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WWE’s Private Jet Listed for Sale at $10.5 Million

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:28:29 -0400

WWE is getting ready to say goodbye to one of its most recognizable travel assets. The company's 2008 Bombardier Global 5000 private jet has officially been listed for sale.

Over the years, the jet has appeared in countless behind-the-scenes videos, documentaries, and social media posts. Fans have often seen Superstars and company executives using it to travel to major shows and business events.

Thanks to its recent refurbishment, the aircraft is still in excellent shape. That could make it an attractive option for anyone seeking a luxury, long-range private jet with modern features.

Features included with WWE's private jet The asking price of the jet is $10.495 million. It is currently based in White Plains, New York, and received a major refurbishment from Bombardier in December 2023. WWE hasn't explained why it is selling the plane.

According to the listing, the jet can carry up to 13 passengers and comes with several premium upgrades. These include Starlink and Jetwave internet, an updated cabin system, improved cockpit displays, and advanced flight features like HUD, EVS, and SVS.

The aircraft has reportedly been operated by two U.S. owners under Part 91 regulations. It has no reported damage history and is fully up to date on maintenance.

The aircraft description says:

"Hagerty Jet Group is proud to present this 2008 model Bombardier Global 5000 s/n 9245 for sale on behalf of WWE Jet Services. It is one of the most turnkey large-cabin opportunities on the market. Completely refurbished by Bombardier's Tucson facility in December 2023 with all new designer paint, interior."

The listing also says that all WWE branding and logos will be removed before the sale is completed. So far, WWE hasn't said whether it plans to replace the jet or use a different travel setup for executives and talent.

Jeff Jarrett Sympathizes With Triple H's Position As Head Of WWE Creative

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:26:51 -0400

As Jeff Jarrett put it best: "Servant leadership isn't easy." So, he gives recognition where it matters most. And that's towards WWE's Head of Creative and Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque. When asked how Triple H fares in his ascent from being a former in-ring talent to his now high pressure roles backstage, Jarrett thinks the WWE Hall of Famer is doing a remarkable job.

"Fantastic," the TNA and WWE Hall of Famer said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "Because I don't know who he has to answer to. I mean, I truly don't know – does he have to make fill in the blank happy today...Look, when you're in that seat, you always got to appease a top talent, a top babyface, a top heel...that's part of the game. But at the end of the day, you still got the stick. Paul's got how many people above him with bigger sticks? That ain't easy...You don't get groomed by the chairman himself and not walk away."

Following the retirement of his father-in-law and former Chairman and CEO of WWE Vince McMahon, Levesque is just days away from celebrating four years of calling the creative shots in WWE. During an interview with Cody Rhodes on "What Do You Wanna Talk About," "The Game" revealed that while he's learned how to stand firm in this position, the hardest part still is taking accountability for decisions that aren't fully his own.

credit "The Ariel Helwani Show" Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Details On Club WWE, Annual Membership Costs $99

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:19:42 -0400

WWE fans. Are you ready? "Club WWE," the Stamford-based promotion's newest membership program will commence this Friday.

In an email sent on Monday to those already on the "Club WWE" waitlist, WWE confirmed that the annual price to join this insider's service is $99 ($8.25 per month). Those who sign up for this service immediately (labeled as "founding members") will receive exclusive offers, including a package of unique and exclusive items, as well as discounted ticket offers to SummerSlam on Saturday, August 1 through Sunday, August 2, at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Additionally, founding members will get first-look experiences/scoops through its digital half of the membership, and a points-based reward system every time they make purchases on digital and physical goods.

"Club WWE" was first revealed in April, with retiree WWE Superstar John Cena promoting the membership. This program is intended to enhance the WWE Universe experience by offering 24-hour pre-sale ticket access, shop features (including the reveal of John Cena's "Never Seen 17" collection), bonus digital content, and members-only community forums for fans to connect with others online.

To learn more on how to sign-up, visit wwe.com/clubwwe.

Details On Deposition From WWE Board Members About Vince McMahon Investigation

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:33:35 -0400

It was a month ago that Janel Grant took to Instagram to post the deposition of former WWE Board member Michelle McKenna from the now settled WWE shareholder lawsuit. Said deposition revealed that McKenna was of the belief that WWE President Nick Khan had been the one to leak information regarding Grant and then WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's relationship to the Wall Street Journal in 2022, triggering a series of events that led to Grant filing a lawsuit against McMahon. Last Friday, in the latest edition of the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter," Dave Meltzer provided more information regarding McKenna's deposition, as well as the deposition of another former board member, Jeffery Speed.

The deposition of McKenna, who joined the WWE board on September 15, 2022, revealed that she was under the belief that McMahon couldn't be brought back after he "retired" in July following the original Wall Street Journal article. McKenna answered "no" to whether she had been under the impression McMahon and Grant had an affair, and "yes" to whether she saw their relationship as sex abuse and sexual trafficking.

This would confirm that the WWE board knew of Grant's accusations against McMahon well before the lawsuit was filed in 2024, despite claims to the contrary by McMahon's then lawyer Jerry McDevitt. As McKenna remained with the board till after the WWE/Endeavor merger, it would also mean she voted against McMahon's return in December 2022, before changing her mind and voting yes in January 2023 following McMahon's forceful reentry into the company.

As for Speed's deposition, he confirmed that the board's investigation into McMahon revealed the text messages McMahon sent to Grant, as well as messages involving Grant and Brock Lesnar. Speed claimed the messages were read out loud to the board, describing them as very graphic. However, while he noted files were found during the investigation, the board was ultimately not shown the photos. Unlike McKenna, Speed was removed from the board in early 2023 when McMahon returned to power.

Triple H’s Remark After CM Punk’s WWE Title Win Was 15 Years in the Making

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:05:13 -0400

Triple H recently drew a nostalgic parallel to CM Punk's Undisputed WWE Championship win.

CM Punk made a surprise return on the July 6 episode of RAW as the last-minute replacement for Cody Rhodes and defeated Sami Zayn to win the Undisputed WWE Championship. Following his victory, he had a moment backstage with the promotion's Chief Content Officer, Triple H, posing for the latter's signature finger-pointing photo.

Triple H then shared the photo in a congratulatory post on X/Twitter, recalling CM Punk's historic first WWE Championship win against John Cena at Money in the Bank 2011. The event took place at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, the same venue as this week's RAW, where Punk won the title for the third time (his eighth world title overall).

"Same building, 15 years later. Different opponent, same result. CM Punk is the Undisputed WWE Champion!!! #AndNew," Triple H wrote.

Triple H On WWE President Nick Khan: 'I've Never Been Around A Better Businessman'

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 22:01:26 -0400

Paul "Triple H" Levesque transitioned to the corporate side of WWE in 2010, when he was named Executive Senior Advisor, and has since slowly risen to the CCO of the promotion. Along the way, Levesque has had many opportunities to rub shoulders with businessmen, but in an interview with Stephan A. Smith, he claimed that Nick Khan is the best he's ever had the pleasure to work with on a corporate level.

"[Khan] is the absolute best President. Here at WWE, I've never been around a better businessman," Levesque proclaimed. "What is incredible about him is not only his mind for the business, for rights fees, and ratings, and analyzing all those things, but he grew up a fan of this; he grew up a fan of boxing, and combat sports, but especially pro wrestling."

Levesque further claimed that Khan is simply one of the most knowledgeable people he knows, and he appreciates how straightforward he is. "Man, I love working with him every day," he said. "To me, he and I together, it's like this perfect partnership of being able to do the business side, but this energy that we both feel and have and love for this business, like nothing else. So, man, we're in it together, and I love it. ... It's keeping me young, man!"

Earlier this year, Khan signed a new four-year deal to remain with the company, confirming he'll still act as WWE's President until 2030.

credit Stephan A. Smith and Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Triple H Says WWE’s Presidential Fitness Test Partnership With RFK Jr. Is About Inspiring Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 21:56:15 -0400

Triple H is proud to help celebrate the return of the Presidential Fitness Test.

The WWE Chief Content Officer recently appeared at the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City to mark the restoration of the Presidential Fitness Test and the launch of GetActive.gov/kids. He was joined by WWE Superstars Cody Rhodes, Charlotte Flair, Rey Mysterio, and Austin Theory, along with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Speaking during the event, Triple H reflected on the impact fitness has had on his personal and professional life, saying it taught him discipline and helped him achieve the success he enjoys today.

"I feel like I owe everything in my life to fitness, to going in the gym and learning that discipline and that motivation," he said. "The success that I have in life is from that lesson that I learned in the gym. The weights don't lie, right? And if I could help inspire kids and help get this started again, I wanted to be a part of that."

Triple H says the initiative is to praise effort and show support The two-time WWE Hall of Famer also emphasized that the program is about more than physical fitness. He said it encourages children to support one another instead of putting others down.

"We're rewarding kids that put in the effort, that work hard to get to where they want to be. It's incredibly important for us to teach kids to support the kid that can't do it, you support them to get better. You don't bully them, you don't make fun of them. You know what it took for you to get there, then you help them get there as well."

This is not the first time Triple H has represented WWE in support of the initiative. During the 2025 Christmas season, he appeared at the White House alongside President Donald Trump to promote health and fitness after Trump signed an executive order reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test in schools.

source: yahoo sports

Paul Heyman Explains Current Roles In WWE, Compares Working With Vince McMahon & HHH

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:54:31 -0400

Paul Heyman has discussed his current role in WWE, while also praising Paul "Triple H" Levesque for the way he's run WWE.

Heyman, who previously had an executive position in WWE, currently serves as an on-screen manager for a few stars, as well as mentors others, which he opened up about on "Insight."

"If I were to list my scope of services, well, it would be, number one, I'm the liaison for some talent. In terms of, I'm the creative liaison between that talent and the creative team, the creative team and that talent. So a lot of the creative will flow through me in both directions. I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes business for members of The Vision, obviously for Brock Lesnar, and there are others."

He also stated that his role involves sitting in Gorilla Position and helping the creative team in whatever way possible during shows, particularly "WWE SmackDown." Heyman additionally pointed out the differences between working under Vince McMahon and Levesque, arguing that the latter is more collaborative in an era where, he says, content is dictated by algorithms.

"You have to please a lot of masters [now]. Paul Levesque is the best person for that job. He's a collaborator. He pivots. He understands. And he understands that what works today may not work tomorrow, and what works tomorrow may not work in two days. He's brilliant at taking a look at the landscape and understanding: Does this make sense? Is it logical? Does the storyline work? Will it create box office interest and intrigue? Does it work for the characters involved? Does it progress the characters involved and take them from being characters on a television show into becoming attractions?" said Heyman.

The former ECW owner said that the role of a creative head has changed significantly since McMahon was in charge, as there are many stakeholders Levesque has to satisfy, including WWE's various distributors and partners. He commended Levesque for the job he has done, boldly stating that he would hire him if he were to start a pro wrestling company.

WWE, Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit gets new twist

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 17:05:54 -0400

Lawyers for Vince McMahon, WWE and Janel Grant filed a joint motion for a short adjournment of their upcoming hearing as they look to move the case into confidential arbitration.

Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon and WWE, accusing the former pro wrestling magnate of sexual assault and sex trafficking. McMahon stepped down as the CEO of WWE in 2022 and stepped down from TKO in 2024 after the initial lawsuit was filed.

"The parties are in active discussions regarding a potential agreement to arbitrate the dispute in confidential arbitration that would moot those motions," a document filed in Connecticut District Court read. "They seek this relief in good faith, to avoid unnecessarily consuming the Court’s and the parties’ resources—and so they can focus on progressing the potential arbitration agreement. The Parties respectfully propose that the Court temporarily adjourn the hearing and allow them to file a Joint Status Report within 21 days."

A hearing on the "Defendants’ Motions to Compel Arbitration and Plaintiff’s Renewed Motion for Leave to Serve Motion-Related Discover" was set for June 16.

Grant, who worked at WWE from June 2019 to 2022, alleged she was "subjected to repeated physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and sexual trafficking perpetrated" by McMahon, and "most senior officials and talent knew about and facilitated the abuse" she experienced.

She’s made various graphic claims against McMahon in separate documents that were filed in the case.

McMahon has maintained his innocence through the process.

TKO Group told The Associated Press in January 2024 it took Grant’s allegations "very seriously."

"Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE," the company said at the time. "While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally."

source: doxnews.com

Vince McMahon, Nick Khan and Others Reach Settlement In Principle On WWE Merger Lawsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 09:53:35 -0400

Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, Stephanie McMahon and other WWE executives and former WWE shareholders have reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought about by the shareholders who alleged misconduct on the part of McMahon, Khan, and the others during the company's merger with Endeavor to form TKO Group.

According to Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling, Tamara Burton from the Delaware Court of Chancery has confirmed that both parties have reached a settlement agreement in principle.

“At the parties' request, the trial is cancelled," said Burton. "The parties have advised the court that they will present the settlement for approval in due course.” The exact terms of the settlement have not been released at this time.

WWE Shareholder lawsuit was cancelled over the weekend

The trial for this case was set to begin in court on Monday. However, over the weekend, the court date was canceled, leading to speculation that a settlement agreement may be on the horizon.

Last week, the defendants were dealt a major blow in the case when a judge ruled that they misused the auto-delete feature of the messaging service Signal to delete communication they were legally obligated to keep. The ruling allowed for five key facts to be treated as true once the case went to trial on June 8.

The lawsuit by the former shareholders alleges that McMahon failed to conduct the proper due diligence to get the best deal possible for shareholders when selling WWE. The suit claims that McMahon was only interested in one bidder for his pro wrestling juggernaut ,and that bidder was Endeavor.

The suit also alleges that the reason McMahon wanted to sell to Endeavor only was that he was to receive a prominent and powerful position inside the new company, TKO Group.

WWE was officially sold to Endeavor in 2023. At that time, Endeavor merged with the UFC to form the TKO Group. At that time, McMahon was made Executive Chairman of the company.

McMahon resigned from his position at TKO Group after horrific allegations were made about him by a former WWE staff member who claimed he sexually assaulted her during his time as Chairman of the Board in WWE.

Prior to that, McMahon retired from WWE in 2022 after the WWE Board of Directors began an investigation into payments made to former WWE employees with whom McMahon allegedly had affairs. He returned to the WWE at the beginning of 2023 in order to facilitate the sale of WWE to Endeavor.

Stephanie McMahon Says Her Oldest Daughter Considered WWE Career Before Vince Scandal

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 17:16:18 -0400

Vince McMahon's controversial exit from WWE and TKO was sparked by the allegations of sexual assault and trafficking of Janel Grant, but his alleged actions had an effect on a wide range of people. According to his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, the controversy surrounding her father affected her daughter and a future in pro wrestling she contemplated.

"Aurora used to want to [get into pro wrestling], and she even got in the ring with Nattie, and she rolled around a little bit," Stephanie recalled during an episode of her "What's Your Story? with Steph McMahon" podcast. "But then, you know, everything kind of happened with my dad and me leaving and it was an awkward time, right in the time that she would've really been making her decision."

Stephanie then pointed out that her daughter could someday pivot back to pro wrestling someday, but right now, she has her mind set on getting her doctorate in physical therapy. "And she's grown up with all of our injuries, which is why – I think – she kind of has a proclivity towards it," she added, speculating where the second option came from. "She's been on the road and she's seen how everything operates; she's fascinated with sports injuries, like, fascinated with it! ... It's kind of a calling for her; but that's not to say she couldn't do both! I mean, she'd be such a natural."

credit "What's Your Story? with Steph McMahon" & Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

Vince McMahon and Nick Khan sanctioned by judge in WWE merger lawsuit, heightening their burden to prevail at trial

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Wed, 27 May 2026 15:26:57 -0400

Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster found that Vince McMahon and WWE President Nick Khan destroyed evidence in the merger lawsuit.

According to the filing (via Brandon Thurston at POST Wrestling), the court will treat five damaging facts as presumptively true when the case goes to trial next month.

The judge found that McMahon, Khan, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque (Triple H), and former WWE executives Stephanie McMahon and Brad Blum all used Signal’s auto-delete function, which wiped out messages they had a legal duty to preserve.

Laster listed the five presumed facts as follows:

Emanuel’s promise to provide Vince with a continued role at any post-merger company after a transaction influenced Vince’s decision-making with respect to the merger.

Emanuel’s offer of indemnification and other legal support related to pending federal investigations of Vince’s alleged misconduct influenced Vince’s decision-making with respect to the merger.

Vince decided to pursue a transaction with Endeavor in 2022, before the Company initiated the strategic review process.

Khan communicated with Emanuel between August and December 2022 to facilitate a transaction between WWE and Endeavor.

Vince and Khan worked with [advisement firm] Raine to steer the process toward a deal with Endeavor and away from other potential bidders.

The defendants still have an opportunity to plead their case and overcome the presumptions.

The trial is scheduled to take place from June 8 to 12.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2023, alleges that McMahon predetermined the transaction with Endeavor to secure his continued role at the company in light of the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding him, rather than shopping WWE to maximize shareholder value.

source: fightful.com

Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, Paul Levesque To Testify In WWE Shareholders Lawsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:25:12 -0400

Vince McMahon, Ari Emanuel, Nick Khan, and Triple H are set to testify in the upcoming trial for the lawsuit related to WWE’s merger. As previously reported, WWE shareholders filed a lawsuit against WWE in November 2023 over the TKO merger. The lawsuit alleges that WWE’s investigation into former Chairman McMahon was a “sham,” and that McMahon manipulated the sale process to Endeavor for his benefit.

According to POST Wrestling’s Brandon Thurston, the four executives are among those set to testify as witnesses in the trial.

Mark Shapiro is also among the list of witnesses, which includes many other names as revealed in a pre-trial order. Stephanie McMahon is listed among the names the plaintiffs may call, either live or by deposition.

The trial is set to kick off on on June 8th in the Delaware Court of Chancery and claims that McMahon set up the deal with Endeavor for them to acquire WWE and merge into TKO in order to ensure that he would remain with WWE. This was after he was accused of sexual misconduct in summer of 2022. McMahon retired from the company in the wake of the allegations, but forced his way back onto the Board of Directors in order to facilitate the sale of WWE.

McMahon of course eventually exited WWE and TKO just after he was sued by Janel Grant over allegations by Grant that he sexually abused, assaulted, and trafficked her. That lawsuit is ongoing.

The report by Thurston notes that plaintiffs and defendants plan to call McMahon and Emanuel as live witnesses in the courtroom. McMahon has separate legal representation from the rest of the defendants which include Khan, Triple H, George Barrios, and Michelle Wilson. WWE and TKO are not direct parties to the lawsuit, through they are believed likely to be funding the legal bills for the defendants beyond McMahon.

The full list of names who are intended to be called to testify are:

Plaintiffs Intend To Call Live:
* Vince McMahon
* Ari Emanuel
* Mark Shapiro
* Jeffrey Sine, Raine banker
* Frank Riddick, then-WWE Chief Financial Officer and board member
* Andrew Schleimer, TKO CFO and then-UFC CFO
* Brendan Houlihan, expert witness
* James Canessa, expert witness

Plaintiffs May Call Live Or By Deposition:
* Jeffrey Speed, then-WWE board member
* Stephanie McMahon
* Marty Patterson, Liberty Media President & CEO
* Steve Pamon, then-WWE board member

Defendants Intend To Call Live (Several Also Pppear Plaintiffs’ List):
* George Barrios, then-WWE board member and former WWE executive
* Brad Blum, former WWE executive
* Ari Emanuel
* Daniel Lee, Moelis Managing Director (an advisor in the process)
* Paul Finger, JP Morgan Managing Director (advisor)
* Nick Khan
* Steve Koonin, TKO board member, then-WWE board member
* Paul Levesque
* Vince McMahon
* Frank Riddick
* Andrew Schleimer
* Mark Shapiro
* Jeffrey Sine
* Michelle Wilson, then-WWE board member and former WWE executive
* Mark Zhu, TKO Chief Strategy Officer and then-Endeavor executive
* Doug Perlman, expert witness
* Professor Steven Salaga, expert witness
* Professor David C. Smith, expert witness
* Matthew Archer, shareholder plaintiff
* Dennis Palkon, shareholder plaintiff

John Cena reveals historic WWE event with fan voting

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Sun, 10 May 2026 10:34:00 -0400

During Saturday night's WWE Backlash event in Tampa, pro wrestling legend John Cena made a historic announcement about a brand-new event he's sponsoring.

The John Cena Classic will pit the best WWE wrestlers against the best NXT wrestlers, per Cena, in a battle of present and future. Cena said he'll be heavily involved in the new event and added that the new event will have a unique twist. WWE fans will get to vote on who gets crowned champion of the John Cena Classic.

That last bit drew roars from the crowd, who will now get to play a huge role in determining a WWE champion. Cena even revealed that the John Cena Classic champion doesn't even need to win their match to be crowned champion; he said the audience would determine which wrestler they deemed most worthy for their effort in the ring.

WWE stars are being asked to take up to 50% pay cuts amidst ludicrous corporate greed

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Sat, 9 May 2026 12:52:00 -0400

The weeks following WrestleMania are traditionally a time that WWE retools its roster for the upcoming year and beyond. Despite there not being a true “offseason” in professional wrestling, like any sport the time between WrestleMania and SummerSlam is when new talent is pushed up the card, old faces are scaled back, and unfortunately some wrestlers are released all together.

That indeed happened, with WWE releasing upwards of 20 wrestlers in last week, but on the tail of that news something entirely different has emerged: Corporate greed.

Reports emerged this week that there were superstars inside the company who weren’t subject to the yearly releases, but instead given ultimatums to either re-work their contracts and accept pay cuts of up to 50% or be let go. This occurred with both Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, both of whom decided to leave the company, rather than reduce their rate. Veteran wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer is also reporting that there are some inside WWE who accepted the ultimatum and signed new, reduced contracts as a result of the strong-arm tactics.

It’s certainly not usual to see pay scales change over time in professional wrestling, moving both up and down as a result of a wrestler’s position inside the company, but it is unheard of that talent has been asked to take massive pay reductions while under contract in an effort to push them into lower-paying roles. Especially when pay at the TKO executive level (WWE’s parent company) has exploded to double, and even triple their multi-million dollar salaries.

Amid reports some WWE talent were asked to take pay cuts by as much as 50%, how are some top TKO & WWE executives compensated YOY (determined by TKO Board comp committee)? 2025 vs. 2024: Ari Emanuel: +272%, $18M➡️$67M Mark Shapiro: +33%, $32M➡️$43M Nick Khan: +304%, $6M➡️$24M

This is not a case of cutting pay because the business is changing, or that wrestling revenue is down, but rather the end-game of making payroll as cheap as possible, following the UFC model of grossly underpaying talent. The core difference is that MMA fighters are allowed to pursue and sign their own independent sponsorship deals to bolster their earnings, which WWE wrestlers cannot.

On the contrary, TKO is in a great place financially right now thanks to long-term media rights deals being cemented in the last two years, providing unprecedented wealth and stability.

In this model the only people who gain are predictably at the executive level. It’s also yet another example of the need to address the biggest taboo inside professional wrestling locker rooms: Unionization. The current structure, most notably in WWE, but used by other companies too, is to file talent as “independent contractors,” which is a phony designation designed for focused contract work on a project, not to replace being a full-time employee, as wrestlers often are. This model has allowed WWE to skirt around providing benefits, and adhering to federal employee protections. The fear of unionization has traditionally been the immense power wielded by both Vince and Linda McMahon through their political and judicial relationships, but those no longer exist in a TKO world.

Corporations will always try to get as much out of workers for as little as possible in order to keep stock prices high and executives wealthy — that’s a feature of capitalism, not a bug. However, when wrestlers are given ultimatums to take massive pay cuts or lose their jobs for no discernible reason, then something has to give. Unionization is the path forward, and hopefully, these discussions are happening amongst talent.

source: sports.yahoo.com

The Miz: Triple H Has To Think Five Steps Ahead. No One Gives Him Credit For That

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 1 May 2026 17:29:00 -0400

The Miz praises Triple H.

WWE Unreal has taken fans behind the scenes of the WWE production as fans can see what goes into putting every event and story together. While some have criticized the series for going too far behind the scenes, The Miz loves it.

“A lot of the old timers don’t like Unreal. I love it. I love it because it allows people to appreciate exactly how hard we work to make sure it looks seamless and easy, but you guys don’t understand exactly what’s going on behind the scenes. Unreal can only give you so much. You really don’t know too much about it, but I feel like the fans now have an appreciation for the job of a WWE superstar and what that entials. Not just the job of a WWE superstar, but our production as a whole. As Triple H, the person behind everything. Triple H has to think five steps ahead of everyone, and no one gives him credit for that. They don’t understand how hard that seat is. They just throw stuff at him. ‘Why didn’t this happen? Why couldn’t they do this?’ There are domino effects that you guys don’t understand. Even me, when I’m doing my stuff and I’m involved and going, ‘Why can’t we do this?’ I will get the answer of, ‘If we do this, XYZ will fall apart. Do you have something else?'” Miz said on Not Sam with Sam Roberts.

Nick Khan Backs Paul Levesque, Addresses Criticism During TKO Town Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:31:15 -0400

From a financial standpoint, WWE appears to be as strong as ever, continuing to break gate records, draw strong ratings, high revenues, and record profits. But over the last year, fan reception towards WWE has become more and more critical, with many taking issue with storylines such as John Cena's 2025 heel turn, Cena's subsequent retirement tour, and the inclusion of Pat McAfee into Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton feud in the lead up to WrestleMania 42.

But despite the hardships, one WWE executive is doing his best to give a vote of confidence for the increasingly embattled WWE chief content officer, Paul Levesque. POST Wrestling reports that a WWE/TKO town hall with staff was called on Monday, with WWE President Nick Khan giving Levesque his seal of approval. Those who attended the town hall say that Khan declared Levesque would continue in his role as head of creative, though it wasn't clarified whether this was just Khan voicing his support, or a sign that Levesque had agreed to a new WWE/TKO contract.

Levesque wasn't the only aspect of WWE that Khan was defending, as TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro asked Khan about the online criticism WWE had been receiving. Khan proceeded to characterize the criticism WWE was receiving as coming from a "vocal minority," specifically when it came to citing the contrast in reactions between WrestleMania 42's two nights, with Night Two being received more positively than Night One.

To further hammer his point home, Khan read out multiple messages criticizing WWE back in 2015, when Vince McMahon was still in charge of the company. While unconfirmed, it's believed that Khan used those past messages in an attempt to paint past criticisms of the WWE product as historically unreliable. No word was provided on how TKO executives reacted to Khan's defense.

New Details on WWE Talent Releases, Including Who Made the Call

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:16:00 -0400

How and why the decision was made to cut two dozen wrestlers from WWE main roster and NXT this past Friday night.

Friday, April 24 was an extremely difficult night for WWE employees and fans alike as the company executed a number of post-WrestleMania talent cuts.

This has unfortunately become an annual occurrence, to the point that many in the locker room were speculating that the releases would take place all week long, according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select.

Former WWE Women's Champion Nikki Cross was the first to announce her departure, doing so on her X account at 5:21 p.m. ET. She made her announcement roughly 20 minutes after the company began informing two dozen wrestlers that they were being released or that their contracts were not going to be renewed.

Not long after Cross hit publish on her post, it was public knowledge that all of the Wyatt Sicks would be leaving the company, along with Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, Motor City Machine Guns and a bevy of others.

When diving into the how and why these cuts were made, Sean Ross Sapp noted that while there has been a great deal of chatter about TKO making the calls for them, the final decisions were made at the WWE level.

WWE President, Chief Content Officer and talent relations department made the tough calls of cutting talent "Triple H, Nick Khan and WWE talent relations were ultimately the primary decision makers," Ross Sapp said in his report Sunday night. "WWE sources indicated that majority of releases were to make way for new talent, and the possibility of SmackDown reducing to two hours in the near future."

The insiders at BodySlam did report earlier in the day on Sunday that SmackDown would be moving back to two hours within the next few weeks, a call that was apparently made by the USA Network.

A disproportionate number of SmackDown stars were released when compared to those in the Raw locker room who will soon be hitting free agency. Both brands, however, were hit with an infusion of NXT talent this week, including Ethan Page, Sol Ruca, Joe Hendry, Fatal Influence, Blake Monroe and Ricky Saints.

A number of releases at the NXT level were reportedly made with a new recruit class expected at the Performance Center in Orlando in the very near future.

Some of the releases were a bit more surprising than the others. Santos Escobar, for example. WWE re-signed him to a big-money deal just this past year and then never used him on the main roster. He made several appearances for AAA before suffering an injury that required surgery, and Escobar is expected to be sidelined for several more months.

"This used to be against the company's policy, but has happened a number of times in recent years," Ross Sapp said of injured talent being released. "Karl Anderson, BJ Ray and Ridge Holland were all released or not extended while they were awaiting clearance."

Zoey Stark is another talent who has been out injured. She tore her ACL and MCL in a Money in the Bank Qualifying Match last May, but sources told Fightful Select that she was recently cleared to return to the ring. She'll be good to go wherever she chooses once her right of termination and requisite notice is up in 90 days.

One talent who is expected to garner heavy interest on the free agent market is Kairi Sane. The multi-time Women's Tag Team Champion was among the more shocking company departures, considering she's been a key figure in the ongoing rivalry between IYO SKY and Asuka on Monday Night Raw.

"There was heavy frustration to her being cut before any real payoff to the story was made," Ross Sapp said in his report.

Kairi Sane has received a significant amount of support on social media from both her friends and the WWE Universe. The hashtag "WeWantKairi" has been trending on X for much of the weekend.

source: si.com

23 WWE Wrestlers Cut in Massive Shakeup

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 17:51:00 -0400

Inside WWE’s latest mass releases: why 23 superstars were let go, how it impacts Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, and what’s next for the fired wrestlers.

In the days following WrestleMania 42, WWE made a sweeping round of roster cuts, releasing more than 20 superstars across its main roster and NXT brands in a move that has quickly reshaped the company’s landscape.

According to CBS News, among the most notable names are Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and Kairi Sane—all of whom had active roles on television heading into WrestleMania season. Vega confirmed her departure during a Twitch stream, while additional releases were reported shortly after.

Black’s exit stands out in particular. The former upper-midcard fixture had built momentum in recent months, picking up wins over high-profile opponents, including Sami Zayn and Randy Orton.

His return to WWE just one year ago, following a run outside the company, had positioned him as a potential breakout name—but that trajectory appears to have ended abruptly.

Vega, his real-life partner, was also a consistent presence on SmackDown.

Elsewhere, Sane’s departure halts her involvement in a long-running storyline tied to Damage CTRL, alongside Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Bayley. The group had also been featured prominently on WWE programming.

Several members tied to the Wyatt Sicks faction—including Bo Dallas, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan—were also let go. The group, introduced in 2024 as a tribute to the late Bray Wyatt, had recently wrapped a feud after losing a multi-man street fight.

Cross addressed her departure publicly, writing, “Goodbye and thank you, WWE… I’m really excited for whatever my next chapter will hold,” while also acknowledging the coaches and performers who shaped her career.

The cuts extend beyond those names, with additional talent including Apollo Crews, Santos Escobar, and Zoey Stark others reportedly parting ways with the company.

The scale of the releases reflects a familiar pattern for WWE, which often reevaluates its roster following WrestleMania, its biggest annual event.

Testimony From Mark Shapiro Contradicts Public Comments And SEC Filing Regarding Vince McMahon And TKO

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:22:00 -0400

Mark Shapiro was deposed in December as part of the ongoing shareholders’ lawsuit against WWE, which claims that Vince McMahon predetermined the transaction with Endeavor to secure his continued role at the company in light of the sexual misconduct scandal surrounding him, rather than shopping WWE to maximize shareholder value.

In his deposition, Shapiro was asked if he viewed McMahon remaining in the Executive Chair role as a necessary condition for the success of the combined company.

The following exchange took place (via Brandon Thurston of POST Wrestling):

“You personally didn’t view Vince being in the executive chair role as a necessary condition for the future success of the combined company; right?” an attorney for the plaintiffs asked Shapiro.

“Correct, especially with all the baggage,” Shapiro said.

“But at the end of the day, Vince is [sic] remaining with the company was a Vince goal, not an Endeavor goal; right?” the examining attorney followed up.

“Wasn’t a goal of ours, no, no, it was not,” Shapiro responded.

This testimony contradicts public comments made by Ari Emanuel, Shapiro’s partner at TKO.

Speaking to CNBC on April 3, 2023, when the WWE merger to form TKO was first announced, Emanuel said about keeping Vince, “I would have body-slammed him if he [Vince McMahon] thought he was going to leave, because as I said to you before, here’s a man who has seen around the corners at every beat over the last 40 years of this business and has a vision for where this business, way before a lot of people see it. Him now being able to utilize what we have built in our flywheel, I’m the luckiest guy in the world, because I got Vince McMahon, a visionary, that sees around corners.”

He reiterated his desire to keep Vince on when asked outright if he wanted Vince to stay.

“Oh my god yes,” replied Emanuel. Vince then confirmed that he wanted to stay. Emanuel also said that he wouldn’t let Vince walk away.

Shapiro’s testimony also contradicts an SEC filing regarding the merger, which stated that the proposal was increased on the condition that McMahon would serve as the Executive Chairman of TKO.

“Endeavor had conditioned the proposed increase in valuation upon Mr. McMahon serving as Executive Chair of the newly formed public company until his death, resignation or incapacity, having the right to nominate the five WWE representatives to serve among the 11 total directors on the newly formed public company board of directors and having a veto right over certain transactions, in each case until he sold down a to-be-agreed percentage of his equity or he no longer served as Executive Chair. The WWE advisors discussed with the WWE Board that Endeavor had stated that these governance changes were fundamental to Endeavor’s thesis for pursuing the potential transaction in light of, among other things, Endeavor’s belief that Mr. McMahon’s continued leadership as contemplated by the March 23 Endeavor Proposal would be critical to the value creation driving Endeavor’s desire to engage in the Potential Transaction.”

The merger lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in June.

Ric Flair Explains Ban From WrestleMania, Tried To Fight Ludwig Kaiser

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:11:00 -0400

Ric Flair has gone off on Ludwig Kaiser, alleging that his altercation with the WWE star led to him being banned from attending WrestleMania.

In his appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Flair revealed that he argued with Kaiser, following the drama that unfolded during the storyline between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair last year.

"I didn't get invited to WrestleMania this year. I threatened to beat up Tiffany Stratton's husband last year. I wasn't allowed to go. A 24-year-old kid [Kaiser's 35] being threatened by a 76-year-old man, and I can't go to WrestleMania. Are you kidding me? That English kid [Kaiser's German], he's going to go as far in wrestling as a net. He'll be a fly in the wall in a year," Flair began angrily. "Well, they had that thing, you know, where Tiffany's made a smart remark about Ashley's [Charlotte] divorces, which we both know she's not smart enough to have written. Somebody gave her a script and then he implied that — you know I'm just going based on social media once again, which there's a lot [of misinformation] — that he was implying that he wouldn't bum one off Ashley, and I went, 'Okay, I need your number.' I got it — which I can get anybody's number I want any minute of any day — and I called him. I said, 'When I see you, I'm going to beat the sh*t out of you.' So, he went like a little bi*ch [and] told Hunter, and I wasn't allowed to go."

Flair angrily stated that Kaiser will not go far in the pro wrestling business, and seemingly didn't know his whereabouts — despite him currently portraying the El Grande Americano character with great success in AAA — even questioning whether he is part of the WWE roster.

"Is he even on the roster?" asked Flair, with Helwani responding that he's currently in Mexico. "I'm sure he is. I hope he stays [in Mexico]."

"The Nature Boy" stated that he doesn't get the respect he deserves, asserting that WWE should roll out the red carpet for him for his impact on the pro wrestling business.

Mark Shapiro Claims TKO Has Full Creative Control Over WWE

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:38:41 -0400

Mark Shapiro clarified TKO had total control over WWE creative while answering criticism of celebrity involvement on the road to WrestleMania 42.

Shapiro, TKO's Chief Operating Officer, visited the University of Alabama ahead of the "Show of Shows" last weekend.

During which, he was asked by one student about the reception to TKO's perceived involvement in creative, with the likes of Pat McAfee, Jelly Roll, IShowSpeed, and influencer turned WWE Superstar, Logan Paul, so involved with the build to and then eventually the event.

"First of all, [TKO] has complete control. So we're responsible," Shapiro clarified, continuing to defend the product that has been distributed thus far. "What I will tell you is WWE is growing every way," he said. "It's really exploded... As far as the stars part of it, I don't think that's true."

Shapiro pointed to the trajectory of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson from WWE into Hollywood, and justified that stars moving the other way is not new to the industry, it's just being done at a grander scale.

"Having Hollywood tie-ins and celebs and stars; Logan Paul, and Pat McAfee, and Mark Wahlberg shows up and does his thing, or Tyrese Haliburton... That's not new, it's just on a larger stage. We're spending a lot more money to market the brand, market the content. And when you do that you're gonna win some folks over, but you're also going to chase some folks away."

Wahlberg was conspicuous considering the fact that he is a name to have been involved in anything recent with WWE. His last significant role saw him open WrestleMania 38 as "The Most Stupendous Two-Night WrestleMania in History."

Stephanie McMahon at the WWE HOF

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:15:00 -0400

Triple H & Shawn Michaels | The Wrestlers

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:11:00 -0400

What's Your Story? Triple H interviews Steph before WWE Hall of Fame induction

noreply@blogger.com (Kaliqo) — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:10:00 -0400