WWE Superstar Bayley was able to show her skills on the court as part of this year’s NBA All Star Celebrity game. Playing as part of Team Jerry Rice, Bayley took to X (fka Twitter) before the big game to share her excitement.

Before the game got started, Bayley had quite the entrance and introduction. The former WWE Women’s Champion came off the bench in the first half and started in the second half.

On the court, Bayley showed off her driblling and her athleticisim, honed by years as a WWE Superstar.

Despite a strong effort, Bayley didn’t score any points and her team would lose 66-55 to the team coached by Barry Bonds. On X, Bayley shared one aspect of the game that’ll haunt her for the rest of the week.

With her NBA debut in the rear-view mirror, Bayley now looks towards WWE NXT Vengeance Day where she will challenge Giulia for the NXT Women’s Title in a match that’ll include Roxanne Perez. With an Elimination Chamber match also in the Role Model’s future, Bayley is certainly being kept busy back in her home of professional wrestling.

WWE Superstar Bayley is set to showcase her athletic prowess outside the wrestling ring as she joins the roster for the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game. The event will take place on Friday, February 14 at 7 PM ET, airing live on ESPN.

One of WWE’s top female stars in recent history, the Role Model will represent Team Rice, coached by NFL legend Jerry Rice and social media star Khaby Lame. She’ll be sharing the court with a diverse lineup of celebrities, including former NBA player Matt Barnes, comedian Druski, and country singer Walker Hayes. While Bayley will be the only wrestler involved, Kai Cenat, who appeared at the 2025 Royal Rumble team will be a part of Team Bonds (coached by Barry Bonds.)

Bayley’s participation adds a unique flair to the game, blending the world of professional wrestling with basketball. Fans will be eager to see how Bayley’s in-ring endurance translates to the hardwood as she competes against Team Bonds. The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend is set in the San Francisco Bay Area, adding a hometown twist for Bayley, who hails from nearby San Jose.

Bayley won’t be the first WWE Superstar to compete in the NBA Celebrity All-Star game. The Miz put on quite the show back in 2023 and nearly won the game for his team. The two-time WWE Grand Slam Champion nailed an incredible half-court shot over Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, but failed to get it off ahead of the buzzer.

In WWE, Bayley recently came up short in the Women’s Royal Rumble, though next week’s Elimination Chamber qualifier could bring the Role Model one step closer to a title match at WrestleMania. Whatever comes, fans can look forward to seeing Bayley on the court as the WWE staple explands her role in sports entertainment.

Bayley on WWE’s Women’s Division: “We Have Too Much Talent”

WWE is the leading name in professional wrestling and despite recent competition from the likes of AEW, has remained in this top spot for decades. While WWE’s influence can be felt across the wrestling landscape, basketball legend Derek Fisher feels the promotion’s impact is being felt in the wider world of sports.

Speaking to Bryan Scott’s Fast Break podcast about how the NBA and basketball has changed, Fisher said that the sports has become far more about putting on an entertaining show than focusing on the game. The five-time NBA Champion compared this change to the WWF’s transformation into WWE in 2002 and the fan-centric experience of the modern-day product.

“When I watch the NBA today, I sometimes compare it to [when] the WWE was WWF, World Wrestling Federation, and then it shifted to World Wrestling Entertainment… you listen to guys that have played before and coached before. It’s a different game, and it’s not a negative thing. It’s just built more for the entertainment value maybe than the competitive value.”

Fisher went on to say that this isn’t just a basketball matter, but that all sports have made efforts to become more fan-centric like WWE. The promotion’s new era has certainly favored the experience of attendees, with smaller stages allowing for more fans to attend weekly episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown.

The NBA and WWE

Though two very different industries, many in the NBA have taken notice at the efforts of WWE and its roster. In April of this year, Charles Barkley gave props to The Rock and his work as the ‘Final Boss’ since returning to WWE. During this week’s WWE NXT, Tyrese Haliburton appeared with some of his Indiana Pacers allies in his latest appearance for WWE. While Haliburton focused mostly on NXT and its plans for the October 1, premiere on the CW, he couldn’t help but take aim at the Orlando Magic, eliciting boos from the crowd.

WWE Smackdown (11/29)

This week’s episode of Smackdown kicked off with Renee Young in the ring. Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch joined her in the ring for a contract signing for their Smackdown Women’s Championship match this Sunday at WWE TLC. Alexa Bliss told Renee Young to get out of the ring. Bliss also scolded Renee for her fashion choices. Becky Lynch then compared Alexa to her four year old cousin. Bliss continued to insult Becky Lynch and they both signed the contract. After they both signed it, they brawled in the ring. Lynch hit the Becksplex on Alexa Bliss. Alexa then fought back and shoved Becky through a table off of the turnbuckle.

Reaction: I thought this promo was really good. Becky Lynch can be a bit of adventure on the microphone but tonight she did a good job. Alexa Bliss is excellent on the microphone and her facial expressions are hilarious. I find this feud to be much more interesting than the one between Charlotte and Sasha Banks on Raw.

.@AlexaBliss_WWE blocks @BeckyLynchWWE's #Bexploder, and sends the Champ crashing through the table! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/gbOh4XYeVU

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Dolph Ziggler & Kalisto vs Baron Corbin & The Miz

Corbin dominated the match early and threw Ziggler out of the ring. The Miz was then tagged in and he immediately grabbed a ladder from under the ring. Ziggler got up and connected with a DDT on The Miz outside the ring. Ziggler then hit Corbin with a Superkick. Back in the ring, Ziggler tagged in Kalisto. The Miz hit Kalisto with a boot to the face and dove outside the ring onto Ziggler. Miz then launched Ziggler into the barricade surroinding the ring.

Kalisto then dove onto Corbin outside the ring. Ziggler hit a Superkick on The Miz as he was lying on the ring apron. Maryse shoved the ladder into Ziggler’s face. Kalisto landed the Salida del Sol on The Miz in the ring. Before the referee could count to three, Baron Corbin nailed Kalisto in the back with a chair. The referee then disqualified The Miz and Baron Corbin.

Winners via DQ: Dolph Ziggler & Kalisto

Reaction: This was a quick match but it served a purpose. Ziggler will be facing The Miz in a ladder match for the IC Title on Sunday. Corbin will be squaring off with Kalisto in a chairs match at TLC. Both the ladder and a chair came into play during this match. I like it when things make sense, don’t you?

.@BaronCorbinWWE, you can't do that until Sunday at #WWETLC! @HEELZiggler & @KalistoWWE win by DQ! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/IDPvwvv19j

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

American Alpha were interviewed backstage about their match tonight versus Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton. Gable and Jordan stated that they will prove again tonight why they are the best team in the WWE.

Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton and Luke Harper were then shown backstage. Orton interrupted Wyatt and questioned Luke Harper. Orton asked Harper if he was going to do what needs to be done tonight against Kane. Harper looked aggravated and Wyatt instructed Harper to go send Kane back to hell. There is obviously some friction between Harper and Orton. I do not believe that Harper is completely sold on Orton joining the Wyatt Family.

"Harper … go send @KaneWWE back to HELL!" – @WWEBrayWyatt #SDLive #WyattFamily pic.twitter.com/GLnJn5MvrR

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Carmella came down to the ring for a match but that never happened. Carmella gave a special message to John Cena. Carmella apologized for what she will do to his girlfriend, Nikki Bella at TLC. Carmella claimed that she was going to rearranged Nikki’s “Bella twins” and her face as well. Nikki Bella came sprinting from backstage and attacked Carmella. The referee seperated them and that allowed Carmella to haul off and slap Nikki in the face. Nikki then got up and continued the assault on Carmella.

"@JohnCena, I want to publicly apologize for what I'm going to do to your girlfriend [at #WWETLC]." – @CarmellaWWE #SDLive pic.twitter.com/lNqKBBw8PB

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Ambrose Asylum w/ Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose introduced James Ellsworth as his first guest on the Ambrose Asylum. An “Ellsworth!” chant broke out amongst the crowd. Ambrose poked fun at Ellsworth’s old wrestling boots. Ellsworth thanked Ambrose for helping him become an official WWE Superstar. Ellsworth stated that if Ambrose ever needed anything he would do it. Ambrose asked Ellsworth to wash his car, do his laundry and pick him up a six-pack and some candy for later.

Ambrose asked Ellsworth who he will be rooting for this Sunday at TLC. Ellsworth stated that it would be an honor to wrestle Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Championship. AJ Styles interrupted the party and stood on the announce table. Styles poked fun at Ellsworth and called him a dummy. Ambrose stated that Styles had then lost to a dummy three times.

Styles got in the ring and claimed that he was tired of Ambrose making him out to be a joke. Styles demanded respect and claimed that he was going to beat the hell out of Ambrose at TLC. Styles dared Ellsworth to show up during his match againt Ambrose at TLC. Ambrose claimed that Styles was weak mentally. Ambrose stated that this Sunday the fun and games were over. Ambrose went on to state that he will recapture the WWE World Championship at TLC.

Styles pushed Ellsworth into Ambrose who fell into a ladder. AJ then whipped Ellsworth into a table and smashed Dean Ambrose with the steel steps. Styles returned to the ring and beatdown Ellsworth. Styles hit Ellsworth with a ladder and then tossed him out of the ring. Ellsworth’s feet got caught up in the bottom rope and Styles hit him with a steel chair. AJ then hit the Styles Clash on Ellsworth off of the steps onto the floor outside the ring.

Reaction: Finally, Styles got the upper hand on Ellsworth and Ambrose. I find Ellsworth to be very entertaining but I’m not really interested in seeing him in the WWE World Championship picture. Having said that, this was a very good promo. There has only been one match in the first hour and fifteen minutes of tonight’s Smackdown. Usually that would annoy me but tonight’s promos have all ended in brawls.

"@AJStylesOrg has just delivered the MOTHER OF ALL #StylesClashes to @RealEllsworth!" – @MauroRanallo#SDLive #WWETLC pic.twitter.com/KKihIY7zO4

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Luke Harper vs Kane

Kane and Harper tied up to begin the match. Kane shoved Harper down and Harper got back up and they locked up again. Harper bounced off of the ropes and hit a couple of shoulder blocks but Kane was not phased. Kane then leveled Harper. Luke Harper got back up and hit Kane with a series of uppercuts. Kane once again shrugged them off and came right back at Harper. Smackdown went to a commercial break with Luke Harper outside the ring with a shocked look on his face.

When Smackdown returned, Harper was in control of the match and had a Chinlock applied to Kane in the center of the ring. Kane battled out of the Chinlock and hit a Jawbreaker. Kane went for a Chokeslam but Harper blocked it and kicked Kane in the head. Harper went for a pinfall but Kane kicked out at two. Kane fought back and connected with a DDT on Harper. Kane followed it up with a Sidewalk Slam and went for a pin but Harper kicked out. Harper battled back and hit Kane with a Dropkick to the ribs. Kane was affected and hunched over in the corner. Harper leaped on him twice and connected with a couple of shots to the ribs. Harper then then climbed to the second turnbuckle and hit Kane with a couple of punches.

Kane fought out of the corner by hitting a Powerbomb on Harper. Kane once again went for the Chokeslam but Harper grabbed the rope. Harper connected with a Sidewalk Slam of his own but Kane kicked out once again. Kane slammed Harper to the mat and climbed to the top rope. Kane went for a Clothesline off of the top rope but Harper ducked it and drilled Kane with a Superkick. Kane once again powered out of the pinfall at two. Harper then climbed to the top rope but Kane got up and punched him in the face. Kane then joined Harper on the turnbuckle and connected with a massive Superplex to Harper.

Both men slowly got back to their feet and began to trade punches. Kane blocked a punch by Harper and grabbed his throat. Kane then connected with a Chokeslam and picked up the victory.

Winner: Kane

Reaction: When you think of Kane versus Luke Harper it doesn’t sound like it would be a good match. This match was actually quite good. The announcers made a comment after the match that Bray Wyatt will not be happy with Luke Harper following this loss to Kane. I’m intrigued with the Wyatt Family storyline right now. It appears that Harper may be on his way out and Orton will be replacing him. I’m curious if this will wind up with Orton turning his back on Bray after he has already destroyed the Wyatt Family from the inside. I do not really know where they are going with this and that is a good thing. Luke Harper has always been one of the more underrated Superstars on the roster. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in the Intercontinental Championship picture and having a single’s run of his own. Harper can work well with almost any male Superstar on the Smackdown roster. I think if you put him up against someone like Baron Corbin they would put on some very physical and entertaining matches.

#CHOKESLAM by @KaneWWE!!! ONE TWO THREE!! #SDLive @LukeHarperWWE pic.twitter.com/46nPuNNTqZ

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

Smackdown Tag Team #1 Contenders Match: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt vs American Alpha

Randy Orton and Jason Jordan started out the match. Jordan went on the offensive to start things off. The WWE cut to Slater and Rhyno watching the match from backstage. This was humorous because the television screen they were watching was black for a second and essentially Slater and Rhyno were staring at nothing.

Bray Wyatt entered the match and Jordan went to jump onto him but Wyatt ducked and Jordan went flying into the ropes. Bray tagged in Orton and he continued the assault on Jordan. Gable tagged himself in and immediately connected with a Crossbody off the top rope on Orton. Gable climbed to the top rope again but Wyatt knocked him to the outside of the ring and Smackdown went to a commercial break.

When Smackdown returned, Wyatt and Gable were in the ring. Wyatt hit Gable with a DDT on the ring apron. Wyatt then went for a pin but Gable kicked out at two. Orton then entered the match and applied a Chinlock to Gable. Orton hit a Powerslam on Gable and once again went for a pinfall but it was unsuccessful. Orton tagged in Wyatt and Gable connected with a Dropkick then sent Bray to the mat. Gable tried to tag in Jordan but Bray got up and punched Jordan off of the ring apron.

Bray mounted Gable on the mat and punched him in the face several times. Orton was tagged back in and propped Gable up on the top rope. Orton connected with a Superplex on Gable. Jason Jordan and Bray Wyatt were then tagged in. Jordan leveled Wyatt with an overhead Belly to Belly Suplex. Chad Gable hit Orton with a Cannonball off of the ring apron. Back in the ring, Jordan hit a German Suplex on Bray Wyatt.

The lights then went out and Luke Harper was ringside. Bray went for the Sister Abigail but Gable prevented it. American Alpha then went for the Grand Amplitude but Orton hit Gable with an RKO out of nowhere. Jordan went to hit Bray with a Spear but Harper pulled Bray out of the way. Wyatt then hit the Sister Abigail on Jordan for the victory. Wyatt and Orton will now face Slater and Rhyno at TLC this Sunday. Slater and Rhyno were interviewed backstage but AJ Styles interrupted. Styles stated that nobody cared about the Tag Team titles. Ambrose then appeared out of nowhere and attacked Styles and Smackdown went off the air.

Reaction: This was a very solid match to close out a good episode of Smackdown. It appears that Harper and Orton are back to getting along for now. Tonight’s episode was promo-heavy but they all were effective. TLC is shaping up to be an exciting show and I cannot wait to watch it on Sunday.

Winners & #1 Contenders For The Smackdown Tag Team Championships: Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt

#SisterAbigail!! The #WyattFamily is going to #WWETLC to face @HeathSlaterOMRB and @Rhyno313!! #1Contender pic.twitter.com/telCi0c0T9

— WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2016

205 Live (11/29)

Austin Aries and Corey Graves joined Mauro Ranallo on commentary. All of the Superstars on 205 Live were on the entrance ramp and they were introduced to the WWE Universe. A vignette for the Bollywood Boyz was then shown.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803797913251917824

Bollywood Boyz vs Drew Gulak & Tony Nese

Harv and Gurv Sihra started out the match on the offensive. Tony Nese was laid out by both of them but was able battle back and tag in Gulak. For the next few minutes, Gulak dominated the match. Nese was tagged back in and he continued the assault on the Bollywood Boyz. Gulak got back into the match and maintained control of the match.

Nese got back in the match and he applied a Chinlock to one of the Bollywood Boyz. Harv battled out of the Chinlock and connected with a Neckbreaker. Harv tagged in Gurv and he hut Gulak with several chops and a kick to the face. The Bollywood Boyz hit a double Superkick on Drew Gulak for the pinfall victory.

Winners: The Bollywood Boyz

Reaction: Not the best way to start off the debut episode of 205 Live. There were some cool spots in this match but overall it was very clunky.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803800282756878338

TJ Perkins and Brian Kendrick had a confrontation. Perkins stated that he is still owed a rematch and that he wants Kendrick to retain the Cruiserweight Championship tonight. Perkins wants Kendrick to keep the belt so he can get his rematch and take the title away from him.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803801771600580608

Ariya Daivari vs Jack Gallagher

Gallagher started out this match extremely cocky and applied a few submission holds to Daivari while posing for the crowd. Daivari battled back and but Gallagher escaped his Headlock. Gallagher did a handstand on the top turnbuckle and then took Daivari down. Gallagher then tied Daivari up in a knot in the center of the ring and taunted him from the corner. Gallagher then hit him with a running kick and Daivari escaped the knot.

Daivari connected with a Neckbreaker on Gallagher and slapped him in the face a couple of times. Daivari applied a Chinlock but Gallagher fought out of it and connected with a couple of Dropkicks. Gallagher then headbutted Daivari and hit him with a Dropkick in the corner for the victory.

Winner: Jack Gallagher

Reaction: This match was bizarre and entertaining. Jack Gallagher may look ridiculous but he is fun to watch. The main positive to take from this match is that Gallagher was able to get the crowd into it. That is something that has escaped the Cruiserweight division when it is featured on Monday Night Raw.

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803803266274369537

Cruiserweight Championship Match: Brian Kendrick (c) vs Rich Swann

Kendrick started off the match in control. Swann battled back and hit a Dropkick. Kendrick kicked out of a pinfall and Swann applied a Chinlock. Kendrick reversed the Chinlock into a German Suplex. Kendrick attacked Swann in the corner but Swann fought back and connected with several chops to the chest of Kendrick.

Swann landed a Tiger Bomb on Kendrick and Kendrick rolled out of the ring. Swann followed him out of the ring and hit a Summersault Clothesline off of the barricade. The action returned to the ring and Kendrick connected with another German Suplex. Kendrick then hit a Neckbreaker and Swann’s head hit the top turnbuckle. Swann then fell out of the ring and to the floor.

Swann was able to get back in the ring before the referee counted him out. Kendrick immediately hit him with a Suplex. Kendrick went for the Captain’s Hook but Swann blocked it. Swann then connected with a Michinoku Driver on Kendrick. Swann followed it up with a kick to the face of Kendrick. Swann went for the Standing 450 but Kendrick got his knees up and then locked in the Captain’s Hook.

Swann was able to reach the bottom rope and the crowd cheered him on. Both men were on the top turnbuckle and Kendrick bit Swann’s wrist and hit Sliced Bread. Swann kicked out and the crowd started to chant “this is awesome!”. Swannt connected with three spinning heel kicks in a row and pinned Kendrick for the victory.

After the match, Swann thanked his mother that has passed away and dedicated the match to her. Kendrick was also interviewed on the entrance ramp. Kendrick blamed the loss on TJ Perkins for playing mind games with him earlier in the night. Kendrick also stated that the WWE Universe should not get used to Swann as the Cruiserweight Champion. Kendrick vowed to get his title back and walked away.

Winner & New Cruiserweight Champion: Rich Swann

https://twitter.com/WWE205Live/status/803809979639558144

Reaction: 205 Live started off slow but picked up momentum and wound up being a pretty decent show. I thought the match between Kendrick and Swann was very good. I hope that the Cruiserweight division gets some more time on Monday Night Raw as a result of this show but I doubt that will be the case. Overall, both Smackdown and 205 Live were good shows tonight.

What did you think of this week’s episodes of Smackdown and 205 Live? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

This week’s rating and viewership for Monday Night Raw can be seen as a positive or a negative depending on how you look at it. The problem is that there are a lot of ways to look at it.

The numbers for this week’s show, in and of themselves, don’t mean anything because Raw was airing opposite the most watched presidential debate in the history of television. We knew the show would not do well, and it ended up doing the second lowest rating (1.75; the record is 1.5) in the history of the show while pulling in what Dave Meltzer reported was the lowest average viewership (2.46 million) in the show’s history.

While Meltzer speculated that it could end up doing the lowest rating for Monday night wrestling on USA Network going back to the Prime Time Wrestling days, a cursory look at historical ratings information suggests that Prime Time most likely never went that low. The earliest number I could get, from July 1988 (which week wasn’t clear), was a 3. while when the show went off the air at the start of 1993 to make way for Raw, it was hovering in the low 2s. Suffice to say, based on how the cable universe shifted and the numbers we have, Prime Time dropping below a 1.5 seems unrealistic.

It was Wade Keller of PWTorch who probably made the most astute observation about Mondays rating:

https://twitter.com/thewadekeller/status/780876302991491072

However, there are two ways to look at this:

1. WWE has an amazingly loyal audience, and that counts for a lot.
2. WWE’s audience has eroded to consist only of hardcores who don’t pay attention to world news.

The latter is admittedly a little extreme, but you have to remember that WWE programming and pro wrestling in general gets exceedingly low rates for its commercial time. That problem is twofold: While a lot of it is steeped in negative stereotypes about pro wrestling fans being idiots who think it’s a real sport, past research into wrestling fans have given critics (and thrifty advertisers) some ammunition.

For example, in 1999, SummerSlam was mainstream thanks to Jesse Ventura’s involvement, so Gallup did some polling of wrestling fans. “Not surprisingly,” Gallup’s Mark Gillespie wrote, “wrestling fans tend to be young males with high school educations who earn less than $30,000 annually.” Not surprisingly, for an article from 1999, he didn’t exactly word that tastefully. Other takeaways included wrestling fans largely being Democrats, 33% of black men and women surveyed calling themselves fans compared to 16% of whites, and, surprisingly, the east coast having the least wrestling fans of any region in the United States.

A 2013 poll from Scarborough had similar results:  It showed the median household income of WWE fans as $35,229, well below the “average U.S. sports fan” median of $50,667 and even the UFC’s $47,238. On top of that, almost two thirds of WWE fans surveyed were high school graduates or less, Whatever you think of the data and whether you not you think it reflects you, these surveys were conducted by established pollsters that sponsors and potential corporate partners will listen to. The last thing WWE needs is more data the points in a similar direction, and it can definitely be argued that Monday’s rating does just that.

Of course, we know that WWE has tried to clean up their image over the years. Toning down the content helps, as does publicizing charity work and even the change in media perception of pro wrestling the last few years. Still, WWE programming is filtered through Vince McMahon’s aesthetic and we’re only a couple weeks removed from the last poop joke. The women wear so much makeup and have such ridiculous hair extensions that even without a “T&A”-heavy image, the company’s presentation of them is still questionable.

And even if all of that changed? Sponsors still have hard data that reinforces their most negative perceptions of wrestling fans.

I’m honestly not sure how WWE addresses this. But they have to try.

This week’s WWE Smackdown on USA drew 2.145cmillion viewers, up from last week’s 1.996 million.

Smackdown was #3 for the night on cable – behind two airings of the NBA Draft.

This week’s WWE Smackdown on USA drew 2.262 million viewers, down from last week’s 2.346 million.

Smackdown was #5 for the night on cable – behind the NBA Playoffs on TNT, SportsCenter, The O’Reilly Factor and The Kelly File.

WWE issued the following …

WWE SURPASSES NBA AS #1 SPORTS CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE

STAMFORD, Conn., February 25, 2015 – With more than 4.2 billion video views in the last 12 months, WWE has become the No. 1 Sports channel on YouTube ahead of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN and NASCAR. In addition, WWE on YouTube has more than 5.2 million subscribers, which is more than MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN, NASCAR, MLS and NBC Sports COMBINED.

WWE continues to remain a leader in social media, with more than 450 million combined social media followers globally. During the past year, WWE’s social media channels added more than 194 million followers, a nearly 75 percent increase year-over-year. WWE’s network of Facebook pages has more followers than the NFL and its 32 teams’ pages combined, and WWE Superstar John Cena is the No. 1 most-followed active American athlete on Facebook, with more than 36 million “Likes.”

Since launching in 2008, WWE’s YouTube channel has featured award-winning original short-form programming, including popular shows such as WWE Inbox, WWE Fury, 5 Things and WWE Top Ten. In addition, WWE uses its YouTube channel to promote its monthly WWE Network and pay-per-view events by airing live pre-shows that include exclusive matches and commentary.

• VIDEO: UFC Fighter CAUGHT ON TAPE Violently Assaulting Man At His Gym!

Graham Flanagan, Senior Video Producer at BusinessInsider.com, has a video feature up on WWE and non-fans that don’t understand why we watch. Flanagan points out that WWE is worth over one billion dollars and has a large fanbase. Yet, there is still a large part of society that thumbs their nose at WWE and it’s fans. Some of those non-WWE fans don’t realize that we realize it’s pre-determined just like fans of TV shows like “Homeland” know that the show is not real.

He also explains the terms “marks” and “smart marks.” You can check out the video below. I think all of us know at least one person that wonders why we watch. This might be a post that you can share with them to drive home the point.

Click here to check out the video.

WWE issued the following press release:

STAMFORD, Conn. – WWE today announced it has officially changed its corporate logo to convey a more contemporary, bold and powerful image while maintaining the iconic “W,” which has been a part of the company’s long-storied history. The logo, originally designed for WWE Network, will become the beacon of sports-entertainment and will represent the brand as it continues to bring together a passionate, diverse and global fanbase with a unique blend of live action, excitement and drama.

“We are excited to launch a new logo that reflects the evolution and future of WWE’s global brand,” said Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon. “While we usher in a new iconic brand identity, WWE’s best-in-class entertainment, which has stood the test of time for the past 50 years, will continue to reward our fans’ passion with our exciting blend of unique characters, incredible athleticism and engaging storylines.”

The new logo was unveiled on Twitter today by Vince McMahon, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, WWE, at the company’s headquarters in Stamford, Conn. Fans will begin to see it during SummerSlam, this Sunday, August 17, live on WWE Network and pay-per-view as the logo is rolled out across all platforms including live and televised entertainment, consumer products, digital media and WWE Studios.

When Lebron James made the announcement that he was leaving the Miami Heat to rejoin his home state Cleveland Cavaliers, one couldn’t help but immediately make comparisons to Seth Rollins and WWE’s Shield faction.

James’ choice to leave the Miami Heat can be seen as a way of him turning his back and former teammates Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. In the four years the trio played together, they reached the NBA Finals every year, winning the championship on two occasions. All three took pay cuts in order for the Heat to be able to sign the trio in the summer of 2010. James made his decision then on an ESPN special that made him appear to be a villain, turning his back on Cleveland.

Meanwhile in WWE, fans witnessed the end of the trio of Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, collectively known as The Shield. At the conclusion of Raw the night after Payback, Rollins turned his back on Reigns and Ambrose, attacking them with a chair. Rollins aligned himself with Triple H and the Authority. It turned out well for Rollins as he would go on to win the Money in the Bank briefcase at the end of June.

These two scenarios in pro basketball and wrestling are not as similar as the memes and GIFs suggest. In the GIF, James’ head is on Rollins’ body as he attacks Wade (whose face is on Reigns’ body) and Bosh (whose face is on Ambrose’s body) looks on in disgust.

In reality, Wade and Bosh are much more understanding than Reigns and Ambrose. Rightfully so too. Wade and Bosh have both made statements stating that they still consider themselves brothers. Both former teammates understood why James was returning to Cleveland. Not only is that where he began his career, but James is from Ohio. Every NBA player dreams of winning a championship with their home team.

On the other hand, Rollins left The Shield to join the bad guys. He turned heel. James was already a heel. If anything, James signing with the Cavaliers was a babyface turn. He took less money to go home. However, just like how Rollins won the Money in the Bank briefcase in hopes of becoming WWE World Heavyweight Champion, James hopes his change leads to some gold as well.

So while the comparisons are fun to discuss and make memes and GIFs out of it, they were very different. James didn’t turn on Wade and Bosh. Rollins turned on Reigns and Ambrose. James, Wade and Bosh will all be happy next year. James will be starting on a team with three other former number one draft picks. Wade and Bosh will see their numbers go up with James out of the picture.

Rollins is going to go face to face against his former teammate, Ambrose, at WWE Battleground. Perhaps, we could see Heat versus Cavaliers during the NBA Playoffs in 2015. Until then, the comparisons will continue.

What are your thoughts on the comparison between Lebron James leaving the Heat and Seth Rollins turning on the Shield? Please share your comments in the section below.

Seth Guttenplan is a math and computer technology teacher for special education students in New Jersey. In his free time, Seth writes about wrestling for Camel Clutch Blog and SEScoops. Follow Seth on twitter @sethgutt

– WWE Hall Of Famer Blackjack Lanza is backstage at the Target Center right now, the site of tonight’s edition of WWE RAW. Lanza lives in the Minnesota area and is simply at the show to visit friends and hang out.

– Also at the RAW show tonight is NBA star of the Minnesota Timberwolves Corey Brewer.

– Indianapolis Colts NFL player Trent Richardson, as well as Chris Copeland from the NBA’s Indiana Pacers were among the celebrities and athletes in attendance at Monday’s post-Payback edition of WWE RAW.

– Big Show is featured on the latest edition of RAW Fallout, which you can check out below.

– On part two of RAW Fallout, Money In The Bank qualifyer Alberto Del Rio is featured. You can check that one out below.

– A bunch of new PodcastOne.com podcasts are now available. Part two of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on the new Jim Ross “Ross Report” podcast is available.

A new “Talk Is Jericho” podcast with Chris Jericho interviewing Ghosthunter star Jeff Belanger is up on his page.

Finally, the latest “30 Years Of WrestleMania” podcast featuring Renee Young interviewing Goldust and Cody Rhodes has been added.

You can check all of these shows out right now at PodcastOne.com.

– NBA star LeBron James recently bought his whole team WWE World Heavyweight Championship replica belts. He tweeted the following photo of his team with the belts on his Instagram account.

Always wanted to be the WWE Heavyweight World Champion so today I surprised my teammates with their… http://t.co/NmT44sSlVG

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 26, 2014

– WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently appeared on Sherdog Radio’s “MMA Rewind” to discuss the pay-per-view business. You can check out the interview at Sherdog.com.

– WWE Diva Lana recently tweeted the following photo of herself and Alexander Rusev at a recent Los Angeles Clippers NBA game:

. @RusevBUL We GO we here we watch @LAClippers CRUSH!!!! #BackInBlue #WWE #RusevLegacy pic.twitter.com/Q1KHMT6tJI

— LANA (@LanaWWE) February 10, 2014

• Kurt Angle At WrestleMania XXX? *SPOILERS* For RAW Tonight & MORE!

WWE Superstars Dolph Ziggler and The Miz were interviewed by CBS reporter Chris Van Vliet prior to their appearance at NBA’s “WWE Night” on Wednesday. The following are some highlights from the interview:

Dolph Ziggler on his Royal Rumble status: “I wish I had some answer for you. I’ve gone through a couple different tests. They’ve all been coming back very positively, which is I’m healing very well. Sunday, I will be there to get checked out.”

Ziggler on preparing for his return: “I’m actually feeling pretty good. I’ve had a couple weeks to rest and not fall down. I’m back in the gym, feeling good, really looking forward to getting back in the ring real soon.”

Ziggler on Ultimate Warrior’s return: “All he has to do is run down. I go, ‘I’ll get clotheslined. He’ll [The Miz] get clotheslined.’ Ten seconds. The place would blow the roof off.”

The Miz on Warrior’s return: “I’ll do it! Sign me up!”

Watch the complete interview below:

The following was published on the official NBA website:

Cavs to Host WWE Night at The Q

It will be a tag-team of fun and excitement when the squared circle of World Wrestling Entertainment meets the hardwood court as the Cleveland Cavaliers host “WWE Night” on January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. The slammin’ night of fun tips off as the Cavs face the Chicago Bulls, and will feature appearances by WWE Superstars, WWE prizes for fans to win and decades of WWE-themed excitement that wrestling fans of all ages will enjoy.

WWE Superstars and Cleveland natives, Dolph Ziggler and The Miz, will bring the face-and-heel drama of the WWE to the Cavaliers’ game entertainment festivities. Whether on the court or around the concourse, the wrestlers will give fans a taste of what they can expect when WWE RAW returns to The Q for a LIVE show on Monday, January 27th.

Cavs mascots Moondog and Sir C.C. will also be in on the action with WWE-inspired costumes and their usual antics. Fans are encouraged to join in the fun and dress as their all-time favorite WWE character or sport WWE gear to the game, and use the hashtag #WWENight to be part of the conversation online. For tickets to “WWE Night,” fans can click here, call 1-800-820-2237, or visit any Northeast Ohio Discount Drug mart location or the Quicken Loans Arena Ticket Office.

WWE RAW in Cleveland
WWE RAW is headed back to Cleveland for another spectacular televised event on Monday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m. This will be wrestling fans’ chance to see the fallout the night after the annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view event! The night’s MASSIVE MAIN EVENT will be a must-see as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is on the line when John Cena battles Randy Orton with special guest referee, Hall of Famer, Jerry Lawler! Plus, The McMahons, Triple H, CM Punk, The Shield & The Wyatt Family, LIVE!

WWE Ultimate Fan Package
Starting at $54, the biggest WWE fans in Northeast Ohio can take advantage of the WWE Ultimate Fan Package, which includes a ticket to both the Cavs’ “WWE Night” on Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m., and WWE Raw on Monday, January 27th at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to purchase a WWE Ultimate Fan Package, visit www.cavs.com/wwe.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross appeared on 98.5 “The Sports Hub” on Sunday night with Sean Grande to announce the Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA game. It has become somewhat of a tradition for JR to do a Celtics/Thunder game in Oklahoma City once per season.

– Speaking of Ross, at last check, both he and Adam “Edge” Copeland are not scheduled to appear at the “Old School RAW” special tonight in Baltimore, Maryland.

– WWE Hall Of Fame Diva Tammy “Sunny” Sytch recently posted the following on her official Twitter account on Monday afternoon:

Great news! After a 3 1/2 hour wait at the docs today, my pathology report states that I AM CANCER FREE!!! NO RADIATION NEEDED!! Wooooooo!!

— Tamara Sytch (@WWEHOFerSunny) December 30, 2013

– Future WWE Hall Of Famer Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson posted this one on Twitter recently:

From The People's Champ to The King @KingJames Wear my title with pride. Happy Birthday brotha! #KeepChasinGreatness pic.twitter.com/rVk98xRmAF

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) December 30, 2013

We noted earlier that NBA star LeBron James posted a tweet on his official Twitter account asking how he could obtain a WWE World Championship belt. Not only did The Rock respond to James, but John Cena and CM Punk did as well. The following are their responses:

You need one? I may have one 4uRT @KingJames: Who do i need to talk to to get one of those World Championship Belt? WWE belt. The real ones

— John Cena (@JohnCena) December 30, 2013

A special message for @KingJames. Watch it. I can help with that title! #WWE #KingJames @ESPN @TMZ @MiamiHEAT http://t.co/pSz1fdbi3s

— John Cena (@JohnCena) December 30, 2013

“@KingJames: Who do i need to talk to to get one of those World Championship Belt? WWE belt. The real ones”. Luc Longley.

— Coach (@CMPunk) December 30, 2013

Top TNA star Austin Aries will be appearing at the “Save Our Bucks” billboard release party in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Monday, December 23rd at 7pm local time. The event will be held at the Loaded Slate Bar & Grill (1137 N. Old World 3rd Street).

“Austin has been a Bucks fan for decades and as a native Milwaukeean Austin Aries is passionate about his city keeping its NBA franchise in Milwaukee and built for the future years of success,” notes a recent press release.

For more information, visit SaveOurBucks.com.

Dallas Mavericks NBA Star Dirk Nowitzki recently spoke to The Full Court Press about not appearing at Monday’s WWE RAW show in Dallas, Texas.

Nowitzki noted in the article that he used to be a big wrestling fan, but has since grown out of it. “I actually went to that a couple of years ago,” said the NBA star. “When I first got here when we were still at Reunion (Arena), it was fun. I was a huge Hulk Hogan fan and Ultimate Warrior and all that crap.”

Nowitzki concluded, “But that’s a long time ago, so I guess I grew out of that.”

You can check out the complete article online at Star-Telegram.com.

– Stephanie McMahon continues to unload her WWE stock. She sold over 95,000 shares from December 2nd through December 4th for $1.405 million.

– For those interested, Lilian Garcia has posted a new blog about her upcoming performances with her new band. You can read that online at LilianGarcia.com.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T continues to attend a number of major sporting events. After appearing at the Houston Texans NFL game last week, he and his wife Sharmell were in attendance at the Houston Rockets vs. Phoenix Suns NBA game on Wednesday evening. Booker tweeted the following photo he took with Rockets star Dwight Howard backstage at the game:

. @HoustonRockets fans check out who I ran into before the #Rockets beat the #suns tonight! @DwightHoward! #nba #WWE pic.twitter.com/wdFJQxscek

— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) December 5, 2013

• WWE Makes Huge Changes To Their Drug Testing & Punishments

– The official website of the National Football League has a new article up comparing tonight’s showdown between star quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to the WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view. You can check out that article online at NFL.com.

– Speaking of Manning vs. Brady, tonight’s NFL Sunday Night game features the Denver Broncos vs. the New England Patriots. Needless to say, if you’re an NFL fan that is some stiff competition for WWE.

– Also competing against WWE tonight is …WWE. The third episode of the second-half of season one of WWE’s “Total Divas” reality show airs tonight on E!.

– The official website for Sports Illustrated has a new article up featuring WWE Superstar John Cena teaching some NBA stars how to draw a foul. You can check that out online at SI.com.

Former WWE Superstar Sean “X-Pac” Waltman recently reached out to NBA star Lamar Odom regarding a TMZ report where the basketball player claimed he could beat addiction without the assistance of rehab.

Waltman took to Twitter to share his feelings on the subject:

https://twitter.com/TheRealXPac/status/385680504449957888

https://twitter.com/therealxpac/status/385682707327778817

https://twitter.com/therealxpac/status/385684648904630272

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