would impact the comparability of results between periods. These should not be considered as an alternative to net income, cash flows from operations or any other indicator of WWE’s performance or liquidity, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

     

    World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.Supplemental Information Schedule of Adjustments

    (In millions, except per share data)

    (Unaudited)

    Year Ended December 31, 2013 Year Ended December 31, 2012
    AsReported FilmImpairment Adjustedfor Film

    Impairment

    VideoGame

    Transition

    Adjusted AsReported FilmImpairment TaxBenefit Adjusted
    Operating income (loss) $ 5.9 $ 11.7 $ 17.6 $ (3.4 ) $ 14.2 $ 43.2 $ 1.2 $ $ 44.4
    Investment, interest and other expense, net (1.3 ) (1.3 ) (1.3 ) (0.5 ) (0.5 )
    Income before taxes 4.6 11.7 16.3 (3.4 ) 12.9 42.7 1.2 43.9
    (Provision) benefit for taxes (1.8 ) (4.1 ) (5.9 ) 1.2 (4.7 ) (11.3 ) (0.4 ) (4.1 ) (15.8 )
    Net income (loss) $ 2.8 $ 7.6 $ 10.4 $ (2.2 ) $ 8.2 $ 31.4 $ 0.8 $ (4.1 ) $ 28.1
    Earnings (loss) per share $ 0.04 $ 0.10 $ 0.14 $ (0.03 ) $ 0.11 $ 0.42 $ 0.01 $ (0.05 ) $ 0.38
    Reconciliation of Operating income to OIBDA
    Operating income (loss) $ 5.9 $ 11.7 $ 17.6 $ (3.4 ) $ 14.2 $ 43.2 $ 1.2 $ $ 44.4
    Depreciation & amortization 24.5 24.5 24.5 20.0 20.0
    OIBDA $ 30.4 $ 11.7 $ 42.1 $ (3.4 ) $ 38.7 $ 63.2 $ 1.2 $ $ 64.4

    Non-GAAP Measures:

    We define OIBDA as operating income before depreciation and amortization, excluding feature film and television production amortization and related impairments. OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and may be different than similarly-titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A limitation of OIBDA is that it excludes depreciation and amortization, which represents the periodic charge for certain fixed assets and intangible assets used in generating revenues for the Company’s business. OIBDA should not be regarded as an alternative to operating income or net income as an indicator of operating performance, or to the statement of cash flows as a measure of liquidity, nor should it be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that operating income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to OIBDA.

    Adjusted OIBDA, Adjusted Operating income, Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Earnings per share exclude certain material items, which otherwise would impact the comparability of results between periods. These should not be considered as an alternative to net income, cash flows from operations or any other indicator of WWE’s performance or liquidity, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.Supplemental Information – Free Cash Flow

    (In millions)

    (Unaudited)

    Three Months Ended Year Ended
    December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012 December 31, 2013 December 31, 2012
    Net cash provided by operating activities $ 11.6 $ 22.1 $ 23.8 $ 63.0
    Less cash used for capital expenditures:
    Purchase of property and equipment andother assets (excluding corporate aircraft) (6.7 ) (7.2 ) (25.0 ) (33.9 )
    Free Cash Flow $ 4.9 $ 14.9 $ (1.2 ) $ 29.1

    Non-GAAP Measure:

    We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by operating activities less cash used for capital expenditures. Although it is not a recognized measure of liquidity under U.S. GAAP, Free Cash Flow provides useful information regarding the amount of cash our continuing business is generating after capital expenditures, available for reinvesting in the business and for payment of dividends.

     

    http://www.businesswire.com/images/spacer.gif

    WWE
    Investors:
    Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642
    or
    Media:
    Tara Carraro, 203-352-8625

    Source: WWE

    Copyright Business Wire 2014

    Rey Mysterio’s Contract Expiring: Will WWE Re-Sign Him?

    65

    Rey Mysterio’s contract is the next major deal to expire in WWE. His deal is reportedly up in approximately two months. While he is one of the talents in the company with one of the largest downside guarantees, he is also one of the top merchandise movers currently in WWE.

    Mysterio’s contract is an interesting situation, as WWE officials would usually start aggressively attempting to re-sign a talent in his situation by this point, however that is apparently not the case.

    Speaking of Mysterio, one of the main reasons he was booked to work the non-televised live events in Northern California as opposed to his hometown in San Diego was due to the feeling in the company that he has been booked too often in San Diego. For the record, San Diego ended up drawing the worst crowd among the live events that took place last weekend.

    *Spoiler* Possible Outcome Of Sunday’s Elimination Chamber Match

    34

    One of the ideas currently floating around WWE creative right now is for The Wyatt Family to somehow cost John Cena the victory in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match this Sunday.

    As previously reported, the plan for Cena’s match at WrestleMania XXX is for him to face Bray Wyatt in a singles match. The feeling is that something needs to be done to bring back the focus on the Wyatt vs. Cena feud, which was started at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January.

    Cliffhanger Planned For Next Week’s RAW, News On WWE Network Subscriptions

    25

    As far as the one week trial for the WWE Network goes, you will still be required to sign up with a credit card at launch. Much like other companies, such as Netflix, the subscription will then automatically renew until you cancel the account.

    Speaking of the WWE Network, there has been talk within WWE recently about the idea of doing a cliffhanger-type ending to the February 24th RAW (the night the Network launches) to encourage fans to immediately sign up for the WWE Network as soon as it becomes available.

    Backstage News On The Leading Candidate For The 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame

    14

    According to officials within WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is the leading candidate as one of the “main event inductees” for the 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame ceremony in California.

    Apparently it’s up to The Rock if he wants to accept the induction, as his decision would basically center around whether or not his Hollywood schedule allows him to be available to take part in the annual wrestling honor.

  • Undertaker To RETIRE This Year?, MAJOR Star To RETURN To WWE + NEW HOF Inductees …

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • More On Scott Hall’s Possible WWE Hall Of Fame Induction, DDP/HOF Rumors

    13

    Regarding the rumors that Scott Hall will be inducted into the 2014 class of the WWE Hall Of Fame, sources claim that he is indeed on the current list of inductees.

    As far as the speculation that Diamond Dallas Page may be inducted along with Hall and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, both of whom he helped get sober over the past year, he is said to not be on the list of this year’s inductees.

    Why WWE Didn’t Promote Next Week’s RAW, Update On Hogan Hosting WMXXX

    40

    One of the possible reasons WWE didn’t promote the big RAW show next Monday night was due to the fact that the company was focusing their promotional efforts on this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber and the launch of the WWE Network after next week’s RAW.

    Apparently the feeling in the company was that they didn’t want to overshadow the Chamber PPV and Network launch with a RAW show, which was previously reported, is expected to feature the returns of both Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker. The show may also feature the announcement of Hogan as the host of WrestleMania XXX.

  • Undertaker To RETIRE This Year?, MAJOR Star To RETURN To WWE + NEW HOF Inductees …

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Darren Young Joins GaymerX2, Supports LBGT Gaming Community

    9

    The following press release was issued recently:

    WWE Wrestler Darren Young Joins GaymerX2

    PRO WRESTLER SUPPORTS THE LBGT GAMING COMMUNITY

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 19, 2014) – MidBoss, the team behind the convention known as GaymerX2, is excited to announce that openly gay WWE wrestler Fred Rosser AKA Darren Young, will be participating in this year’s festivities. The convention is to be held at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco’s vibrant South of Market neighborhood from July 11-13th.

    Darren Young will be signing autographs and joining in Friday’s Opening Ceremonies, as well as Sunday’s Closing Ceremonies. He will also be a part of a panel titled “A Fireside Chat with Darren Young” at GaymerX.

    “Darren Young’s involvement in GaymerX is tremendously exciting. We understand the struggle that athletes face in coming out, especially when they live in the spotlight,” quoted Toni Rocca, President of GaymerX. “For a member of an organization as widely watched as WWE to be comfortable with his identity and also to continue to be accepted in his line of work is a great example for all athletic fields out there. We would really like to celebrate that.”

    “I am very excited to be a part of this year’s GaymerX convention” Quoted Fred Rosser aka WWE’s Darren Young,”Gay geeks and gamers around the world deserve to have their own community and I’m very proud to be a part of what should be an awesome experience.”

    Following the great success of last year’s GaymerX Kickstarter, the 2014 convention will support another Kickstarter, with a pledge where you can actually interact with and chat with Darren Young yourself. There are other pledges including sponsoring the convention, badges for the con, and cute stickers featuring the con’s mascots, Conway and Turing.

  • Undertaker To RETIRE This Year?, MAJOR Star To RETURN To WWE + NEW HOF Inductees …
  • News On West Coast RAW Pre-Shows & Post-Shows, Recent WWE Attendance

    0

    – As far as the RAW pre-show on the WWE Network is concerned, due to the West Coast time difference where the show airs three hours later, they will have to replay the pre-show while RAW is finishing up live. For the RAW post-show in the West Coast, they would likely have to replay that via tape-delay for the same reason.

    – The following are some recent WWE attendance figures:

    February 15th live event in Phoenix, Arizona drew approximately 7,000 fans.
    February 16th live event in Las Vegas, Nevada drew approximately 6,000 fans.
    February 17th RAW show in Denver, Colorado drew approximately 10,000 fans.

  • Undertaker To RETIRE This Year?, MAJOR Star To RETURN To WWE + NEW HOF Inductees …

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Backstage News On Plans For WWE Divas Title At WMXXX, Update On Naomi’s Return

    22

    As things stand presently, there are no official plans for the WWE Divas Championship at WrestleMania XXX. The original plan, before Naomi suffered the eye injury at RAW, was for the Funkadactyl to face AJ Lee for the title. While not official, the likely scenario would have seen Naomi win the title as part of a story line for the second season of the “Total Divas” reality show. Even though those plans may be off the table, there is a good chance that Naomi’s injury and recovery will be used as part of a Total Divas story line.

    As far as Naomi’s role at WrestleMania XXX is concerned, after the company received word last week that she will not need surgery, there is still time to factor her into plans for this year’s WrestleMania.

    Naomi is expected to be out of in-ring action for four-to-six weeks. She won’t be able to appear on television unless she drives to RAW, as the pressure on her eyes from a flight would be dangerous.

  • Undertaker To RETIRE This Year?, MAJOR Star To RETURN To WWE + NEW HOF Inductees …

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Update On WrestleMania XXX Ticket Sales, Is The Event Officially Sold Out Yet?

    10

    As far as ticket sales for WrestleMania XXX are concerned, the event is not yet officially sold out. There are, however, 9,916 of the 55,000-plus ticket holders who have their seats available at Stubhub.com. Basically, this means many of those tickets were purchased strictly for investment purposes.

    The nosebleed seats are going for $46.90, and you can still buy two front-row seats for $13,000 a piece.

  • Undertaker To RETIRE This Year?, MAJOR Star To RETURN To WWE + NEW HOF Inductees …

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)