Opinion
Bodeen’s Top 5 Moments: WWE NXT 7/20/21
Even if the verdict is out on what Kross’ venture to Raw will have in store for the future; NXT still did a good job keeping the bus moving forward! Check out Bodeen’s Top 5 Moments from the Black and Gold brand!
With last week’s episode of NXT ending with NXT Champion, Karrion Kross choking out enforcer, Samoa Joe after Kross’s match with Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship, it was finally time to see the aftermath and result of Kross’s actions this week on NXT. We would also see former Undisputed ERA members Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish battle in tag team action and more on another great episode of the black and yellow brand.
So, without further ado, I am Bodeen Green and I am here once again to look at the good and do my best to ignore the bad and the ugly as I bring you my top 5 moments from this week’s edition of NXT.
5. NXT General Manager William Regal tries to calm down a furious Samoa Joe to open the show
After NXT Champion, Karrion Kross choked out special guest referee Samoa Joe next week, revenge would be on the mind of the Samoan Submission Machine as he opened the show to call out Karrion Kross. Unfortunately for Joe, William Regal would come out and tell Joe to calm down and told him that he wanted things to be settled peacefully as Samoa Joe was actually a referee last week and not an enforcer, thus meaning his rule about being allowed to attack someone after he has been provoked didn’t mean anything.
A furious Samoa Joe told William Regal that Regal could not control Kross, referencing Kross’ appearance on Monday Night Raw the night before. Joe told things that we would end things tonight out of respect for the NXT General Manager but Joe could not promise that things would end peacefully between the two men.
This was an amazing segment as Samoa Joe proved once again why he is one of the best of the mic. The fact WWE released Samoa Joe feels so weird considering how good Joe is at everything he does. While he may have more matches behind him than in front of him, Joe still is amazing on the commentary table and has also proven he is great on the mic as an authority figure.
4. Former Undisputed ERA members collide as Bobby Fish teams up with Kushida to take on Diamond Mine
Former Undisputed ERA members, Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong would get a chance to face off against each other as Fish teamed with the NXT Cruiserweight Champion, Kushida to take on Roderick Strong and Tyler Rust of The Diamond Mine with all 4 men putting on a strong match (pun intended). Before the match could start Fish and Kushida attacked The Diamond Mine, getting into the head of Strong and Rust which proved to be effective as Kushida and Fish were able to control Strong and Rust until Strong hit a backbreaker on Kushida to turn the tides.
After a great showing of technical wrestling between all 4 men involved Kushida and Fish would be victorious after Kushida managed to lock the hoverboard lock in on Tyler Rust with Roderick Strong being nowhere to be found after Strong and Fish brawled outside the ring, forcing Rust to tap out.
This was a great example of hitting 2 birds with one stone, not only were NXT able to advance the storyline between Strong and Fish, but they were also able to push Rust and make him a potential future threat for Kushida somewhere down the line.
3. A huge upset win is ruined as LA Knight forces Cameron Grimes to attack Drake Maverick
Last week on NXT, Cameron Grimes would be forced to become LA Knight’s personal butler. Despite being in a weak position, Grimes managed to make LA Knight regret his decision to make Grimes his personal butler has Grimes smiled and laughed every insult off as he managed to humiliate The Million Dollar Champion by sending him into his own pool. Unfortunately, for Grimes, LA Knight would have payback on his mind this week. Early in the night, LA Knight forced Grimes to carry multiple bags for him. Drake Maverick tried to help Grimes but LA Knight told off Drake prompting a match between the two men later in the night.
During his entrance Knight told Cameron Grimes to stop interacting with the crowd, giving more orders to his butler as he told Grimes to hold the Million Dollar Championship up to the crowd at the start of the match. Maverick used this opportunity to attack Knight but Knight managed to turn it around. Knight tried telling Grimes to hold the belt again, allowing Maverick to get back into the match yet again and hit a crossbody on LA Knight for a close nearfall. Late in the match, Knight told Grimes to hold the Million Dollar Championship up yet again, but the third time would prove to be the charm for Drake Maverick as he managed to hit dropkick Knight headfirst into the belt, following it up with a roll-up for a shock upset victory. Grimes warned Maverick to leave the ring after the match but Knight managed to intercept Maverick before he could leave the ring as Knight beat down Maverick, telling Grimes this was his fault as Grimes began to feel guilty for putting Maverick into this position.
A beat down wasn’t enough for The Millian Dollar Champion, as he then instructed Grimes to punch Maverick with Grimes having no choice to punch Maverick as Grimes felt more guilty. This was an amazing segment and continued to help Grimes look like such a sympathetic babyface that fans can get behind. This, without a doubt, is one of my favourite storylines in wrestling right now as LA Knight and Cameron Grimes have great charisma and chemistry together and it has been entertaining to see both men try to get into the head of the other man.
2. Kyle O’Reilly finds his killer instinct against Austin Theory as the way starts to drift apart
During the night Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory were interviewed about Gargano’s loss to the NXT Champion, Karrion Kross last week on NXT. After telling interviewer, McKenzie Mitchell that the loss was tough but Gargano was ok, Kyle O’Reilly walked in and addressed Austin Theory’s comments on Twitter about Kyle O’Reilly as he challenged Theory to a match which Theory accepted. Gargano told Theory that he would be on his own tonight as Papa John left Theory to take on Kyle O’Reilly alone.
Both men would go back and forth in an amazing match. While Theory may not have the best win record, just like Johnny Gargano he manages to look strong in defeat and somehow looks better after every single match. During the match, Wade Barrett talked about his interview with Kyle O’Reilly last week and how Kyle O’Reilly wanted to find his killer instinct. Late in the match, Theory looked to have the match won hitting a TKO in the ring for a close nearfall, frustrating Theory. A furious Theory sent O’Reilly outside the ring. Theory tried using the steps against Kyle but decided not to, however, this would prove to be a mistake for Theory as Kyle found energy out of nowhere and unloaded multiple strikes out his opponent outside the ring as the steel steps made Kyle remember the moment Adam Cole hit a brainbuster on him on the steps. After bringing Theory back into the ring, Kyle hit the flying knee drop on Theory and followed it up with a heel lock with Kyle not letting go of the submission even after the bell was rung.
This was an amazing match between Theory and O’Reilly that made both men look strong. The story of O’Reilly finding the killer instinct he had at NXT TakeOver: Stand And Deliver were great to watch and it is fun to see Kyle go from being a cool, charismatic character to a brutal submission machine. Later in the night, things went downhill for The WAY as the group argued back and forth with Indi Hartwell accidentally mentioning Dexter Lumis’s name. As the group continued to argue. A sad Theory walked away from the group, teasing a potential split between the group as Johnny Gargano continues to look more like a babyface while Candice LeRae continues to be a heel, not allowing Indi to have interactions with Dexter Lumis.
1. Karrion Kross sends a message to Samoa Joe and takes out William Regal to close the show
After Joe called out the NXT Champion earlier in the night, Karrion Kross would get the last laugh, sending a sadistic message to Joe. After the match for the NXT Women’s Championship match between Xia Li and Raquel Gonzalez, Samoa Joe came out and called out the NXT Champion once again but Joe would regret his words as the NXT Champion appeared on the Titantron screen, Kross told Joe that NXT has now different and that Kross now runs NXT, saying that he can do whatever he wants to anyone he wants as he then moved the camera he was holding to reveal NXT General Manager, William Regal knocked out on the floor as the show finished with Karrion Kross driving away as a furious Samoa Joe ran outside to chase Kross.
This was a great series of segments between the two men as well as William Regal. It is very rare for William Regal to be involved inside storylines in NXT, apart from segments where he is announcing a match, so Kross attacking Regal in such a devastating way has some great storyline potential, especially when with William Regal who will be conflicted with the choice of staying professional or sending Joe out to attack Karrion Kross for revenge. Kross also looked good in this segment as he managed to find a little bit of redemption after his terrible debut on Monday Night RAW against Jeff Hardy.
In a Youtube segment, tensions would also continue with Samoa Joe and Pete Dunne, after both men stared at each other after Samoa Joe checked on William Regal in the medical room. While this could be teasing a match somewhere down the line between the two men I would not be surprised with Dunne sides with Joe to taking on Kross due to Kross’ actions against William Regal.
These were my top 5 moments from this week’s edition of the black and yellow brand. What were your top 5 moments from NXT this week and how excited are you to see a match between Samoa Joe and Karrion Kross for the NXT Championship? Let us know in the comment section down below.
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Opinion
Greg DeMarco’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Reaction
It’s the Royal Rumble! A favorite of many fans, the Rumble kicks off the Road To WrestleMania. Greg DeMarco is here with his live reactions to the event!
It’s the Royal Rumble! A favorite of many fans, the Rumble kicks off the Road To WrestleMania. Greg DeMarco is here with his live reactions to the event!
The WWE Royal Rumble is upon us, and while the Men’s Royal Rumble Match isn’t for the World Heavyweight Championship like I suggested, it’s still the most anticipated event of the year.
Why? The Unknown.
That’s right–in this age of the internet (usually incorrectly) telling us everything it possibly can about what is going to happen in the world of wrestling, the Royal Rumble stands out because despite what we’re told (or, more importantly, what we choose to listen to), the event is always full of fun and surprises.
BOLD Predictions for the #RoyalRumble
* Jimmy Uso #1, Jey Uso #2
* GUNTHER wins–twists & turns coming for the Road to WM
* Bron, Melo, Trick, Roxanne, Blair, Tiffany, Briggs are all in the Rumble.
* Rhea Ripley enters the Women's Rumble.
* Becky Lynch tosses Bayley to win.— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 27, 2024
Check out Steven Mitchell’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Results & Review!
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
- They really are driving home the “main event WrestleMania” point this year–strengthens my thought that women will main event Night 1. Triple H would catch a ton of heat if he keeps women out for the third straight year.
- NAOMI! Good to see her back, and the emotional response she had.
- Love Michael Cole calling out Naomi’s time in TNA, and recognizing her as a former Knockouts Champion.
- Entering #3 doesn’t bode well for Bayley. I honestly don’t think she is gonna win.
- JORDYNNE GRACE! I saw the reports earlier today. This is a much bigger deal than Mickie James, because Mickie was a returning legend.
- “TNA HAS A WEAPON!” So glad to have Pat McAfee on the call.
- Honestly, Jordynne Grace belongs in WWE.
Not gonna lie, Jordynne Grace isn't the least bit out of place in WWE. I have a feeling this won't be the last time we see her in a WWE ring.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- Asuka comes in, and they sell the surprise of Bayley. STORYTELLING, people!
- Something tells me when we get Kairi Sane in there, The Kabuki Warriors will eliminate Bayley.
- Ivy Nile enters, and I immediately want to see her go toe-to-toe with Jordynne Grace.
- What if they pulled some crazy sh*t and had Jordynne Grace win???
- Just step through the ropes next time, Bianca.
- When I first saw the C4 clock, I thought I would get tired of it But I am already used to it.
- Here’s Kairi Sane, time to set the plan into motion!
- This crowd does not appear to like Tegan Nox.
- Welp, there goes my idea o Asuka and Kairi eliminating Bayley.
- That was a hell of a way for Jordynne Grace to go out.
I legit forgot Xia Li worked there.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- I think Michael Cole secretly loves to call a Meteora.
- There’s a reason Maxxine Dupri doesn’t wrestle much.
- That tandem Code Red was very Young Buckish. And that’s not a compliment.
- Hair,…gear…this might be the messiest Royal Rumble yet.
- Ah, here comes the winner, Becky Lynch (I am calling Becky eliminates Bayley to win her second Royal Rumble).
- LOVE the scoreboard of time in the Rumble for selected wrestlers.
Why does everyone turn around after tossing someone, not seeing that they held onto the ropes?#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- R-TRUTH?!?! (Funny story, it was Truth’s spot that Nia Jax took in 2019.)
- If you push Mia Yim, she’ll take it further than you could imagine.
- “How is everybody the most athletic person on Earth?” – Pat McAfee
- Surprising that Roxanne Perez, at #27, is the first NXT entrant. I don’t think we’ll be seeing Tiffany Stratton of Blair Davenport since we only have 3 more to come.
- Amazing reaction for Jade Cargill. Give her time, she’s definitely going to be a huge star.
- JUST GIVE HER TIME.
- Seriously, Nia Jax had to help Jade eliminate her–A LOT.
#RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/3N2xKku9sY
— Austin Creed (@AustinCreedWins) January 28, 2024
- Greg Was Wrong: It is indeed Tiffy Time in the Royal Rumble.
- Back to Jade–she is insanely over.
- I know it won’t be, but this should be Tiffany Stratton’s official main roster call-up.
- Liv Morgan returns at #30, and good for Liv. She nearly went wire-to-wire last year.
- Liv Morgan: “Thank you!” Pat McAfee: “No problem.”
- Tiffany Stratton eliminating Roxanne Perez is, to me, an invitation for a match with them on Raw this Monday.
- Still love the scoreboard as Naomi passes an hour.
- The camera is catching a lot of in-ring communications right now.
- And Jade Cargill eliminates my pick to win. Bye Becky.
- Jade Cargill in the final three of the Royal Rumble (with Liv Morgan and Bayley) is huge for her.
- Hell of a debut for Jade Cargill.
- And a huge win for Bayley.
Winner of the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match: Bayley (eliminating Liv Morgan to win)
Winners of the Women's Rumble:
TNA Wrestling – TNA chants at a WWE show is amazing
Jordynne Grace – WWE put her over despite not being their talent, I bet we see her in a WWE ring again
Jad Cargill – That pop was pretty special
Naomi – First night back and goes over 60 mins..— #1 Chairshot Villain (@WrestlngRealist) January 28, 2024
Poor Liv Morgan, runner-up two years in a row. I wonder if this is setting her up for the 2025 Rumble.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
Fatal 4-Way Match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns (champion, with Paul Heyman)
Nothing says "Roman isn't losing" like putting his title match on second.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- Glad to see AJ Styles got his tights back. Pants AJ Styles (but still with the football gloves) was not working. Not just bring the beard back to your face Allen–the think beard also ain’t working.
What would it cost me to have @SamanthaTheBomb announce "ROMAN…REIGNS!" in the same way she used to announce Chelsea Green? Because I might pay it. #RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- Pat McAfee campaigning for Roman Reigns to be given at least a 26% chance is amazing.
- Say what you want about LA Knight, he’s a damn star and totally belongs in this match.
- Roman completely sandbagged Randy on the table drop. I don’t think it was on purpose, but he definitely didn’t jump.
- Roman Reigns is very much like Gunther in that he does the simple things SO WELL, like a jumping clothesline. That’s how you do it.
- Yes, I compared Roman Reigns to Gunther. Don’t @ me, I’m right.
Roman Reigns doesn't get enough credit for how he sells his ass off for his opponents.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- RKO City, Bitch.
- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand here’s Solo! (At some point, Solo will get tired of saving Roman’s ass.)
- Solo ’bout to go through that barricade.
- Solo indeed went through that barricade.
Roman waiting around for AJ's Phenomenal Forearm like he's in a Young Bucks match.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- Yes, we had the Solo interference mid-match, but honestly in the end Roman won that clean.
Winner, #ANDSTILL your Undisputed WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns
WWE United States Championship: Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (champion)
- Kevin Owens wearing Zubaz shorts in the Performance Center fight makes me very happy.
- Logan Paul talking about a full time run, and now he’s putting on size.
- Logan’s headband didn’t list very long.
- I honestly hate it when modern-day wrestlers bust out a crotch chop.
- If you were watching the Royal Rumble and didn’t know who Logan Paul was, you’d just assume he was a pro wrestler. That says everything you need to know about how good he is at this.
- ANOTHER crotch chop. Now we’re at 2 too many.
The internet criticizes LA Knight for being a rip-off artist, when Kevin Owens does Crotch Chops and Stunners.#RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- Cue the “Better Buckshot Than Hangman” tweets. But they might be right.
- I love the idea of a Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Grayson Waller stable.
- C’mon, there’s NO WAY Ryan Tran could see the knucks on Kevin Owens’ hand given his placement. It’s the little things.
- Finish here tells me we’ll see KO vs. Logan Paul again. I’d guess on TV, if not in Australia.
Winner by disqualification, #ANDSTILL WWE United States Champion: Logan Paul
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
- Jey Uso coming at #1 was expected thanks to the internet reports. But I still think Jimmy should be #1 and Jey #2, for the reaction shots on Jimmy.
- Grayson Waller talking himself to the ring is perfect.
- “No Yeet!” Grayson is a brilliant performer. I’d make a Roddy Piper comparison here, but y’all would get at mad at me.
- Good to have Andrade back in WWE. Great reaction for him when the mask came off.
Now that is a look…#Andrade #RoyalRumble
— #1 Chairshot Villain (@WrestlngRealist) January 28, 2024
- SmackDown superstar Carmelo Hayes! I really really really hope Trick is also in this match, just for the chants.
- Melo pointed to the sign, C’mon, man.
- Do you send Andrade to Smackdown, or do you send him to Raw and let him do his own thing?
- Oh goody, Karrion Kross is here. Yay.
- (Yes, that’s sarcasm you read.)
- Dominik Mysterio is so good. Give him time, he’s going to be a huge star.
Sadly, this did not happen. #RoyalRumble https://t.co/ABNnP5D8Oq
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- The Royal Rumble was a great place for the Apple Spot.
- Here comes Bob Lashley–please just eliminate Karrion Kross.
- Lashley wearing the WrestleMania white gear more than 2 months early.
- Austin Theory still gets his concussion effect entrance, despite it being the Rumble.
- What if–hear me out now–Finn Balor wins the Royal Rumble to get the shot at Seth Rollins, and Priest uses his briefcase to make that match a triple threat at ‘Mania?
- I know he didn’t, but it sure looked like Jimmy was swerving while he drives in that interaction with Gunther.
- Kofi did tell us the Rumble Magic wasn’t happening anymore.
- Give me Ivar vs Gunther!
- Bron Breakker is a star. It’s inevitable.
- Of course Omos would be in the Rumble. Good to see MVP on my TV as well.
- “I didn’t know humans came that big!” – Pat McAfee
- I half think Pat McAfee didn’t know he was entering the Rumble.
- Nice moment for Bron Breakker eliminating Omos. WrestleMania match?
- R-Truth trying to get Dominik (Tom or Nick?) Mysterio to tag him in is brilliant.
- DOM MADE THE TAG!!!
- “And now R-Truth is the legal man.” – thank you Michael Cole.
- Michael Cole delivers multiple TNA references tonight, along with a Dolph Ziggler reference. God Bless Michael Cole.
- Imagine for a second that this was CM Punk’s actual WWE return.
- The reaction to Drew McIntyre’s entrance is a reminder that they don’t actually need him.
- Sami Zayn enters at #30, also known as “Not The Rock.”
Smackdown brand very well represented in this Final 4. (And the Final 6 as well.) #RoyalRumble
— Big Daddy Greg 🤡 (@gregdemarco44) January 28, 2024
- In the ring, Drew McIntyre is amazing. Just keep the microphone away from him. (And stop the damn counting!)
- And there goes my choice for the Men’s Rumble!
- Love having both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in the press boxes watching to see who wins.
- Punk kinda looks like Chris Jericho in there. Seriously.
- Between Punk and Cody, Cody is the right choice. I really don’t want to watch Punk right now–he needs to hit the cardio, and hard. Given Seth Rollins’ injury and Punk’s conditioning, WWE would be smart to make the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40 a multi-man match.
Winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble: Cody Rhodes
Overall thoughts on the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble
For at least the second straight year, the Men’s Royal Rumble Match was kinda disappointing. Not the result–that’s fine. But the match itself. It just wasn’t nearly as exciting as the Women’s. Of the four matches, I would place it 4th in terms of enjoyment.
Great moments for both Bayley and Cody Rhodes. Logan Paul continually shows that he deserves to be considered a pro wrestler, not a celebrity who is wrestling. Pat McAfee is a joy on commentary. Jordynne Grace is a WWE Superstar, regardless of what company she is signed to. Bron Breakker is a star.CM Punk is very out of shape. Cody Rhodes is about to become THE guy, and he deserves it.
Overall I give the event a thumbs up, but they have to do something about the Men’s Royal Rumble Match moving forward.
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Opinion
WWE Raw Heads To Netflix: What Does It Mean?
Monumental news drops as WWE RAW is moving to Netflix. Is it truly a game changing move? Greg DeMarco analyzes this shift for the TV wrestling business.
Monumental news drops as WWE RAW is moving to Netflix. Is it truly a game changing move? Greg DeMarco analyzes this shift for the TV wrestling business.
Being a wee little kid in the 80s, I am “lucky enough” to remember having 3 TV channels, and my dad explaining what an 8-track is, how shocked I was when I say a laser disc for the first time, when I bought a 6 CD changer, installed my own car stereo, and all the way up to the fact that I have now been watching WWE pay-per-view/premium live events on the WWE Network and Peacock for 10 years. Hell, in the same month (February 2014) I signed up for the WWE Network, cut the cord to drop cable and got Sling TV. I have since moved onto YouTube TV which is highly recommended.
Over the last two years the NFL has put Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, simulcast to various streaming services, and less than 2 weeks ago put a playoff game exclusively on streaming when a Wildcard Weekend showdown between the Chiefs and Dolphins was only shown on Peacock.
And now it’s fully permeated into pro wrestling.
WWE and AEW are both in the midst of a very important time on the business side, with all of their TV rights up for grabs. The first domino fell when SmackDown On FOX became SmackDown on USA Network, and soon after we learned that WWE NXT was moving to broadcast television and joining The CW (which is also rebranding, but just to CW).
The AEW suite of programming that includes Collision, Rampage, and their most successful show Dynamite is up for renewal with Warner Bros/Discovery, and Tony Khan has been optimistic about the relationship and potentially an increase in rights fees.
That brings us to Tuesday morning, and the likely groundbreaking WWE announcement that Raw is moving to Netflix, starting in January 2025. Triple H tweeted that they’re changing the game, and TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro (who knows a thing or two about shifts in media consumption) used the word “transformative” in his statement, and I really think he couldn’t be more right.
But what does it all mean?
Wrestling Remains A Strong Media Product
I have been claiming this for over a year now. As many online will cite a decline in TV viewership for both WWE and AEW, the TV product has been a strong value to networks. Even in dropping SmackDown, FOX themselves said they didn’t pump enough resources into the show, and that the advertising return wasn’t what they wanted. That doesn’t mean the product (TV value, we’re not talking about creative here) isn’t strong. It’s so strong that USA Network picked up SmackDown for $280 million per year, giving WWE an increase over the FOX deal. CW is paying $20-$25 million annually for NXT, and now Netflix is paying $500 million for RAW.
Why? Because wrestling isn’t just a strong media product, it’s consistent. And that is key.
Look at this quote from Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria:
“Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”
Now cross reference that with a comment from CW President Dennis Miller from back when the CW/NXT deal was announced:
“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand into the CW Sports portfolio as they play an integral role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round.”
What do those statements have in common? The year-round, 52-week nature of wrestling programming. It’s an unbeatable value for networks. It’s cheaper than a deal with a major sports league, and it’s not finite. Wrestling joins news, talk, and sports talk as the only year-round programming available to networks. And WWE and AEW have shows that essentially always land in the Top 5 after you factor out live sports. You can’t beat it.
What Does This Mean for Netflix?
Don’t get it twisted, this is also a huge leap for Netflix. Prior to the WWE Raw deal, Netflix has only experimented with live events, streaming the live Chris Rock “Selective Outrage” special, and showing The Netflix Cup live (a golf event featuring athletes from their F1 series “Drive To Survive” and their golf series “Full Swing).
WWE is the perfect partner for Netflix as it gets into live programming. It’s sports entertainment: sports like programming (which Netflix has done) that focuses on storytelling (which Netflix has obviously done). And no one does it better than WWE. It’s essentially plug-and-play for Netflix, the perfect solution for their live programming aspirations.
The perfect solution that they were willing to pay $5 billion for.
What Does This Mean for AEW?
The biggest risk to an AEW renewal with Warner Bros Discovery was WBD picking up WWE Raw–and that risk has been eliminated by Netflix. Don’t discount that fact–Netflix did Tony Khan a huge favor by throwing $500 million per at WWE. The path is clear for AEW to remain on the Turner networks.
But at what price?
I know I usually write as if I have all the answers, but I have zero idea either way on this one. WBD no longer has any other options if it wants to keep wrestling (except for TNA, who recently expressed a desire to be on a bigger network), and AEW (at least, Dynamite) is a weekly Top 5 program for them on Wednesdays, on cable.
On the other hand, AEW doesn’t exactly have another network begging for their services. The reason WWE could get a yearly increase for Raw, SmackDown, and NXT is because it was truly a bidding war. Unless Tony Khan gets another network involved, any threat of walking away from a deal doesn’t really hold water.
So if I were a betting man (and who would ever bet on this) I would expect an announcement of a renewal for AEW and WBD relatively soon. We may not know the terms of the deal, I will take a shot in the dark and say that AEW gets a small increase (not the “nearly double” that had been reported last year).
Regardless of the increase (or not), given AEW’s recent attendance challenges, this likely renewal would have to be viewed as a win for the company.
Personally, this is simply an amazing time to be a fan. We’ve seen WWE go from one live TV show per week with Monday Night Raw, through the Monday Night Wars, the addition of SmackDown and later NXT, to being this global juggernaut that is commanding half-a-billion dollars per year for Raw. I also think this makes Raw the flagship once again. All of this comes after Vince McMahon is largely out of power, Triple H has taken over creative (and holds a pretty good success rate so far), and the company was sold to Endeavor, and merged with the UFC as a business entity under the TKO banner.
If you know me, you know I am a huge follower of the business side of the wrestling business. I often care less about WHAT wrestling companies do, but HOW they do it. I have always gravitated towards that, since middle school. And for the past near 24 months, I have been like a kid in a candy store.
The Peacock deal for the WWE Network runs out in 2026, right? The fun never stops!
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