Opinion

The Coldest Reality: It’s A Business First

Published

8 years ago

December 29, 2017

Much like any sport, wrestling’s ultimate intent is to entertain the fans. The goal of ‘sports entertainment’ is to provide wonderful storylines and ensure the paying customer goes home fairly happy. Happiness is relative of course, as we aren’t ensured that the fan favorites will always walk away victorious, as the struggle between good and bad has ups and downs and goes through storyline progression. In a nutshell, their goal is to put on a show. However, as has been seen and discussed lately, the crowds at many events, for example, Smackdown Live shows, appear small. This has been a surprising turn of events because, prior to the superstar shakeup, Smackdown Live was seen as the better program. It was written better, and those involved also had compelling storylines that toed the line between fantasy and reality. Attendance is never announced during these shows, but with the reduced crowds what money is being generated during these events? And if the events have smaller crowds, the volume of merchandise sold at the concession stands is also affected.

One argument is that the decline in attendance at some events is because the market is saturated with a number of options, leaving fans with alternatives to attending Smackdown Live. Over the next few months, we will see ratings for WWE, Raw, in particular, decline. Why is that? The primary reason is they are in direct competition with the NFL’s Monday Night Football. There could be a direct correlation between this anticipated decline and why The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose) have been reunited on Raw, as they were among the most popular factions in the company’s history. While a reincarnation isn’t usually as successful as the original, the nostalgia that the group brings has to be something the company is counting on to help them bring in audiences. Does it guarantee success? Not necessarily, but while the company has made recent cuts to the development of Network content, it doesn’t cost them any money to reassemble a faction that was hugely popular and generated some income.

Right now, they are stacked with a talent roster that, from top to bottom, should ensure segments are effective and money is generated. As fans, we often invest so much into the storylines and characters because we want to see the story develop in a way that is meaningful to us. However, while we are focused on that, there is a tendency to lose focus on the ultimate goal of the promotion, and that is to make money. This isn’t anything fans don’t already know, but it isn’t a primary focus when we watch the program. When it comes to movies, whether we know what the reviews are ahead of time or not, we often commit ourselves to paying whatever the cost is for a feature film in a theatre and decide afterwards whether we want to ask for our money back. When it comes to a WWE program, asking for your money back because you aren’t satisfied with the result is an exercise in futility. A fan that decides to run into the ring gets pummeled because that was the risk they took, and fans that purchase the monthly subscription to the WWE network run the risk of being pummelled with disappointment.

WWE strives to be good, like working with organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which raises funds for breast cancer research and they started Connor’s Cure to raise money for sick children, but that doesn’t negate the fact that the increased exposure gained through philanthropic efforts can stimulate interest and revenue, and that money is reinvested into the product to help build the brand and is dispersed within the business.

The company has clearly been committed to bringing in quality performers, road agents, trainers, plus experienced office personnel that are there to help build something special and impact the business. However, if these men and women aren’t helping make the company better by developing talent, one has to wonder if it hurts the company’s bottom line. One of the most prominent departments in the company is their creative staff, as that is where the storylines are scripted which the talent have to carry out, and in turn, fans decide whether to invest their time and money in them or not.

Look at the recent departure of Jimmy Jacobs, who left Ring of Honor to join WWE’s creative team about three years ago: was it a cost-cutting measure? It depends on who is telling the story, and who is listening. The common belief is that a picture Jacobs took with members of the Bullet Club led to his termination, representing a ‘last straw’. However, having Jacobs associate with members of the Bullet Club costing the company money? That is easy to scoff at, considering pictures were posted to social media by Kevin Owens of he and Adam Cole with their respective titles (Cole was the Ring of Honor world champion at the time). Not to mention both Owens and Sami Zayn have appeared on the Young Bucks’ ‘Being the Elite’ Youtube series in recent months. One theory would be that a connection is made informally between two promotions isn’t a necessarily a negative, and company could have thought at the time of Owens’ posting, “how can this monetarily benefit the business?” As it turns out, less than a year after that photo was taken Cole is now with WWE as part of their NXT brand. It ultimately worked out for all parties.

The harsh reality here is that much like any business WWE’s purpose is to make money. Their philanthropic and charitable work benefits society at large, and aids public relations, but if they weren’t a global entity drawing in as much money as they do, they wouldn’t be doing as much outreach as they are. Meanwhile, this past year there have been cost-cutting measures in areas of production such as cutting out pyrotechnics, and the aforementioned cancellation of programs on the WWE Network that cost a lot to produce. The company’s bottom line is to ensure that they remain on the plus side at the end of each quarter of the year–that’s business. They definitely aren’t treading water, and there is no suggestion that they are on the verge of having to sell assets, but a company that has made huge gains over the years won’t take any chance of taking steps backward.

John Cena Roman Reigns WWE Business

It was scoffed at, but at the time of his departure from WWE, Ryback mentioned that in the promotion there existed tiered payment for talent. Main event stars like John Cena, Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens and AJ Styles would often receive greater pay than those lower on the card. From the company’s perspective, they will likely consider all variables like merchandise sales, fan engagement on social media and elsewhere, and overall appeal to help determine how they will pay their talent. This creates a problem for those tied to a specific ‘division,’ such as the Cruiserweights and even the women. In both instances, it appears that while greater opportunity and exposure have been offered in recent years that doesn’t necessarily result in greater earning for these particular groups. While we may have seen the cruiserweights and women featured in main events on Raw, does that mean they earn more for a given week depending on the rating for that segment? That seems unlikely, and regardless, there’s no assurance that WWE will commit to putting them in that spot over the long haul, unfortunately.

Another problem is that the pursuit of revenue can lead to a short-term business focus, rather than a making a longer-term investment in anticipation of future profits, like committing time and effort into the promotion of another talent to see if a successful segment will result in a long-term return. Fans will recall that Rey Mysterio’s merchandise did very well, and the bright colors and heroic nature of the character helped draw money in, and ultimately benefited the company. So perhaps Kalisto could generate a return through merchandise sales; maybe his own bright colours, his similarity to Rey Mysterio, could be enough for fans to support him on a weekly basis and lead to his drawing money. The harsh nature of the business is that if talent aren’t generating money for WWE, what purpose do the ultimately serve? It’s clear that not every man or woman can be a focal point. However, when they receive a push that is when they hope that their screen time will result in leaving a greater impression on the fans, which ultimately means more money for the business.

Neville WWE Business

Recent stories have surfaced about Neville being upset over not being included in the Wrestlemania DVD, and that he voiced his displeasure about this because it meant he did not earn as much money as he could. As much as WWE wants to earn as much as possible and build the product, the talent wants to earn as much as possible without having to take unnecessary risks to retain their jobs. Where does this put everyone? From the company’s perspective, they can and should take some risks given how big a roster they have, and see if they can generate revenue in an area that they could have overlooked.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @TheMarcMadison and Instagram @themarcmadison

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Feel Free to check out my blog The Wrestling News Hub Magazine

The Wrestling News Hub Magazine Podcast to include interviews with ROH top prospect tournament entrant, Curt Stallion, Sebastian Suave, Ring of Honor’s Frankie Kazarian, “All Good” Anthony Greene, ‘The Green Machine’ Mike Orlando, Josh Briggs, ROH top prospect finalist John Skyler and current rising Ring of Honor star Flip Gordon.

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Opinion

DeMarco: Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, or Jim Cornette?

Greg DeMarco evaluates a $10 million dollar question (literally) – who would you choose if you were starting a new wrestling company?

Published

2 months ago

November 21, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Greg DeMarco evaluates a $10 million dollar question (literally) – who would you choose if you were starting a new wrestling company?

Social media has flipped the script on pro wrestling. The fans have more power than ever before—booking is done in real time, buzz is built or buried in seconds, and no one waits until Monday to cut a promo anymore.

Social media is also a place where ideas are shared and discussion takes place. The basis for this article was a question posted on social media, using this image:

It’s the Ten Million Dollar Question: If you are handed $10 million to start a wrestling company, and you have to pick one of the following as your partner, who do you pick? Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, or Jim Cornette.

Ten Million Dollars?

Ten million dollars sounds like a lot—until you start pricing out weekly production, talent contracts, live event logistics, licensing, digital, and TV. That money will go fast when you realize you’re competing with billion-dollar conglomerates that can lose money just to win the culture war. To truly break through in today’s wrestling economy, $10 million is your entry fee, not your war chest.

You do have options, such as Roku TV (similar to the NWA), YouTube, and more. This should ABSOLUTELY factor into your decision–distribution is key. And all three options do have some connection, and that needs to be considered.

You already know the options…

You’re reading this article, so you already know all about Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, and Jim Cornette.

Eric Bischoff broke all the rules—and made it work. He launched Monday Nitro, flipped the industry upside down with the nWo, and forced Vince McMahon to innovate. Bischoff turned WCW into a legit number one brand and changed the entire TV presentation of wrestling forever. Without him, do we have the Attitude Era? There’s no way to be certain.

Vince Russo brought the chaos—and a whole lot of ratings. He gave us Crash TV, blurred the lines between fiction and reality, and wasn’t afraid to throw the whole format into a blender. While the long-term storytelling often suffered, the shock factor he brought drove eyeballs and made every segment feel like “can’t miss” television. But you can argue that, without Eric Bischoff, there’s no Vince Russo.

Jim Cornette is wrestling tradition personified. He’s protected the business with his life, shaped generations of talent behind the scenes, and built up territories when no one else could. Cornette’s strength lies in his psychology, heat-building, and his unapologetic belief in what wrestling should be—even when the industry moves past it. Does that play if you’re starting a brand new company in 2025? In my opinion, the jury is still out.

But who do you choose?

To be fair, you can’t just pick someone and go. You need to pick someone who aligns with your vision.

If you’re trying to focus on “old school” and nostalgia, Jim Cornette is your guy.
If you plan to build on shock value, your product going viral, and outlandish reactions, you pick Vince Russo.
If you think distribution is important, and need to get your product out there, you choose Eric Bischoff.

For me? I am a business guy. It’s called “the wrestling business,” and your $10 million investment needs to see a return.

I choose Eric Bischoff.

Many of you will scoff at this, thinking Jim Cornette was the right choice. He has a brilliant mind, and he has a following to help get you started. Hell, its enough for me to second-guess myself. Cornette is a close second. Vince Russo? Not a fan in this scenario.

But my perspective is different. I am a wresting promoter–I book and promote successful wrestling events. Our biggest weakness? Distribution. Among the three options, Eric Bischoff is far stronger.

How do you leverage Eric Bischoff?

Remember how the table was set – you’re given $10 million dollars to start a wrestling company. THAT is the hook. To me, that sounds like two things: a wrestling promotion AND a reality show. Even if the wrestling portion is on a streaming platform, or our own distribution like YouTube–the behind the scenes content is what Eric can start shopping. That can give us more resources in terms of budget and production. He also has the connection to Conrad Thompson, which helps with the online community.

If Bischoff gets us a distribution deal, even if it’s for the reality show portion, we have more budget for talent. Two people I can hire? Jim Cornette and Vince Russo. They are reality show GOLD.

Do I have to pay Eric Bischoff? Sure, but he’s not a “salary guy.” You want to motivate Eric Bischoff to perform, appeal to his competitive side. Give him a piece of the business–when the business grows, so does his piece. That’s one of the biggest advantages to having the former head of WCW.

Welcome to the team, Eric! Now let’s to get ourselves a deal!

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Opinion

Greg DeMarco’s WWE SummerSlam 2025 Preview, Betting Odds, & Predictions

Are you ready for WWE SummerSlam? Greg DeMarco makes sure are with his official preview & predictions!

Published

6 months ago

August 2, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Are you ready for WWE SummerSlam? Greg DeMarco makes sure are with his official preview & predictions!

August 2–3, 2025 • MetLife Stadium

WWE is turning SummerSlam into the biggest blockbuster of the summer with a two‑night extravaganza, packing in title bouts, and celebrity surprise appearances. Let’s dive into the matches, the action that led us here, and the betting lines that tell us who the bookies think bets on.

And of course, the pièce de résistance, my predictions done in true form: Who Should Win? Who Will Win?

And as an added bonus, PC Tunney has sent along his picks, which will be included with each match!

WWE SummerSlam 2025 – Night 1 – Saturday, August 2

World Heavyweight Championship – CM Punk vs. Gunther (c)

Odds: CM Punk (−180), Gunther (+140)
Punk is favored at about a 64% win probability

Punk earned his shot in a gauntlet match, but remember that he came in last to beat a man in Bron Breakker who came in first. Regardless, the tension has been simmering ever since. Gunther’s technical dominance will test Punk’s recklessness, making this a high-stakes and high strikes match. Expect close calls, but if Punk pulls this off, he reestablishes himself at the very top of WWE’s hierarchy (although he doesn’t need it).

Who Should Win: Gunther
Who Will Win: Gunther

Look, I know CM Punk is the sentimental pick to win, but Gunther NEEDS to win here. Otherwise, what is he? Gunther is the type of wrestler whose character thrives on wins and losses, whereas CM Punk is a made guy.

PC Tunney’s pick: “CM Punk – If Seth isn’t hurt we likely see a cash in. I’ll stick with he’s hurt and Punk captures gold.”

Roman Reigns & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

Odds: Reigns & Uso (−1500), Breakker & Reed (+600)
Roman & Jey are favored at about a 94% win probability

The Bloodline team is an iron-clad force, backed by legacy and brutal efficiency. Breakker and Reed bring raw power and youthful fury, aiming to shock the world. This will hinge on teamwork vs. dominance—do the underdogs coordinate enough to upset the odds? The wildcard in all of this is the WWE’s efforts to build Heyman’s duo, and establish Bron Breakker as a leader, and a star for the new generation. Does that swing the booking? I think it might.

Who Should Win: Roman Reigns & Jey Uso
Who Will Win: Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

Given the betting odds, it might actually be worth dropping a few bucks on this one (I won’t). I don’t think Seth Rollins appears here, but might we see a new member? I think we could. As far as my pick of Breakker & Reed, I’ll go a step further: Bron Breakker pins Roman Reigns. It won’t be clean, but it’ll be forever etched in history.

PC Tunney’s pick: “Roman & Jey – I don’t see Roman losing much.”

Randy Orton & Jelly Roll vs. Drew McIntyre & Logan Paul

Odds: Orton & Jelly Roll (−500), McIntyre & Paul (+300)
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll are favored at about an 83% win probability

Jelly Roll’s wrestling debut has added real unpredictability, while Orton’s veteran savvy balances McIntyre’s muscle and Paul’s sheen. Expect social‑media chaos with a strong element of violencem This match plays to spectacle far more than to wrestling acumen.

Who Should Win: Randy Orton & Jelly Roll
Who Will Win: Randy Orton & Jelly Roll

Don’t overthink this one. Play it safe, go with the babyface celebrity.

PC Tunney’s pick: Orton & Jelly Roll – RK… Roll

WWE Women’s Championship – Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Odds: Jade Cargill (−600), Tiffany Stratton (+350)
Jade is favored at about an 86% win probability

Cargill has steamrolled challengers on her way to this pinnacle moment, while Stratton has proven she can hang with the elite (get it?). Will Stratton’s athleticism and swagger crack Cargill’s aura—or will Jade’s debutante dominance silence the critics?

Who Should Win: Tiffany Stratton
Who Will Win: Tiffany Stratton

I’m probably stupid, but I don’t think we’re done with Tiffany Stratton as WWE Women’s Champion just yet. Maybe Bianca Belair costs Jade, maybe it’s someone else.

Actually, I’m positive I’m wrong.

PC Tunney’s pick: Jade Cargill – Time to see what Jade’s got!

See, even Tunney knows that I’m wrong!

The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez) (c) vs. Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Odds: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss (–400), Judgment Day (+400)

Charlotte & Alexa are an 88% favorite to win here

Rodriguez and Perez have held the titles well through their title defenses, but Charlotte and Alexa bring star power, chemistry and a storyline deeply rooted in reluctant alliances. If Flair & Bliss click at the right moment, they could steamroll Judgment Day’s dominance. But if the champions have hidden synergy? This could be their breakout moment.

Who Should Win: Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez
Who Will Win: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss

It makes WAY more sense for Roxanne & Raquel to retain, but the star power and fan-pleasing title change has to be hard for WWE to pass up. That’s okay, The Judgment Day duo can regain the titles in a TV match that leads to the inevitable split for Flair and Bliss.

PC Tunney’s pick: Charlotte & Alexa – I want to see this happen, I really want to lol

I have no clue why!

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross – Singles Match

Odds: Sami Zayn (–250), Karrion Kross (+180)
Zayn is favored with a 71% win percentage.

Zayn’s momentum has been on a roller coaster ride for, well basically his entire WWE career. Fueled by emotional storytelling and that Helluva Kick finishing move he’s perfected over years. Kross is the physical menace—the kind of throwback monster heel who wants to bury Zayn’s momentum once and for all.

Who Should Win: Sami Zayn
Who Will Win: Sami Zayn

Based on everything I say, you’d think I wasn’t a Karrion Kross fan…when in actuality I’m a huge fan of the performer. But the character stinks, in my opinion, anyway. He’s a legitimate bad ass, and should be featured as one. Sami Zayn, on the other hand, is beloved by many, and should be headed to a mega push on The Road To WrestleMania 42. And a win here only makes sense.

PC Tunney’s pick: Karrion Kross – “Kross was right.”

WWE SummerSlam 2025 – Night 2 – Sunday, August 3

Street Fight for the Undisputed WWE Championship – John Cena (c) vs. Cody Rhodes

Odds: Cody Rhodes (−300), John Cena (+200)
Cody expected to regain the WWE’s top title at a win probability of 75%

This is the culmination of years: WrestleMania rematch, street fight rules, and Cena’s impending WWE retirement looming. Cody is favored to reclaim the title, but Cena’s legacy and weaponized veteran instincts make this a volatile rematch. But it IS A rematch. Does Cody’s movie role have any impact on the booking? Recent WWE direction tells me no.

Who Should Win: John Cena
Who Will Win: Cody Rhodes

Seth Rollins cashing in on John Cena (after he wins) here would be golden, but I’m not betting on it. Instead, go with what we know: LOLCODYWINS.

PC Tunney’s pick: Seth Rollins – Another heist of epic proportions!!!

Hell yeah, Tunney. Hell yeah.

Intercontinental Championship – AJ Styles vs. Dominik Mysterio (c)

Odds: Dominik (−200), Styles (+150)
Mysterio expected to retain at 67%

Styles brings experience, speed and flash, but Dominik has equally mastered psychological warfare and home‑field advantage. Expect a tactical back‑and‑forth, with Dominik banking on interference and lineage to stay gold.

Who Should Win: AJ Styles
Who Will Win: Dominik Mysterio

I love the idea of Dominik Mysterio winning the AAA Mega Championship at TripleMania, and carrying that belt both in Mexico and on WWE Monday Night Raw. And I think that does happen. So why does he need the Intercontinental Championship if that’s the direction?

He doesn’t. But WWE likely wants to see him draped in gold, and having him hold both accomplishes just that.

PC Tunney’s pick: Dominik Mysterio – Looking forward to this match most. These two should steal night two.

Triple Threat Match for the Women’s World Championship – Naomi (c) vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky

Odds: Naomi (−1500), Rhea Ripley (+400), Iyo Sky (+750)
Naomi is a ….94% favorite to win? Seems crazy!

Naomi’s cash‑in and reign have been meteoric, but Sky and Ripley are hungry competitors who revitalized the division. This triple threat has finishers flying every which way—can Naomi dodge chaos and retain against the charging challengers? Or Ripley simply too popular to keep the title off of?

Who Should Win: Naomi
Who Will Win: Rhea Ripley

In an ideal world, this match closes Night 1. Of course, that ain’t happening, as it sits on the card for Night 2. It makes ZERO sense to take the belt off of Naomi so fast, but I think we are going to start seeing LOLRHEAWINS become a thing very soon.

PC Tunney’s pick: Naomi – Why cash in just to lose so soon?

Steel Cage Match for the United States Championship – Solo Sikoa (c) vs. Jacob Fatu

Odds: Solo Sikoa (−140), Jacob Fatu (+100)
Solo Sikoa sits as a 58.3% favorite to retain, the closest match odds of the weekend.

This grudge match in a cage is about revenge, incarceration-style brutality, and salvaging legacy. Fatu’s unpredictability (and recent arrest angle) ups the danger—so does Solo’s Bloodline backing and cunning brutality. The steel cage isn’t only meant to keep people out, it’s meant to be a weapon.

Which is good, because you know it ain’t keeping people out.

Who Should Win: Soli Sikoa
Who Will Win: Solo Sikoa

Jakob Fatu is meant for more than this program, and as we march into 2026, he will likely be headed down that road. But first, we need to see Solo and his MFTs victorious in a steel cage? Why? So they can ready San Diego, and the world, for the next chapter if Bloodline War Games!

PC Tunney’s pick: Solo Sikoa – Jacob should be moving on to bigger title scenes sooner than later.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship – Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria

Odds: Lyra Valkyria (−200), Becky Lynch (+150)
Valkyria favored to regain the title with a 66.7% edge

Becky is the veteran queen, Valkyria is the rising star hungry to dethrone her. Their recent matches have been technical showcases—this time divisional prestige, animosity and payback are dialing things even higher.

Who Should Win: Becky Lynch
Who Will Win: Lyra Valkyria

I am really torn on this one–at least on the “Who Will Win?” side. Personally, I don’t see the star power in Lyra that others do. Her promos still aren’t there, and let’s be honest. Is she all that much better than released stars like Dakota Kai and Shayna Baszler?

PC Tunney’s pick: Lyra Valkyria – Because Bayley.

TLC (Tables, Ladders, & Chairs) for the WWE Tag Team Championships – Wyatt Sicks (c) vs. Andrade & Rey Fenix vs. Fraxiom vs. DIY vs. Street Profits vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Odds: Andrade & Rey Fenix (+130 favorite, ~43.5%), Wyatt Sicks (+150), Fraxiom (+250), DIY (+500), Street Profits (+700), MCMG (+1000)
Andrade & Fenix are (surprisingly) at 43% favorite to win here.

This six‑team TLC match is WWE admitting a mistake by spotlighting its tag division now. Expect insanity—and the champions have to survive a flurry of stunts if they want to protect the belts at the elite level.

Who Should Win: The Wyatt Sicks
Who Will Win: The Wyatt Sicks

There really is no reason to move the tag titles here… instead this is all about spectacle. This match likely opens up Night 2, and it will deliver. But I see no reason why Joe Gacy & Dexter Lumis won’t retain.

PC Tunney’s pick: Street Profits – This match should be a highlight of the weekend.

Final Thoughts for WWE SummerSlam 2025

SummerSlam 2025 is shaping up as a historic two-night WWE spectacle where legacy meets fresh blood, celebrity meets spectacle, and titles are on the line in every direction. The odds give us a blueprint of what the bookies believe—but wrestling is scripted to take us on a roller coaster ride of surprises. Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride!