WWE Inc.

[Justin King]

Source: Click here

There's no April's fool joke there, that is a real headline you just read. World Wrestling Entertainment is no longer...well, World Wrestling Entertainment. Actually, there's no more wrestling at all.

WWE, Inc., as they are now officially known, have completely dropped the term "wrestling" and no longer have anything to do with that term. WWE sent out a press release this week, stating the following:

To better reflect the company's global entertainment offerings, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) announced today a new business model for future growth, including formally rebranding itself, WWE.

Two key components to WWE's brand expansion will be the active pursuit to acquire entertainment content companies and the outsourcing of WWE's core competencies – television and film production, live event production and licensing. As part of the new business model, the company will also focus on the development of new television products including scripted, non-scripted and animated programs, as well as the launch of a new WWE network in the next 12-18 months. The first new program of the brand expansion is Tough Enough, WWE's non-scripted program that debuted on the USA Network on Monday.

"The new business model of the company better reflects what WWE is all about, being a global entertainment company," stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. "We will always be loyal to our core business that made WWE a globally known entity, however, the future of WWE will be the addition of new entertainment content opportunities beyond the ring."

This new rebranding initiative will be highlighted through a national consumer and business-to-business advertising campaign entitled "Bigger. Badder. Better.™" The campaign kicked off at WrestleMania® XXVII on Sunday and will be featured on cable TV, print and online.

In addition to focusing on the expansion of the company, the company will bolster its core business with the launch a new talent development department headed by Paul "Triple H" Levesque. The new department will put a greater emphasis on worldwide recruitment, training and character development to identify future WWE Superstars and Divas. The first recruit acquired under Levesque's new department was the signing last month of future WWE Superstar, Sin Cara, formerly known worldwide as Mistico.

WWE CEO Vince McMahon has stated that he wanted to eliminate the word "wrestling" from their product, as they have moved on to a solely entertainment-based organization. Speaking with the LA Times, McMahon said, "I want everyone to look at us in a vastly different way than they have. It is a logical broadening of what we already do."

He was then asked about the product as a whole. "Nobody does television production better than we do, it's damn near the olympics," he said. "We know more about live event touring in the United States than anybody."

There are also plans for a WWE television network, which will feature matches and events from their enormous library they own. WWE hopes their network will be ready for launch sometime in 2012.

The organization features several Texas-based personalities, such as Mark Henry and Houston natives The Undertaker and Booker T. Booker runs a wrestling school and promotion here in Houston called PWA. You can check out the official PWA website for more information about that. The newest addition to their television lineup, the rebirth of the "Tough Enough" show, features Victoria, Texas native 'StoneCold" Steve Austin as the host, with Booker T as one of the trainers.

Thoughts?

[Mr. T]

Meh, I don't see the big deal. Is it pointless? I guess. But it's still WWE, and we all know what that WWE has stood for. Plus it's not like people were walking around saying "I'm going to a World Wrestling Entertainment show tonight", everyone calls it WWE anyway. Basically, everyone will still see the name and think of what it stood for.

[Justin King]

They are dropping the wrestling and want nothing to do with it. I was like "What, now we get 2 hour story time with oily dudes playing grab ass? That's what we've got already."

[Commissioner Warrior™]

Give it a few years and 'Wrestlemania' will be too 'wrestling'.

ENTERTAINAMANIA 30 LIVE FROM MADISON SQUARE GARDEN!

[The Sky King]

Summerslam = Summerfest
Wrestlemania = Entertainia
Extreme Rules = DIYFest

Aside from attempting (and failing) to come up with witty names, I don't really see what the point of dropping the wrestling moniker from the name is supposed to do. I mean..entertainment? You mean those shit straight-to-DVD B-movies they crank out? The kids comics? That's all I know of. Everything else is about W-R-E-S-T-L-I-N-G, or maybe i'm missing something. Maybe the half-naked sweaty men grappling eachother is now actually going to be turned into a full-on porno? God only knows. No wonder e-feddings going down the crapper..if WWE had their way, we'd be called "E-entertainers" or "E-Totally-not-fedders."

Then again, I suppose having names that conflict with your company is all commonplace now, like Total Nonstop Action (If by nonstop, you mean fifteen minutes out of two hours.)

[irobin]

I watched RAW again last night (twice in two weeks, am I fan again? No. Just down with a virus and very, very bored) and most of the matches were done in about six minutes, whilst they spent two minutes of every segment pimping "JOHN CENA CALLS OUT THE ROCK... TONIGHT!" I thought to myself "Where the hell is all the wrestling?"

This pretty much answers it, if the current interpretation of this press release is correct. If they're moving to entertainment, then the wrestling will become a side story. It'll be a lot like Eastenders, or Dynasty, where people talk, and plot, and form friendships... Then it all gets a bit heated and there's a fight from time to time.

[The Sky King]

Apr 8, 2011 4:01:45 GMT -5 @irobin said:

It'll be a lot like Eastenders, or Dynasty, where people talk, and plot, and form friendships... Then it all gets a bit heated and there's a fight from time to time.

Oh bloody hell, I can imagine that now..Triple H and Undertaker suddenly just decide to shake hands and become friends. For about a month, they're seen driving together, drinking together, and even tagging together. Then one day, tragedy strikes! The Miz, walking backstage, finds Triple H bruised and beaten! The Miz rushes over, and Triple H leans up and goes: "It was....." then collapses and falls into a coma inexplicably for the next nine RAWs..but then the Miz notices something next to Triple H. One of Undertakers MMA-style gloves. Cue theme:

[Commissioner Warrior™]

The Miz's one reign as WWE Champion has made him 23rd so far on the list for length of combined WWE Title reigns. He just passed Eddie.

[irobin]

Apr 8, 2011 8:55:08 GMT -5 The Sky King said:

Oh bloody hell, I can imagine that now..Triple H and Undertaker suddenly just decide to shake hands and become friends. For about a month, they're seen driving together, drinking together, and even tagging together. Then one day, tragedy strikes! The Miz, walking backstage, finds Triple H bruised and beaten! The Miz rushes over, and Triple H leans up and goes: "It was....." then collapses and falls into a coma inexplicably for the next nine RAWs..but then the Miz notices something next to Triple H. One of Undertakers MMA-style gloves.

It's probably a very poor reflection on my part, but my immediate thoughts at reading this were "I would watch that show". Possibly because I'm envisaging a buddy movie with Triple H and the Undertaker, rather than the crap-fest it would actually be. We could even bring back Scott Hall as the drunken landlord of "The WoolFpack" perhaps?

[Mr. T]

+Karma for The WoolFpack. Emmerdale FTW!

[Commissioner Warrior™]

The following is from NoDQ.com. I'm not even fucking kidding about this.

- WWE has an information sheet titled "The Language of WWE" that they send out to people that do international voice-overs for their TV shows in other countries. The sheet includes a list of "Incorrect Terminology" and a list of "Correct Terminology."

"The Language of WWE" reads like this:

"World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is a publicly traded entertainment company (NYSE: WWE) that creates and delivers a weekly action soap opera to its passionate fans.

WWE has been a recognized leader in entertainment for more than 25 years and has developed into one of the most popular and sophisticated forms of global entertainment today.

As a global entertainment brand, the language that we use when communicating on WWE is critical.

Please ensure that you are familiar and employing the below, effective immediately. "

Here's a look at some of the terms:

* "Wrestling" or "catch" is banned. Some European countries still use the term "catch" to describe pro wrestling and "catchers" to describe wrestlers. "The Language of WWE" states that the following phrases are incorrect: "Wrestling is broadcast in 145 countries," or "Catch is broadcast in 145 countries." The correct terminology is: "WWE is broadcast in 145 countries."

* "Sports" is incorrect. "Entertainment or Action Soap Opera" is allowed. For example, "WWE is exciting entertainment" or "WWE is an exciting action soap opera" is allowed. In the last example, "action soap opera" is printed in bold, presumably to make sure there's no confusion.

* "Catchers" or "wrestlers" are not allowed. Incorrect examples are "Catchers are unique characters" or "Wrestlers are unique characters." The term "WWE Superstars" is allowed.

* "Athletes" or "Sportsmen" are now allowed either. WWE gives the following example to use: "WWE Superstars are entertainers with tremendous athletic prowess."

* The term "fight" is not allowed. Matches must be referred to as "match" or "bout."

* "Fighting" is also not allowed but the term "action" is.

"The Language of WWE" printout concludes with the following "Key Soundbytes":

* WWE is pure entertainment

* WWE is an action soap opera

* WWE Superstars are entertainers with tremendous athletic prowess

[jackbull]

Fuck WWE

[Blade Alexander]

I'm completely unsurprised by this. WWE want to "expand" their audience by associating themselves with the entertainment side of what they do, they've been heading that way for years. I've pretty much given up on viewing WWE as a wrestling program, that's really not what it is anymore, it's just entertainment. Watching it with that in mind has renewed my tolerance for watching WWE every week. If I want to watch wrestling I'll tune into something else.

[irobin]

Apr 13, 2011 17:33:40 GMT -5 Commissioner Warrior™ said:

WHAT WAR WAR SAID

Honest to God, I hope that you are kidding about this. For some reason, I can't connect to NoDQ right now to check, but I really, really hope that this is a piss-take.

[Mr. T]

The thing I don't get about "expanding their audience" is this: people who might be into whatever "entertainment" aspects WWE provide (although in all honesty I really can't think what, maybe soap opera fans?), but have no interest in wrestling at all, still will never watch because of the wrestling; whereas the wrestling fans will still watch no matter how much of the shitty entertainment side of things they have to tolerate, as has been proven over recent years. I don't understand what they hope to achieve except depleting their audience if anything. Is Vince really that deluded?

[Commissioner Warrior™]

I've for the longest time been very loyal to WWE. I've been very loyal to the good talent abound that even if they weren't getting the amazing pushes they deserved, I was able to see them. Not anymore. Not for now at least.

I quit.

[The Sky King]

*reads post*]

....

[Blade Alexander]

Apr 13, 2011 20:23:39 GMT -5 Mr. T said:

Is Vince really that deluded?

Yes, yes he is.

[Christian Kane]

*reads post*

...

[irobin]

*reads post*

...

[Justin King]

lol at Swagger face and Bradshaw face