– According to WWE sources, the company’s new top priority are its various television products – namely, RAW and SmackDown. The change in direction has been in the works for some time now and comes straight from Vince McMahon.
WWE’s top priority for decades has been maximizing revenue from pay-per-view events. While PPV is still one of the company’s core profit centers, buyrates have been declining for years and WWE is now relying more than ever on its television rights fees from NBC Universal.
At a time when WWE’s pay-per-view buys are declining, the company is relying on television more than ever, as evidenced by the recent announcement that RAW is expanding to 3 hours. WWE will make several extra million dollars per year from RAW’s third hour on USA, which will offset losses from PPVs not selling as well.
– In an #AftermathRadio retro interview, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin talks in depth with Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas about his infamous “double turn” match at WrestleMania 13 vs Bret Hart — where the Hitman became a villain and Austin became a hero in the same match. Austin also shares a laugh about ribbing referees in dark matches.
(Source: PWInsider.com)