It looks as though WWE has ended their relationship with the social media website, “Tout.” WWE has not used their main Tout page since July 12th and NXT hasn’t used theirs since May 25th. Additionally, several WWE Superstars have gone months without using their Tout accounts.

WWE invested $5,000 with Tout back in July of 2012 and entered into a two-year partnership with the company. It looks like that deal has expired and that WWE has decided not to renew it.

It was reported back in 2012 that WWE CBO Stephanie McMahon would be on Tout’s Board of Directors.

WWE Superstar Damien Sandow cashed in his “Money In The Bank” briefcase on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. After interupting and attacking John Cena’s surgically repaired arm in the opening segment of Monday’s RAW, Sandow officially cashed in his briefcase. Unfortunately for Sandow, Cena ended up getting the win in the match, making Sandow only the second WWE Superstar to cash in his briefcase and not win a WWE Championship.

Speaking of the Cena-Sandow match, the World Heavyweight Champion spoke with Renee Young backstage immediately after his victory. You can check out a Tout video of the interview online at Tout.com.

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-WWE Superstar The Big Show recently spoke with Pittsburgh’s NBC affiliate, WPXI, to promote Saturday’s broadcast television premiere of WrestleMania 29. You can check out that interview online at WPXI.com.

-Speaking of Big Show, WWE is reportedly still waiting for him to get official medical clearance to return to in-ring action. With SummerSlam only two weeks away, WWE needs Big Show to get clearance as soon as possible if they want to include him on the pay-per-view lineup.

-On ther 10-Q document, WWE mentioned the following about their “Tout” service:

“On June 25, 2012, the Company invested $5,000 in Tout Industries, Inc.’s (“Tout”) Series B Preferred Stock. In July 2012, the Company entered into a two-year strategic partnership whereby WWE would fully integrate and promote Tout’s technology platform into WWE’s TV broadcasts,digital properties and live events. WWE is eligible to receive up to 11,250 shares of Tout common stock per quarter over the life of the two-year agreement if certain performance metrics are met. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, we achieved the required performance metrics and recorded revenue of $439. The Company increased its investment in Tout for the 22,500 shares it received related to the fourth quarter of 2012 and first quarter of 2013, respectively. The Company recorded a receivable for the shares it expects to receive related to the second quarter of 2013.”

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[Partial Credit: PWInsider.com]

– Hulk Hogan’s ex-wife Linda commented on Hulk’s sex tape over the weekend. “I wasn’t really shocked about it,” Linda told RadarOnline.com. She also called it “a little twisted.”

Hulk Hogan will be making the media rounds this week to promote Bound For Glory, including a stop at the Howard Stern show. Do you think Howard will bring up the sex tape?

– The USA Today newspaper has an article up looking at the early success of the new social media platform, Tout. Tout now averages 13 million visitors monthly to its website and mobile apps, and traffic is growing 35% to 40% each month. WWE, ESPN, CBS, Bloomberg, CNBC, Shaquille O’Neal, Kelly Ripa and Mitt Romney are among the organizations and celebrities using the service.

“Video expression is the next evolution from text,” says WWE executive vice-president Stephanie McMahon. “TV producers are so engaged because you can put the Touts anywhere and really drive traffic to our channels.”

Here are highlights from WWE Chariman Vince McMahon and George Barrios’ investor conference call from Thursday:

– The company is not yet ready to release additional information regarding the launch of the WWE Network, but will have more details next quarter.

– WWE is currently working on 3 separate business models for the WWE network – basic distribution, a pay TV format (ie. HBO/Showtime) and a third “over-the-top” format.

– Monday Night Wars is expected to be one of the shows on the WWE Network.

– WWE has spent $5 million on production of ‘Legend’s House.’

– Due to the accounting method WWE is using to report its investment in Tout, WWE owns 20% or less than the social media service. The Tout app was downloaded over 30,000 times after the airing of WWE Raw and is now one of the top apps in the Apple App Store.

– WWE PPV revenue jumped approximately 30-35% over last year, partially due more people ordering the HD version of PPVs, which costs $10 more.

– Vince McMahon acknowledged that WWE went too far with “WWE PG” – and says the writing of WWE television has gotten much better in recent months.

– Vince said WWE is using YouTube for the comedy aspects of WWE programming and plans to use television for more drama and storytelling. Vince touted the potential of WWE’s Youtube shows – and WWE’s ability to spin them off into full shows eventually.

– “No Holds Barred” starring Hulk Hogan, which cost less than $100,000, is expected to make $300,000.

– Vince said WWE’s current stock price reflects their financial results of last year. WWE’s social media strength as well as learning from the mistakes of their movie division will help their bottom line and their stock price moving forward.

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon answered questions from The Hollywood Reporter Promoting  Monday’s Raw 1000.  You can view the full article here

McMahon on UFC as competition: “We’re in show business, they are a sport. Their ratings are abysmal. They are in the pay-per-view business, and they do reasonably well there. We just set a record for WrestleMania. We had 1.3 million buys for this year’s WrestleMania, and our pay-per-view numbers for our shows have been up 30 percent since then. So, we are looking pretty good.”

McMahon on social networking and the interactive nature of WWE Raw: “Back in the early days, our performers elicited a response — a boo or a cheer. Today, we use all this social media. We are going to do Tout, in which the WWE just invested. With that, you get a 15-second video shout-out that goes straight to our TV programs. Beginning with the 1,000th show, people can participate in terms of the types of matches and what actually happens on air. It will be the most interactive TV programming in the world.”

McMahon on why WWE performers move on to Hollywood: “Our talent is taught not to be prima donnas, to be on time and know their lines. And quite frankly, people in Hollywood, once they see what we do, they are amazed. Our talent doesn’t demand the biggest trailer or a certain amount of grape juice or whatever the hell it is. Our talent is extremely flexible and knows how to act, so it’s a logical extension for them.”

– Nicole and Briana Garcia known in the WWE as the Bella Twins issued the following press release:

Ciao, Bella! Nicole and Briana Garcia Take Chicago Comic Con! The dynamic duo, Brianna and Nicole Garcia, known best as former pro wrestlers “The Bella Twins,” make being smart, sassy, and sexy look easy. The former WWE Divas Champions, who were discovered at the International Body Doubles Twins Search in 2006, have surprised the world with their fun-loving personalities, immense physical abilities (and attributes) and hot-blooded charm. Check them out at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con, Friday through Sunday, August 10-12.

– WWE issued a press release that Tout, a social media app that they have invested in, climbed up toward the top of the charts after being featured on Raw. The app downloaded 30,000 in the hours after RAW and climbed to #6 from #37

WWE  listed itself as “an investor and strategic marketing partner” in Tout

Tout.com’s CEO Michael Downing:

“The partnership with WWE has proven that when you give enthusiastic fans the ability to easily share and interact with real-time video status updates, they will jump at the chance. WWE’s passionate fan base and tremendous reach across a variety of media assets create an extraordinary opportunity to engage fans and followers. We are uniquely positioned to provide this technology, and look forward to rolling it out across a diverse range of media and brand properties.”

– The 2013 Royal Rumble will take place Sunday, January 27th 2012 at The US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Now through  Thursday, July 19 at 10:00pm you can purchase pre-sale tickets with the password: WWELIVE

Earlier this week, it was announced that WWE has invested in Tout, a start-up social media platform that allows users to share 15-second video clips of themselves. The service will be one of the core components of the new interactive elements coming to Monday Night RAW each week (#RAWActive).

WWE executive Stephanie McMahon spoke with PEHub.com this week about the investment – and says WWE is interested in funding other tech companies.

“Tout is really the first deal that we’ve done of this kind, but we’re very opportunistic, so if the right opportunity came along, we’d definitely consider it.”

WWE certainly has a mixed track record when it comes to projects outside of pro wrestling (bodybuilding companies, football leagues, nightclubs, movie studios, television networks), so it should be interesting to see how this new “venture capital” initiative pans out.