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WWE and its parent company, TKO, have said that they take Grant's allegations "very seriously." Staying in touchMcMahon has also talked to Trump, according to two of the people close to the wrestling impresario. The two billionaires have been in touch regularly, according to a person close to McMahon, although it isn't clear what they've discussed. Another person close to McMahon said that the two men don't discuss their legal problems and that Trump doesn't provide legal advice. Publicly, Johnson has thanked TKO and WWE executives regarding his addition to the TKO board earlier this year.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Donald Trump, Mark, McMahon, Janel Grant, he's, hasn't, Mark Shapiro, doesn't, McMahon hasn't, Paul, Levesque, Stephanie McMahon, wasn't, Jessica Rosenberg, Grant's, Jan, John Laurinaitis, Janel, couldn't, Ann Callis, Grant, Nicholas Biase, Linda McMahon, McMahon's, Bill Pugliano, Donald J, Trump, Dwayne, Johnson, John Cena, Cena, Howard Stern, I'm, William Morris, Cena didn't, Endeavor Group's, Ari Emanuel, Brendan Mcdermid Organizations: WWE, Austin Straubel, Getty, World Wrestling, NBC News, CNBC, Triple, Federal, U.S, Attorney's, Southern, of, Trump, WWE Hall of Fame, PAC, Trump Media, Technology Group, Street Journal, Trump Foundation, Hollywood, William, William Morris Endeavor, Endeavor Group, Endeavor, Endeavor Group's UFC, Longtime Hollywood, New York Stock Exchange Locations: Green Bay , Wisconsin, United States, Caicos, Italy, of New York, Connecticut, Manhattan, Atlantic City, Trump's, York, New York City, U.S

☆ Brady, Jeter, Eli and Peyton Manning headline Fanatics’ effort to build a comic-con of sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events and the former president of ReedPop — where he produced pop culture events like New York Comic-Con, Complex-Con, and Star Wars Celebration — said he sees several parallels between pop culture fans and sports fans. However, he noted, while events like New York Comic-Con have evolved to embrace multiple difference fanbases and communities, the sports-focused event space is "ready to be disrupted a bit." Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Eli and Peyton Manning, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu and Hulk Hogan are just some of the big sports names scheduled to appear, Fensterman said. "Those are the moments that we get excited about, and we just don't see it being done anywhere else in the world of live sports events," Fensterman said. The festival was the highest-grossing and most-attended fan event in WWE history, according to Fanatics.

Persons: Con, Lance Fensterman, ReedPop, —, You've, Fensterman, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Eli, Peyton Manning, Kevin Durant, Sabrina Ionescu, Hulk Hogan Organizations: New York, Star, Fest, Javits Center, NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, UFC, WWE, Endeavor, IMG, WWE's Locations: New York City, U.S, New, Philadelphia

☆ So, can we stop calling pro wrestling 'sports entertainment' now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Katie Notopoulos | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

For years, the WWE has called itself "sports entertainment" instead of pro wrestling. Since the early 2000s, back even when World Wrestling Entertainment was still called WWF, the company has carefully referred to its scripted grappling as "sports entertainment" rather than "professional wrestling." Now, it seems that the verboten phrase — "pro wrestling" — is back as part of a series of changes made after McMahon left the company. A source familiar with internal policies at WWE told Business Insider that use of the term "pro wrestling" has been relaxed in the past year. For the moment, pro wrestling did indeed win out over sports entertainment.

Persons: John Cena, —, Michael Cole, Vince McMahon, McMahon, — Ibou, Cena Organizations: WWE, Service, Undertaker, Wrestling Entertainment, XFL, Netflix, Wrestling, Sports Entertainment, Rock

☆ I watched WrestleMania for the first time and can see why it generates so much money
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I stayed up all night in the UK to watch WrestleMania 40. I'm not a WWE type. AdvertisementThis weekend I made good on a long-held promise: to watch all eight hours of WrestleMania 40 with my boyfriend, across two nights. AdvertisementI also didn't think I was a WWE type. We also live in the UK, where WrestleMania airs at 1 a.m., so we were giving up on serious amounts of sleep.

Persons: I'm, —, Seth, Freakin, Rollins, Seth Rogen Organizations: WWE, Service

☆ Logan Paul’s Prime becomes WWE’s first-ever logo to appear on its wrestling ring mats
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —WWE and Logan Paul’s Prime have struck a “record-setting” deal to feature the sports drink as the first-ever brand logo to appear in the center of the wrestling mat. Notably, the deal is for Prime Hydration and not for its energy drink, Prime Energy, which riled up some US lawmakers last year for its high caffeine content. In January, Netflix acquired the exclusive rights to “WWE Raw,” currently seen weekly on Comcast’s USA cable network. However, controversy surrounded the company when disturbing allegations of sexual assault, trafficking and physical abuse against WWE founder Vince McMahon came to light. McMahon, who has denied the accusations, resigned from the company a few days later.

Persons: Logan, ”, Paul, Jake, “, Bud Light, Mat, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Vince McMahon, McMahon Organizations: New, New York CNN, WWE, Bank, Prime Energy, UFC, Modelo, Netflix, Comcast’s USA Locations: New York, ”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The 3-0-5 took over the Daytona 5-0-0. Johnson, the wrestler/actor, said he would stay for Monday’s rescheduled race and honor his role as Daytona 500 grand marshal and give the command for drivers to start their engines. The last time the Daytona 500 was postponed a full day was in 2012. Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner, has suddenly become public enemy No. The DJ-producer, whose real name is Khaled Mohamed Khaled, said he attended a Daytona 500 or two as a kid because of his love of cars.

Persons: Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Pitbull, DJ Khaled, Johnson, Monday’s, Khaled, ” Pitbull, Pit, ” Khaled, “, ” “, ”, Denny Hamlin, Hamlin, Kyle Busch, I’ve, Denny —, Denny, won’t, ’, we’ll, Justin Marks, Ross Chastain, Daniel Suárez, Shane van Gisbergen, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Nile Rodgers, Jimmy Buffett, WE, he's, 23XI Racing’s Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan, Khaled Mohamed Khaled, Harley J, Earl, “ It’s Organizations: DAYTONA, Sunshine State, Miami —, Grammy, WrestleMania, Furious, Miami, Daytona, Speedway, ROCK, NASCAR, WWE, Trackhouse Racing, Pitbull Locations: Fla, South Florida, Miami, Florida, Philadelphia

☆ Former W.W.F. Wrestler Arrested in Wife’s Murder
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Orlando Mayorquin | More About Orlando Mayorquin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

William Albert “Billy Jack” Haynes Jr., who in the 1980s competed in the World Wrestling Federation, was arrested in the killing of his wife at a home in Portland, Ore., on Thursday after a standoff with police. The authorities publicly identified Mr. Haynes, 70, on Saturday, days after the police said he shot and killed his wife, Janette Becraft, 85, in the Lents neighborhood of southeast Portland. At the peak of his career, wrestling as Billy Jack Haynes, he faced Randy “Macho Man” Savage and in 1987 went against Hercules Hernandez in WrestleMania III. After his arrest, the Portland Police Bureau said Mr. Haynes was taken to a hospital to get treatment for a medical condition that was “unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement,” adding that his stay could last “days.”

Persons: William Albert “ Billy Jack ” Haynes Jr, Haynes, Janette Becraft, Billy Jack Haynes, Randy “, ” Savage, Hercules Hernandez, ” Organizations: World Wrestling Federation, WrestleMania III, Portland Police Locations: Portland ,, Lents, Portland

Vince McMahon, executive chairman of the board of TKO Group Holdings and founder of wrestling giant WWE, has resigned his positions at both companies, according to a WWE memo obtained by CNBC and confirmed by the company. "Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE," said Nick Khan, president of the WWE. The announcement came in the wake of allegations made public Thursday, of sexual assault and sex trafficking, against McMahon. The latest allegations against McMahon were in a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant — who alleges McMahon directed her to have sex with a WWE "superstar" and other men.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, McMahon, Janel Grant —, Grant's, Grant, John Laurinaitis Organizations: WWE, MetLife, Holdings, CNBC Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey, U.S, Connecticut

☆ Why Netflix just made a $5 billion pro wrestling deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Peter Kafka | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Now it's in "live sports entertainment" via a $5 billion pro wrestling deal with TKO. One big reason the deal could work: Netflix wasn't in the ads business. That's when a new $5 billion, 10-year deal with TKO Group will kick in and bring Raw, the weekly WWE pro wrestling show currently airing on Comcast's USA network, to Netflix in the US and other countries. Now it's here, in what appears to be the biggest licensing deal Netflix has ever made. And this deal is a rights deal, not an outright purchase.

Persons: —, they'll, Comcast's, . Peacock, Chris Rock, That's, it's Organizations: Netflix, Service, WWE, USA, ESPN

“The Rock” is a name is derived from Johnson's father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the first Black champion in WWE history (alongside partner Tony Atlas), according the WWE. “I am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKO’s Board," TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel said in a prepared statement. He has recently appeared on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.'s “Smackdown” and “Raw” television programs, with rumors swirling that he may compete at this year's WrestleMania. "I’ve been there, I’m still there and this is for them.”TKO also announced Tuesday that Brad Keywell will become a board member. The additions of Johnson and Keywell will increase TKO's board from 11 to 13 members.

Persons: Dwayne Johnson, Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, Tony Atlas, “, Dwayne, Ariel Emanuel, ” Johnson, I’ve, I’m, ” TKO, Brad Keywell, Keywell Organizations: WWE, UFC, WWE Hall of Famer, Seven Bucks, Energy, United Football League, TKO’s Board, Holdings Inc, Wrestling Entertainment Inc, Echo Global Logistics

Netflix and TKO Group Holdings said Tuesday that the streaming platform will air the WWE's flagship program Raw starting next year, in Netflix's first major foray into live sports. Netflix, which is trying to drive revenue by cutting down on subscription sharing and pushing viewers toward its ad-tier membership, has made few attempts at live programming in its history. With WWE permission, Netflix could even develop movies or series around WWE characters, one of the people said. For TKO, the parent company of WWE, striking a deal with Netflix brings WWE wrestling to about 250 million global subscribers. WWE President Nick Khan has had Netflix on his radar as a potential landing spot for Raw for several years.

Persons: Dwayne Johnson, Mark Shapiro, Rupert Murdoch, Nick Khan, Khan Organizations: Netflix, Raw, WWE, SmackDown, NXT, USA Network, ESPN, Turner, NFL, Fox Locations: U.S, Canada, America

☆ WWE deal doesn't mean Netflix will invest more in sports, co-CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

After Netflix and WWE parent company TKO Group announced the deal Tuesday morning, it sparked questions about whether Netflix would try to buy streaming rights for one of the major sports leagues. Netflix paid more than $5 billion for 10 years of WWE's Raw and other international programming. Sarandos called the WWE Raw deal "the inverse of Formula 1," as WWE is popular in the U.S. and has a relatively small international audience. "We can build [WWE] like we have with Formula 1 through our shoulder programming," Sarandos said. The move to pay a giant rights deal is a clear shift for Netflix.

Persons: Dwayne, Johnson, John Cena, Ted Sarandos, Sarandos, WWE's, Mark Douglas Organizations: Life, Netflix, WWE, National Basketball Association, NBA, CNBC Locations: Miami Gardens , Florida, U.S

Peacock is the best option to tune into Crown Jewel in the United States, offering the cheapest Crown Jewel live stream. How to watch WWE Crown Jewel live streams from anywhereYou can use a VPN to watch Crown Jewel live if you don't live in a country with cable access or streaming plans that include WWE Network events. How to watch WWE Crown Jewel in CanadaCrown Jewel will stream over the WWE Network via Sportsnet in Canada. How to watch WWE Crown Jewel in AustraliaBinge is the primary destination for Crown Jewel in Australia. WWE Crown Jewel match cardAhead, we list a schedule of all the matches taking place at Crown Jewel.

Persons: We'll, John Cena, Rhea Ripley's Women's, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, Peacock, Canada's, It's, ExpressVPN, NBC Peacock, you've, Seth, Rollins, Raquel Rodriguez, Zoey Stark, Shayna, Nia Jax, Rhea Ripley, Rey Mysterio, Logan Paul, Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest John Cena Organizations: WWE, LA Knight, WWE Network, Canada's Sportsnet, NBC, TNT, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TNT Sports, Sportsnet, LA, United Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, United States, Australia, Canada

☆ WWE to bring back 'SmackDown' to NBCUniversal's USA Network
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Apr 2, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; L to R; Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman and during Wrestlemania Night 2 at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - WWE's "Friday Night SmackDown" will be back on USA Network late next year, after the wrestling company struck a new partnership deal with Comcast's (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal to air more shows. WWE, part of TKO Group (TKO.N), will also produce four primetime specials per year for NBC as part of the five-year deal. "With Friday nights on USA, primetime specials on NBC, and the WWE hub on Peacock, we'll continue to use the power of our portfolio to super-serve this passionate fanbase," NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairman Frances Berwick said. USA Network is currently home to "WWE NXT" and "WWE Raw".

Persons: Sikoa, Paul Heyman, Joe Camporeale, we'll, Frances Berwick, Samrhitha, Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Anil D'Silva Organizations: USA Network, WWE, NBC, Thomson Locations: Inglewood , CA, USA, SoFi, Bengaluru

See also: Free Basketball World Cup live streamHow to watch AEW All In PPV live streams from anywhereFITE TV allows you to watch AEW All In from the UK (£19.99), Canada (CAD$39.99), and Australia (AUD$19.99). DAZN Subscription DAZN is a sports streaming service with live and on-demand content, including exclusive boxing matches. How to watch AEW All In from the UKCan't make it to Wembley to watch in person? How to watch AEW All In from AustraliaAustralians have it better than anyone else when watching AEW All In. The Young Bucks (AEW World Tag Team Championship)Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Britt Baker vs. Saraya vs. Toni Storm (AEW World Women's Championship)The House of Black (c) vs.

Persons: Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Adam Cole, —, Punk, Samoa Joe, Jon Moxley, Britt Baker, Orange Cassidy, Toni Storm, Kenny Omage, Adam Page, Strickland, Sting, Allin Darby, You'll, It's, ExpressVPN, DAZN, it'll, Hikaru Shida, Eddie Kingston, Penta El, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Santana, Ortiz, Darby Allin, Christian Cage, Coffin, Kenny Omega, Jay White, Juice Robinson, Konosuke Takeshita Organizations: Wembley, London's, Young, FTR, Samoa, DirecTV, Canada Canadians, Australia Australians, ESPN, Young Bucks, Kota Locations: Canada, Australia, DAZN, United States, United Kingdom

☆ WWE legend pitches to hold Wrestlemania in UK as rival AEW gears up for major London show
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Wrestling legend John Cena surprised fans with a pitch to hold WWE's largest live event Westlemania, the so-called "Super Bowl of wrestling" that has never taken place outside of North America, in London. WWE brought its premium live event called Money in the Bank to London's O2 arena on Saturday, in its second major event in the U.K. in the last year. The crowd erupted as his tell-tale entrance music hit, but Cena arrived not to fight — but to pitch to hold Wrestlemania in London. They don't necessarily know how to feel about London," Cena told the packed O2 arena which booed at the suggestion. "Take a moment right now, let them see, let them feel, let them hear what WrestleMania is going to sound like in London," Cena added.

Persons: Dwayne, Johnson, John Cena, Cena, It's Organizations: Life, Wrestling, WWE, Bank, London's, London Locations: Miami Gardens , Florida, North America, London

Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/File PhotoJune 16 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge rejected World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE.N) effort to dismiss a smaller rival's antitrust lawsuit that accused it of monopolizing the market for professional wrestling media rights. In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila in San Jose, California, said MLW Media had presented enough "circumstantial" evidence that WWE uses its dominance to keep rivals from accessing various distributors and arenas. MLW said Stamford, Connecticut-based WWE commands about 92% of revenue from U.S. media rights for pro wrestling, versus 6% for All Elite Wrestling and less than 2% for everyone else. MLW sufficiently alleged that WWE's activities "had a substantial effect in foreclosing competitors from the professional wrestling media rights market," Davila wrote. The case is MLW Media LLC v World Wrestling Entertainment Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No.

Persons: Cody Rhodes, Joe Camporeale, Edward Davila, MLW, Davila, Marc Kasowitz, Jonathan Stempel Organizations: Wrestling, District, MLW Media, WWE, Elite Wrestling, Fox, Amazon.com, CBS, Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros Discovery, Wrestling Entertainment Inc, Court, Northern District of, Thomson Locations: Inglewood , CA, USA, SoFi, U.S, San Jose , California, Stamford , Connecticut, , New York, Northern District, Northern District of California, New York

☆ Hardcore wrestling fans are torn over the WWE-UFC merger – but they love the drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Natasha Piñon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For wrestling fans, though, the story's not about those numbers. And wrestling fans aren't afraid to share their opinions. Some are worried that a return to a pay-per-view model for WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania, is on the horizon. The WWE's exclusive streaming deal with Peacock, which includes WrestleMania streaming rights, is set to expire in 2026. In late March, before the UFC deal was announced, WWE CEO Nick Khan said the company keeps fans' price sensitivity in mind.

☆ WWE taps Fanatics to sell merchandise at live events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Ian Thomas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

That means Fanatics will now operate all of the on-site retail at the WWE's more than 300 events throughout the year, including its premier live events like WrestleMania and the Royale Rumble. Fanatics became WWE's global e-commerce partner in 2022, a deal that later grew to include licensed merchandise, memorabilia, trading cards and collectibles. WWE has seen its live-event merchandise business grow as the company has returned to a fuller slate of events and shows as the pandemic has waned. In 2022, WWE reported that it had $23.8 million in venue merchandise revenue across 231 live events in 2022, up from $10.1 million the previous year when the company only had 101 live events. Fanatics' existing relationships across sports could also further benefit WWE, Varga said.

☆ WWE apologizes for using Auschwitz footage in pro WrestleMania promo
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( David K. Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A view of the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz in Oswiecim, Poland, January 19, 2015. World Wrestling Entertainment inexplicably used footage of infamous Nazi death camp Auschwitz in a recent promotion, prompting the grappling giant to apologize Friday for the offensive gaffe. "We had no knowledge of what was depicted," the WWE said in statement to NBC News on Friday. The Auschwitz footage is now absent from tape of WrestleMania Night 1 and has been replaced with generic images of a jail with barbed wire. The son fought his father in this past weekend's WrestleMania and was beaten soundly by the old man.

☆ WrestleMania apologizes for using footage of Auschwitz in promotional spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —World Wrestling Entertainment apologized Friday after using footage of Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration and extermination camp, in a promotional spot for a hyped father-son match. The promotional video for WrestleMania 39 featured WWE wrestler Dominik Mysterio, who has an ongoing rivalry with his father, Rey Mysterio, and was “arrested” in December for pushing him. The ad then cuts to photos of prisons, one of which was Auschwitz, where Nazis murdered over 1 million people. In later airings and reruns of the first night of WrestleMania, the footage showed an image of barbed wire. In this father-son rivalry, Dominik eventually turned on Rey, culminating in an altercation on Christmas Eve.

Shares of WWE fell in premarket trading, while Endeavor shares rose. Ari Emanuel will act as chief executive of both Endeavor and the new company, the companies said. McMahon, likewise, will be executive chairman, while Endeavor President and COO Mark Shapiro will also work in the same roles at the new company. Dana White will remain as president of UFC, and WWE CEO Nick Khan will stay on as president of the wrestling business. Stefanie Keenan | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesThe announcement confirmed an earlier CNBC report.

☆ UFC merger beefs up WWE's leverage in media rights negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Lillian Rizzo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Networks and streaming services need to get ready for a media rights smackdown. UFC should also benefit ahead of 2025, when its U.S. media rights deals come up, including with Disney's ESPN. "I think everything is up for grabs with these media rights deals. During his time with CAA, he had formed a relationship with McMahon during a recent round of TV rights negotiations for WWE. It will also work for UFC negotiations, he noted.

☆ WWE near deal to be sold to UFC parent Endeavor, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment is in advanced talks to be sold to Ari Emanuel's Endeavor Group , the parent company of UFC, according to people familiar with the matter. McMahon, likewise, is expected to be executive chairman, while Endeavor President Mark Shapiro will also work in the same role at the new company. Dana White will remain as president of UFC, while WWE CEO Nick Khan will serve as president of the wrestling business. Paul Levesque, who's both Stephanie McMahon's husband and the wrestler known as Triple H, took over creative duties from Vince McMahon. When Vince McMahon came back in January, Stephanie McMahon stepped down and Khan fully assumed the CEO role.

☆ WWE CEO Nick Khan say he remains optimistic about plans to introduce betting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWWE CEO Nick Khan say he remains optimistic about plans to introduce bettingWWE CEO Nick Khan joins 'Closing Bell Overtime' to discuss WWE's Wrestlemania weekend, the potential sale of WWE, and the possibility to introduce a betting system for WWE.

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