A former WWE backstage producer was recently arrested in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. According to a report from PW Insider, Sarah Stock was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with aggravated battery, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and resisting law enforcement.
She was booked and released early Sunday morning by the Vandenburgh Sheriff’s Department.
Stock had been with WWE since 2015 but was furloughed this spring and later released due to the ongoing global pandemic. She wrestled as Sarita in TNA Wrestling from 2009 to 2013. She has also competed for companies such as Shimmer as well as CMLL in Mexico. Stock had previously wrestled under the names Dark Angel and Canadian Dark Angel as well.
While in TNA, Stock won the promotion’s women’s tag-team championships twice. She won the inaugural titles in 2009 with Taylor Wilde. They would hold the belts for 106 days before dropping them to Awesome Kong and Hamada.
Stock would team with Zelina Vega in 2011 and again win the belts. This time her team defeated Angelina Love and Winter to gain the championships. They would hold the titles for 129 days until dropping them to Brooke Tessmacher and Tara. Her 2 reigns and 227 combined days spent with 1/2 of the women’s tag belts ranks her 5th all-time in the promotion.
Yesterday, we reported on how Chris Smith at Forbes had put together a list of WWE’s highest paid wrestlers. While lists of this kind have gone around for years, they’re usually of some nebulous origin or an incredibly unreliable source like CelebrityNetWorth. This is different, however: Not only is it from Forbes, the magazine of record for finance, but it’s also an actual Forbes staff writer as opposed to their larger contributor network. Nothing against them, but they weren’t hired with the financial angle in mind. Since it’s a Forbes article from a Forbes staffer, the list is being taken a lot more seriously than these things usually are.
In his article, Smith claims that “Over the last year we’ve pored over court documents, SEC filings and WWE’s booking contracts and spent hours speaking with industry sources, allowing us to construct the first ever FORBES list of WWE’s Highest-Paid Wrestlers.” Let’s take a look at the list again:
John Cena: 9.5 million
Brock Lesnar: 6.0 million
Triple H: 2.8 million
Randy Orton: 2.7 million
Seth Rollins: 2.4 million
Roman Reigns: 2.1 million
Undertaker: 2.0 million
Big Show: 1.5 million
Kane: 1.3 million
Dean Ambrose: 1.1 million
So, what do we know about the numbers on Smith’s list for Forbes?
The only one whose pay would come up in SEC filing is Triple H, since he’s an executive officer of WWE under his real name of Paul Levesque. This does appear to be correct: If you don’t include stock awards, and Smith didn’t, he made $2,812,629 in 2015. That’s broken down as $573,269 in salary for his executive role, $526,000 in incentive plan compensation, and $1,713,360 for his pay as talent, $1 million of which is his contracted downside guarantee. There’s a note that “Mr. Levesque has out-earned this minimum guarantee in each of the past several years.”
Randy Orton and John Cena both had divorces, though only Orton’s finances went public as a result. TMZ reported that at the time of the July 2013 divorce, Orton was making $291,666 a month, or just $8 short of $3.5 million in a year. It’s not clear if that was his total 2012 pay or what, as the belief is that WWE’s downside guarantees never top $1 million. Cena did have his annual earnings pegged as about $10 million by Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer in January, while Meltzer has also reported Brock Lesnar’s pay in the past because he gets a flat fee per appearance. In the past, Meltzer has said something to the effect of how these days, it’s understood that The Undertaker’s $1 million guarantee is considered his WrestleMania payoff. With additional appearances headlining SummerSlam and Hell in a Cell last year, $2 million sounds reasonable.
It gets hazier after that as you move further down the line.
In a deposition that I cited in my January article for SBNation about Big Show’s flirtation with boxing, Big Show said that when he returned to WWE in 2008, he asked for $1.25 million and a $250,000 signing bonus…but that was eight years ago and it’s not clear in the public filings if he even got what he wanted. A deposition with his wife, who apparently handles their finances, had her testifying that she didn’t think he made any bonuses on top of his base salary. That would be unusual for a full time WWE performer, but it could also have to do with confusion over the nature of WWE contracts. WWE pay works two ways: You can just take your per-event pay and royalties as they come, or you can take your downside guarantee as a salary and get a balloon payment at the end of the year for what goes over the guarantee. Since he has little merchandise, $1.5 million doesn’t sound outrageously low, though.
Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Kane, and Dean Ambrose all have little to no information out there about their pay. Kane recently put his home up on the market and it was huge, sprawling property with a house customized to his specific needs as a very tall man, but because he’s based in Knoxville, Tennessee, the price was dramatically less than you’d think, coming in under $1 million. The rest seem realistic enough.
What do you think of the list? Let us know in the comments.
Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (“KSF”), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: WWE).
On May 16, 2014, WWE disclosed that it had reached a multiyear deal with US broadcaster NBCUniversal for its long-running Raw and SmackDown programs, stating that the annual value of its television distribution agreements would reach $200 million, well below what investors were expecting.
Daniel Moore, an analyst with CJS Securities, said in a research note that, “Given management’s more optimistic tone and the fact that other major sports franchises have garnered much higher increases, this outcome is likely to be viewed as disappointing by many investors.”
On this news, the value of WWE’s stock plummeted by over 43%.
KSF’s investigation is focusing on whether WWE and/or its officers and directors violated state or federal securities laws.
If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, e-mail or call KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) or KSF Partner Melinda Nicholson (melinda.nicholson@ksfcounsel.com) toll free at 1-877-515-1850.
Lemelson Capital, LLC, a private investment management firm, announced today that they had taken a stake in shares of WWE stock and called on the Board of Directors to replace the “executive management team” of the company due to a period of consistent losses, execution issues and material misstatements.
Less than two months ago, WWE stock had climbed to $30.37 per share on March 17th, and as recently at today, the stock had dropped all the way down to $11.33 per share.
The firm today also reiterated that fair value of WWE’s common stock is between $8.25 and $11.88 with current management in place.
“WWE has affirmed that even with one million subscribers for its WWE network, the company stands to lose between $45 million and $52 million in FY 2014, which validates the original short thesis,” said Emmanuel Lemelson, Chief Investment Officer of Lemelson Capital Management. “This follows what we believe to be material misrepresentations by the company about both the performance and operating profit model of its WWE network, which the company has wrongly labeled ‘a homerun'”
The Shareholders Foundation recently issued the following:
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) Investor Investigation Concerning Potential Violations Of Securities Laws
Company Name(s): World Wrestling Entertainment Affected Securities: NYSE: WWE
April 29, 2014 (Shareholders Foundation) – An investigation on behalf of investors of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) shares over potential securities laws violations by World Wrestling Entertainment and certain of its directors and officers in connection certain financial statements was announced.
The investigation by a law firm focuses on possible claims on behalf of purchasers of the securities of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) concerning whether a series of statements by World Wrestling Entertainment regarding its business, its prospects and its operations were materially false and misleading at the time they were made.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. reported that its annual Total Revenue rose from $484.01 million in 2012 to $507.97 million in 2013 while its respective Net Income fell from $31.43 million to $2.76 million. Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) grew from $7.72 per share in late 2012 to as high as $31.39 per share on March 20, 2014.
On April 7, 2014, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. announced that it has changed the location of its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 25, 2014. Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE) declined from over $31 in March 2014 to as low as $19.65 per share on April 11, 2014.
On April 28, 2014, NYSE:WWE closed at $19.51 per share.
TNA Entertainment, the Nashville-based sports entertainment company known for the global pro wrestling program, IMPACT Wrestling, has signed with UTA, it was announced jointly today by Dixie Carter, President of TNA Entertainment, and UTA.
TNA Entertainment’s IMPACT Wrestling, one of Spike TV’s top-rated shows, averaging 1.4 million viewers each week, is broadcast in 120 countries worldwide. Additionally, TNA Entertainment produces more than 100 live Impact Wrestling events each year as well as monthly PPV events with such internationally beloved professional wrestling stars as Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, Eric Young, Magnus, James Storm, MVP, Gail Kim and the lovely and lethal Knockouts.
UTA will represent the 12-year-old company to extend its television broadcast reach as well as to expand its licensing programs and slate of live event programming. TNA will also leverage UTA’s expertise in digital and social media to build monetization strategies for its digital media operations. TNA launched a cross-platform programming effort, #IMPACT 365, in October 2013 to provide viewers with ongoing storyline and original content 24/7 on its website and across YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and other platforms.
“UTA’s diverse range of capabilities make them an ideal partner to help TNA add tremendous visibility and value to the global IMPACT Wrestling brand,” said Dixie Carter. “We are confident that by working with the UTA team, we will not only expand our wrestling business in exciting ways, but we will also build new entertainment ventures and properties.”
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held sports entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that specializes in events, products, numerous TV properties, merchandise and music, as well as, the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The product is the world’s most innovative experience in professional wrestling and is broadcast in more than 120 countries. For more information, please visit www.impactwrestling.com.
United Talent Agency is a premier global talent and literary agency representing many of the world’s most widely-known figures in every current and emerging area of entertainment, including motion pictures, television, digital media, video games, books, music, theatre and live entertainment. The agency is also globally recognized in the areas of film finance, film packaging, corporate consulting, branding, licensing, endorsements and the representation of production talent. The agency operates the brand strategy firm UTA Brand Studio as well as New York and Los Angeles-based United Entertainment Group, a joint venture firm focusing on branded entertainment for Fortune 500 companies. UTA also owns leading broadcast and news agency N.S. Bienstock.
– According to a Philly.com article, the reason WWE chose Santa Clara over Philadelphia as the host of WrestleMania 31 is because Super Bowl 50 will be taking place in Levi’s Stadium in 2016 and WWE doesn’t want to follow the Super Bowl in the same venue within a calendar year.
– Stephanie McMahon unloaded 43,838 shares of WWE stock on December 5th and December 6th for approximately $635,553.
-Triple H has reportedly sold 703 shares of Class A common WWE stock, according to a SEC filing released on Tuesday. At a price of $11.53 per share, it translates to a minimum amount of $8,105. Following the transaction, Triple H still owns 50,764 shares of Common A stock.
-Monday’s edition of WWE RAW averaged 3.825 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 3.825 million average marks a decrease from last week’s 3.992 million viewers. The final RAW rating for Monday should be released shortly.
-The WWE stock closed today at $9.75, so it has basically leveled off following the big drop on Monday.
-As noted previously, WWE will be running two shows this weekend in Hidalgo, Texas. On Saturday, WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio returns. In addition, WWE will be holding a “WWE Street Party” on Saturday from 2pm to 6pm to kick off the 10-year anniversary of the State Farm Arena. Scheduled to appear at the “WWE Street Party” are WWE Superstars Sin Cara, Big Show, Brodus Clay, R-Truth and Alicia Fox.
-For whatever reason, currently sidelined WWE Superstar John Cena is still being mentioned in the local advertisements as appearing in the dark match at the upcoming WWE RAW television taping in Biloxi, MS on Monday, September 30th. Unless a miracle occurs, obviously Cena will not be wrestling on that show.
-Independent pro wrestlers Craven Knyte, Ariya Daivari and Renny D. were among those portraying security guards on this week’s edition of WWE RAW.
Knyte and Daivari (younger brother of former WWE Superstar Shawn Daivari) also worked a dark match against The Great Khali at the SmackDown television taping on Tuesday night.
-The final rating for the 8/30 edition of WWE SmackDown came in at 1.93, up from last week’s 1.90.
-Roth Capitol has upgraded their WWE stock rating from “Neutral” to “Buy” based on the optimism over the new television deals for RAW and SmackDown. The stock also raised from $10 per share to $13. For more information, visit NASDAQ.com.