The pro wrestling rumor mill is often buzzing about the future of WWE vs. AEW. Let’s see what today’s rumors have to say about it!
Top Rumor of the Day: Why people in WWE are saying AEW is doomed
There was a story last week about people in WWE spreading word that AEW’s TV deal is doomed after Paramount takes over Warner Bros. Discovery.
Why are people in WWE doing this so early in the sale process when it’s apparent that we still don’t even know when the Paramount deal will be finalized, or who will be making these major decisions about AEW’s future there? Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer indicates that one reason why WWE is doing this is to have more negotiating leverage over the wrestlers.
In other words, it is advantageous to WWE if the wrestlers are concerned about AEW’s future and believe they won’t be financially secure there. A WWE wrestler who is “interested in AEW” reached out to Meltzer about this very concern, and claims that “everyone” in WWE is talking about AEW’s TV deal not being renewed.
With that in mind, here is what WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash said on his Kliq This podcast about the WWE wrestlers who recently took 50% pay cuts to keep their jobs:
“I’ve got enough moles in the business where I know the people that took 50 percent cuts. I know one of the guys, and when I found out what the person was making…I just picked myself up off the ground that he was making that much money, and then realized that even at 50 percent, he was making huge money.”
Putting all of this together, the idea of taking a 50% pay cut in WWE might not seem so bad for a wrestler if they are still making good money after the cut and have doubts about their ability to make that same kind of money in AEW. It’s certainly a financial win for WWE.
The rest of the rumors!
- PWInsider claims that former world champion Stephanie Vaquer is expected to return to WWE by the weekend of Clash In Italy.
- WrestleVotes says even though there was heat on Jade Cargill months ago, top people in WWE are happy with the progress she has made and still see her as a star.
- During an interview on the Battleground Podcast, the Bella Twins said they have “pushed hard” for the return of Total Divas, and this is the “perfect time” for the show to come back with so many new stars in the WWE women’s division.
- Jake Paul recently told the Undefeated & Undisputed podcast that TKO hates him so much that they’ve banned him from attending his brother Logan’s matches in WWE.
- While speaking at the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference, TKO COO Mark Shapiro said the reason why UFC passed on the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight is because it was “more of a stunt than a meaningful MMA event.” Meltzer notes that this is “revisionist history bullshit,” because UFC spent “a year negotiating it as a [PPV] main event.”
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