Cena’s Knee Injury A Work
Pretty much confirmed at this point. The refusal to accept further treatment was kind of a giveaway.
The Network Is LIVE
After some problems getting it to work, I’ve got it loaded up. Some of the shows can take a few seconds to load but the video looks great and there are a few extra shows that haven’t been mentioned like WCCW and a few house shows from the 80s. I’m thrilled so far.
Anyone had good and/or bad experiences so far?
Thought of the Day: The Wrestlemania X-Factor
It’s reminiscent of Judgment Day 2000.Back at Judgment Day 2000, the Rock was in an iron man match against HHH. With about two minutes to go, everything fell apart and Rock was outnumbered by about six to one. It looked like there was no hope but the Undertaker returned and saved the Rock. He also cost him the WWF Title but that’s another story.
The place went NUTS as Undertaker had been gone for about six months. He was making a huge return after about six months away and he had been gone just long enough that people had forgotten he was missing. That brings us to the next six weeks before Wrestlemania. There’s a factor that hasn’t been mentioned in the the last few weeks and I think that’s by design.
The man I’m talking about is Vince McMahon.
Vince hasn’t been seen on WWE TV since I believe TLC, or about two months ago. Everything seems to be falling down around Daniel Bryan as HHH and Stephanie’s authority continues to expand but if history has taught us anything, it’s that Vince McMahon can defy any story or power structure and be the ultimate power in WWE at the drop of a hat.
Vince is going to be back before Wrestlemania and he’s going to be shake up the Bryan vs. HHH feud. Bank on it.
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Ultimate Warrior DVD Match Listing
It has to be better than Self Destruction.
Cool cover art for this one too.
DISC 1:
Warriors Back!
Finding Wrestling
The Blade Runners vs. Perry Jackson & Shawn O’Reilly
UWF • April 11, 1986
Move to WCCW
Dingo Warrior vs. Chris Adams
WCCW • August 8, 1986
Arrival in WWE
Ultimate Warrior vs. Barry Horowitz
Wrestling Challenge • November 7, 1987
Ultimate Warrior vs. Steve Lombardi
Superstars • November 14, 1987
Getting Noticed
Ultimate Warrior vs. Harley Race
Boston, MA • March 5, 1988
Upgrading Warrior
Weasel Suit Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
Los Angeles, CA • July 15, 1988
Intercontinental Champion
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. The Honky Tonk Man
SummerSlam • August 29, 1988
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Honky Tonk Man
Philadelphia, PA • December 17, 1988
The Macho Man
WWE Championship and Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Macho Man Randy Savage
Boston, MA • February 11, 1989
Simply Ravishing
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Rick Rude
SummerSlam • August 28, 1989
Building Momentum
Ultimate Warrior vs. Bob Bradley
Prime Time Wrestling • September 18, 1989
Ultimate Warrior vs. Brian Costello
Prime Time Wrestling • December 25, 1989
Ultimate Warrior confronts Andre on Brother Love Show
Superstars • July 29, 1989
Memories of Andre
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant
Madison Square Garden • October 28, 1989
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Andre the Giant
Saturday Night’s Main Event • November 25, 1989
DISC 2:
Leading to Toronto
Ultimate Warrior Promo “Crash the Plane”
Superstars • March 10, 1990
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Mr. Perfect
Madison Square Garden • March 19, 1990
Running to the Ring
The Ultimate Challenge
WWE Championship vs. Intercontinental Championship Match
Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior
WrestleMania VI • April 1, 1990
Responsibilities of the Champion
WWE Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Million $ Man Ted DiBiase
Wrestling Summit • April 13, 1990
WWE Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude
Saturday Night’s Main Event • July 28, 1990
WWE Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Million $ Man Ted DiBiase
The Main Event • November 23, 1990
WWE Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter
Huntsville, AL • January 7, 1991
DISC 3:
New Direction
Steel Cage Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Macho King Randy Savage
Madison Square Garden • January 21, 1991
Ultimate Warrior ends Brother Loves Career
Superstars • March 2, 1991
No Limitations
Career Ending Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Macho King Randy Savage
WrestleMania VII • March 24, 1991
Into the Darkness
Ultimate Warrior on Paul Bearers Funeral Parlour
Superstars • April 13, 1991
Ultimate Warrior vs. The Undertaker
Toronto, ON • June 2, 1991
Returning
Gene Okerlund Interviews Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage
Superstars • July 25, 1992
Ultimate Maniacs
“Riding on the Edge of a Lightning Bolt”
Superstars • November 14, 1992
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Money Inc. vs. Ultimate Warrior & Macho Man Randy Savage
Saturday Night’s Main Event • November 14, 1992
Reestablish
“Faster Than a Cheetah”
RAW • March 11, 1996
Ultimate Warrior vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley
WrestleMania XII • March 31, 1996
Warrior Confronts Goldust
RAW • April 8, 1996
Ultimate Warrior Returns!
Vince McMahon Interviews Jerry “The King” Lawler and Ultimate Warrior
RAW • June 10, 1996
Ultimate Warrior vs. Jerry the King Lawler
King of the Ring • June 23, 1996
Going to WCW
Ultimate Warrior Interrupts Hollywood Hogan
Nitro • August 17 1998
Replusive
Ultimate Warrior Promo
Nitro • October 26, 1998
The Right Story
Blu-Ray Extras:
Dingo Warrior vs. Matt Bourne
WCCW • October 24, 1986
Ultimate Warrior & The British Bulldogs vs. Demolition & Mr Fuji
Maple Leaf Gardens • July 24, 1988
Intercontinental Championship Match
Ultimate Warrior vs. Dino Bravo
The Main Event • February 23, 1990
WrestleMania VII Contract Signing
Road to WrestleMania VII • March 17, 1991
Ultimate Warrior vs. Sgt. Slaughter
WrestleFest • March 30, 1991
Intercontinental Championship Match
Goldust vs. Ultimate Warrior
In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies • April 28, 1996
Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up my new book of on the History of Summerslam at Amazon for just $3.99 at:
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Hulk Hogan Returning To WWE, Hosting Wrestlemania XXX
Straight from WWE.com.
This makes me feel better in a way. You just have to have Hogan at a show he was responsible for creating when it turns 30. Also, I’m so glad he’s hosting instead of wrestling. It would have been sad as well as dangerous to see him in the ring so having him fire up the crowd is the best news possible.
WWE Fourth Quarter Financial Report
Good stuff for the company.
From 411mania.com.
Overview:
- Revenues totaled $118.4 million as compared to $115.1 million in the prior year
quarter. - Operating loss was $12.2 million as compared to income of $2.6 million in the prior year quarter.
- Net loss was $7.9 million, or $0.10 per share, as compared to income of $0.6 million, or $0.01 per share, in the prior year quarter.
- OIBDA in the fourth quarter 2013 decreased to a $5.6 million loss from income of $8.5 million in the prior year quarter.
- The decline in OIBDA and Operating was due to increased investment in staffing, talent and marketing to support our strategic content initiatives, including the launch of WWE Network.
- Lower sales of new DVD releases and a corresponding shift in product mix to lower priced catalog titles.
House shows:
Live Event revenues increased 9% to $25.4 million from $23.3 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to staging three additional events in international markets that in aggregate garnered a higher average ticket price in the current year quarter.
- There were 78 total events, including 52 events in North America and 26 events in international markets, in the current quarter as compared to 75 events in the prior year quarter, including 52 events in North America and 23 in international markets.
- North American live event revenue of $13.8 million was essentially unchanged from the prior year quarter, as a 4% increase average attendance to approximately 5,900 fans was offset by a reduction in live event sponsorship sales. The average realized ticket price of $44.59 also remained essentially unchanged from the prior year quarter.
- International live event revenue increased 23% to $11.6 million from $9.4 million in the prior year quarter. The growth reflected the impact of staging three additional events in the quarter. Additionally, changes in venue mix contributed to both an increase in average ticket price and a partially offsetting decline in average attendance. The average ticket price rose 17% to $81.98 as the current year quarter included three events in Abu Dhabi, an international market that has historically garnered higher ticket prices. Average international attendance declined 7% to 5,200.
Pay Per View:
Pay-Per-View revenues were $15.7 million as compared to $13.0 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the production of four pay-per-view events in the current quarter as compared to three in the prior year quarter. Revenue for the events held in both the current and prior year quarter increased 2% based on a comparable increase in pay-per-view buys. The average revenue per buy for these events was essentially unchanged from the prior year.
- WWE Battleground (October): 114,000 buys, No PPV in 2012
- WWE Hell in a Cell (October): 228,000 buys, up 29,000 from 2012
- WWE Survivor Series (November): 177,000 buys in 2013, down 31,000 from 2012
- WWE TLC (December): 181,000 buys, up 6,000 from 2012
- Buys From Prior Events: 82,000 buys, up 12,000 from 2012
- 2013 Total: 782,000 buys, up 130,000 from 2012.
- Note: If you take out the extra Battleground PPV for the quarter, the company still did 16,000 more buys as compared to the same quarter last year.
Consumer Products:
- Home Entertainment net revenues were $5.0 million as compared to $9.6 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease was driven by a 33% decline in the average price per unit to approximately $8 due, in part, to a higher proportion of catalog sales than in the prior year quarter. This shift derived from changes at retail, including reduced space for DVD inventory and demand for lower priced product. Shipments of catalog titles increased 51% and accounted for 57% of total unit shipments compared to 35% in the prior year quarter. Based on the sustained increase in catalog shipments, which historically have been characterized by lower sell-through rates, estimated returns increased to 51% from 37% of gross revenue. Also contributing to the decline in net home entertainment revenue, overall shipments fell 8% to 1.1 million with two fewer releases in the quarter (9 in Q4 2013 vs. 11 in Q4 2012).
- Licensing revenues declined 14% to $7.2 million from $8.4 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to reduced sales of toy products in the U.S. and international markets. Despite the fourth quarter decline, domestic retail toy sales increased for the full year and WWE maintained its position with the second highest selling action figure property in the U.S. market. In late 2013, the Company launched a new line of construction toys, a segment of the toy category that has demonstrated strong growth over the last several years. Royalties from the sale of video game and apparel products were essentially flat to the prior year quarter, as modest growth in the U.S. was offset by lower sales in international markets.
- Magazine publishing net revenues were $1.3 million as compared to $1.7 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting lower newsstand sales in the current year quarter.
TV Revenue
Television revenues increased 2% to $41.3 million from $40.6 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the production and monetization of Total Divas, a new program, which debuted in July 2013, as well as contractual increases for existing programs licensed in international markets. These increases were partially offset by the timing of one less episode of Raw in the U.S. (due to one less Monday in the fourth quarter of 2013 as compared to the fourth quarter 2012).
WWE Studios
WWE Studios recognized revenue of $5.0 million as compared to revenue of $0.6 million in the prior year quarter primarily due to the performance and timing of results from the Company’s portfolio of movies. The fourth quarter 2013 reflected revenue from Christmas Bounty, a made-for-TV movie that aired in November 2013, and to a lesser extent, revenue from The Call (starring Halle Berry), which was released theatrically in March 2013. Although four movies were released during 2012, these releases had limited impact on revenue recognized in the fourth quarter of that year. WWE Studios’ movie portfolio generated income of $0.1 million in the quarter compared to a loss of $1.2 million in the prior year quarter, which included $0.5 million in film impairment charges. Excluding the impact of film impairment charges, the WWE Studios’ movie portfolio contributed to essentially break-even results in the current year as compared to a loss of $0.7 million in the prior year quarter.
During the current year, WWE Studios recognized revenue of $10.8 million as compared to $7.9 million in the prior year, reflecting the timing of results generated by the Company’s portfolio of movies. In November 2013, the Company released Christmas Bounty, a made-for-TV film. Additionally, five other films were released in the current year (12 Rounds 2: Reloaded, No One Lives, Dead Man Down, The Call and The Marine 3: Homefront) versus four in the prior year.
Based on revised ultimate expectations for the Company’s movies, film impairment charges increased to $11.7 million in the current year compared to $1.2 million in the prior year. Impairments were primarily related to the Company’s 2010-2012 film slate, as well as Dead Man Down, which were released earlier in 2013. As a result, WWE Studios generated a loss of $12.7 million compared to a loss of $5.5 million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of film impairment charges, the WWE Studios’ movie portfolio generated an adjusted loss of $1.0 million compared to an adjusted loss of $4.3 million in the prior year.
Digital Media:
Revenues from our Digital Media related businesses were $11.7 million as compared to $12.1 million in the prior year quarter.
- WWE.com revenues were $5.7 million as compared to $6.2 million in the prior year quarter with lower aggregate sales of digital content. Key digital metrics such as unique visitors to the Company’s website and mobile app as well as average monthly page views increased from the prior year quarter.
- WWEShop revenues were $6.0 million as compared to $5.9 million in the prior year quarter reflecting a comparable percentage increase in revenue per order to $47.88. The volume of online merchandise sales remained essentially unchanged at approximately 124,300 orders.
Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $508.0 million as compared to $484.0 million in the prior year. Operating income for the current year was $5.9 million versus $43.2 million in the prior year. Net income was $2.8 million, or $0.04 per share, as compared to $31.4 million, or $0.42 per share, in the prior year. OIBDA was $30.4 million for the current year as compared to $63.2 million in the prior year. Excluding items that impacted comparability on a year-over-year basis, Adjusted Operating income was $14.2 million compared to $44.4 million in the prior year, Adjusted OIBDA was $38.7 million as compared to $64.4 million and Adjusted Net income was $8.2 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to $28.1 million, or $0.38 per share, in the prior year.
In summary, WWE is making a lot of money.
Thought of the Day: Size Matters To Randy Orton
Not one of my more exact ideas but it’s pretty accurate.Orton tends to work better against guys smaller than he is. Think about it.
Good Matches With Orton
Cena
Christian
Ziggler
Shawn Michaels
Not So Good Matches With Orton
HHH
Sheamus
Big Show
Edge
Orton is about 6’4, or the same height as Edge and HHH. Like I said, not an exact science but most things in wrestling aren’t.
Name Changes In WWE
There are two of them.For reasons not quite clear, Antonio Cesaro is now known as just “Cesaro” and Big E. Langston is now just “Big E.”
I like the dropping of Antonio but I don’t get dropping Langston. It gave Big E. the perfect three syllable name and sounded very good. I can live with it but I’m not wild on it.
Austin Likely Never Wrestling Again
If that’s true, I can’t say I’m complaining.As we saw with Rock, a legend coming back doesn’t mean it’s going to be a success. Austin is nearly 50 years old and while he looks to be in great shape, there’s a big difference in being in movies and hosting a podcast and being on the road all the time while wrestling. I have no problem with him never getting in the ring again as he’s given us more than enough memories over the years, though the idea of one last Wrestlemania match was interesting.
Thought of the Day: Batista and Wrestlemania
I’ve shifted a bit on this.At the Rumble, I was ok with Batista winning and getting the title shot at Wrestlemania. Since then though, it’s pretty clear that things aren’t what they used to be. Yeah Batista is in a big Hollywood movie this year, but the wrestling fans just do not care. A lot of this is due to Bryan and Punk, as Batista just came back at the wrong time. The fans want to see Daniel Bryan winning the title at Wrestlemania and they want Punk back (though the chants were WAY weaker on Monday) and Batista just happens to be there around this time.
As of right now, they would be insane to put Batista in the title match as the only challenger. He’s certainly a big name and worthy of being in the title hunt, but I think just bringing him back and immediately putting him in the title match in this environment was just asking for trouble. Thankfully it does seem like the company is backpedaling a bit on him as Batista is barely getting any TV time. Making the title match a three way would be acceptable, as I really don’t think the fans are as much anti-Batista as they are pro-Bryan. There’s a future in WWE for Big Dave, but it’s not as the sole challenger for Randy Orton at Wrestlemania XXX.