A new lawsuit filing has shed some light as to why WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon decided to revive the XFL.

Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell noted on his Twitter account on Monday that a new lawsuit was filed by Robert Vanech against the Alliance of American Football and Charlie Ebersol, who is the son of Dick Ebersol.

In the lawsuit, Vanech alleges it was his idea to come up with the league and that he is entitled to 50% ownership due to the ideas he had for the league now being credited to others.

Also, it was noted that the original plan for the AAF to resurrect the XFL name themselves. The AAF officials went as far as having a meeting with McMahon and NBC officials to offer them $50 million to buy the XFL property.  It turns out that after this meeting, McMahon decided to relaunch the league on his own.

Charlie Ebersol was the director of ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary on the XFL. The relaunch season for the XFL kicks off in 2020 on Saturday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9. It should be noted that this is the weekend following the NFL’s Super Bowl. The following cities will host teams of the rebooted XFL:

• Dallas
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• New York
• St. Louis
• Seattle
• Tampa Bay
• Washington, DC

It was announced earlier this month that former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops will be coaching the XFL’s Dallas team. This was the XFL’s first coaching announcement since revealing the team’s cities in December. Now, we have another head coaching announcement to pass along. Pep Hamilton will be coaching the XFL’s Washington D.C. franchise:

OFFICIAL: Pep Hamilton is the head coach and general manager of @XFLDC.

Watch the introductory press conference live, right here on Twitter or on https://t.co/hAlDLJuvRV, coming up at 1 pm ET.
#XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/FpVDI2JIbk

— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 21, 2019

Hamilton has experience working with NFL teams such as the Browns, Colts, Bears, 49ers, and Jets. He has also worked in college football with the Michigan, Stanford, and Howard University programs. Hamilton’s job in Dallas is his first opportunity at head coaching a team. He released the following statement in response to the news:

“I’m excited to join the XFL and lead the team in Washington, a city with which I have a lifelong attachment. I appreciate the confidence Vince McMahon and Oliver Luck have in me, providing an opportunity to be the head coach and placing the football operations of their Washington team in my hands.

“We plan to put together a terrific, hard-working staff, and a great football team for fans in and around our nation’s capital.”

Very excited to welcome Pep Hamilton to the team. #XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/Bl3SKiGFoy

— OliverLuckXFL (@OliverLuckXFL) February 21, 2019

With Washington and Dallas now having announced their coaches, only six cities have yet to do so. Those being Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, and Tampa Bay. The XFL’s re-launch season is set to kickoff on Saturday, February 8th and Sunday, February 9th, which is the weekend after the NFL’s Super Bowl.

What do you think of how the coaching staff is shaping up for the XFL?

More XFL news is coming your way tomorrow (Thurs. February 7, 2019). The first of eight head coaches/general managers will be announced in Dallas, per a report from NBC Sports. The XFL has decided to make the announcement ahead of The Alliance of American Football’s (AAF) inaugural season, which kicks off this weekend (Sat. February 9, 2019).

The report includes that former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops will be announced as the Dallas team’s coach. It was also expected that former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano would join the XFL. However, he was recently scooped up by the New England Patriots as their new defensive coordinator.

More announcements regarding team names, colors, rosters, uniforms, and more are expected in the coming months. It’s rumored that a TV deal is close to being finalized. The XFL has also named Jeffrey Pollack the league’s President & COO. It was already announced that the XFL will officially kick off on Saturday, February 8th and Sunday, February 9th next year, just after the NFL’s Super Bowl.

Eight cities have already been given teams for the inaugural season. Those being Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Washington, DC.

What do you think about the way the XFL is shaping up as 2020 approaches?

The XFL has announced a President and COO for the new football league. In a press release, it was announced that Jeffrey Pollack has been named the new President & Chief Operating Officer of the XFL. He will oversee the management of the league’s eight teams, strategic planning, and business operations. XFL founder and Chairman Vince McMahon released the following statement on the news:

“Just as Oliver Luck is perfectly suited to be Commissioner & CEO, so too is Jeffrey Pollack suited perfectly to be XFL President & COO with his extraordinary experience and diverse background across a variety of global sports properties,” said McMahon. “I have no doubt that Oliver and Jeffrey will successfully reimagine the game of football and guide the XFL to long-term success.”

Pollack served as the Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer and Special Advisor for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. He seems very optimistic about the potential the XFL has, saying the league is “positioned for success”:

“It’s not often that a new professional sports league is positioned for success like the XFL,” said Pollack. “There’s a clear vision for what we will offer our fans, players and partners, and I look forward to working closely with Vince and Oliver to bring that vision to life.”

The XFL is set to kick off on February 8th and 9th in 2020 following the Super Bowl. As we’ve recently noted, the XFL is in talks for a TV deal with FOX and ESPN. Eight cities have already been given XFL teams. Those being New York, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C.

Are you looking forward to the XFL’s launch in 2020?

The XFL is set to relaunch in February of 2020 just after the conclusion of that year’s NFL season. Vince McMahon is relaunching the league that failed to see a second season back in 2001. This time, however, McMahon is doing things very differently. He has hired former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck to serve as the league’s commissioner.

McMahon wants to “reimagine” football and provide fans with a game that’s shorter, and a lot more hard-hitting. Recently, the eight teams to receive an XFL team in the inaugural 2020 season were announced. Those eight being Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Washington D.C., New York, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.

Broadcast deals and information on how fans can view the XFL should be announced sometime in 2019 as kickoff approaches. In that regard, the XFL will also have to hire broadcasters to do play-by-play for their games. It was noted early on in the relaunch process by Vince McMahon that there would be no WWE and XFL crossovers.

With that being said, one fan took to Twitter to ask WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross if he’d be calling any XFL games. Ross called a few XFL games back in 2001 for the initial launch. However, based on his answer, it doesn’t seem like “Good Ole’ JR” plans on calling any games for the inaugural 2020 season:

“@JRsBBQ will you be doing the commentary for the xfl ?”

@JRsBBQ will you be doing the commentary for the xfl ?

— Berner (@berner85) December 10, 2018

What do you think about Ross saying it’s “highly unlikely” he calls XFL games in 2020?

On Wednesday, the XFL held a live press conference at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to formally announce the cities and stadiums that will be part of the league’s upcoming relaunch. The second season of the XFL kicks off the second weekend of February, 2020.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy kicked off the press conference by acknowledging the passing of President George H.W. Bush. He spoke about the history of of MetLife Stadium, having hosted the Super Bowl, WrestleMania, music shows like Bruce Springsteen and more. MetLife plays host to two football teams already (the NFL’s NY Giants and NY Jets) and will be the home of the XFL’s New York team. He introduced Vince McMahon.

Vince McMahon welcomed everyone in attendance, including representatives from the 8 XFL host cities, members of the media and WWE/XFL business partners. He said it’s been nearly 20 years since the XFL’s initial launch and the hunger for a football alternative still exists. The XFL kick off during the second weekend of February in 2020 (February 8th/9th), the weekend after the NFL’ Super Bowl LIV.

XFL Commissioner and CEO Oliver Luck game out and spoke about what will be different about the new XFL. In planning the new incarnation, they established a Football Reimagined Committee to determine the best course of action to redefine the game. They came up with 4 major areas to focus on:

• Speed: The goal is for the XFL games to be crisp, fast paced and lasting 3 hours or less.
• Meaningful on-field action: Rule changes affecting punts, punt returns, kickoffs and play clock.
• More “in-game rhythm and flow”: Limiting gameplay time outs, TV time outs and simplifying the rules so there are fewer interruptions.
• Player Safety. Extensive health and wellness program with input from an expert medical board.

Commissioner Luck said there will be a focus on affordability and accessibility. The XFL app will be the hub of the league which will give fans unprecedented access to players and coaches. The league is in talks with ‘all of the big players’ in the media world, but are not yet ready to announce any deals. Luck assured everyone the games would be widely distributed across multiple platforms.

XFL Cities and Stadiums

New York
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Capacity: 82,500

Dallas, Texas
Globe Life Park (Arlington, TX)
Capacity: 49,115

Houston, Texas
TDECU Stadium (at the University of Houston)
Capacity: 40,000

Los Angeles, California
StubHub Center (Carson, CA)
Capacity: 27,000

St. Louis, Missouri
The Dome (at America’s Center)
Capacity: 66,965

Seattle, Washington
Centurylink Field
Capacity: 72,000

Tampa Bay, Florida
Raymond James Stadium
Capacity: 65,890

Washington, D.C.
Audi Field
Capacity: 20,000

Commissioner Luck thanked everyone for joining them for the press event. Team names, Presidents, logos/colors and players will be announced in the coming months. He assured everyone this new XFL is “build for fans and built to last” – describing it as fast paced, affordable, family-friendly and interactive.

Watch the XFL ‘Cities and Stadiums’ Press Conference here:

Earlier this week it was revealed by the official Twitter account of the XFL that they will reveal all eight teams playing in the inaugural season of the XFL reboot on December 5th. However, that’s not the only update on WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the XFL that has been made.

According to a new listing on the league website, the following cities will host teams of the rebooted XFL:

• Dallas
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• New York
• St. Louis
• Seattle
• Tampa Bay
• Washington, DC

Also, XFL recently registered several domain names including three different formats each for 21 different cities, which the list includes all eight teams. The new season is slated to launch in 2020.

The original XFL only had one season, which took place in 2001 and was produced by WWE and NBC. Although NBC signed with WWE to air two seasons of the league, NBC pulled out of its broadcast contract for the XFL after the inaugural season, citing the poor viewership. The league ceased operations entirely in May 2001. The Los Angeles Xtreme was the XFL’s first and only champions. McMahon conceded that the league was a “colossal failure”.

What are your thoughts on this list of cities for the relaunch of the XFL? 

Two more potential cities have emerged for the XFL relaunch in 2020. Earlier this week, a report from KSDK surfaced suggesting that St. Louis has been the first team confirmed to receive an XFL team for the 2020 league. Now, Brad Shepard reports that Seattle is the second city that will receive an XFL team when the league makes the official announcement on December 5th:

https://twitter.com/TheBradShepard/status/1068307097023119360

Also, Pablo Maurer from The Athletic has reported that a third city, Washington D.C., will also have an XFL team. The Washington team will reportedly play their games at Audi Field, which fits about 20,000 fans:

BREAKING: The XFL is set to announce – likely next week – that it's going to put a franchise in DC and that they'll play at @AudiField. Details are still unclear, but they've been in talks w/#DCU for several months on it. More to come.

— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) November 30, 2018

To recap, the three cities reported thus far are St. Louis, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

The initial report from KSDK announcing St. Louis as the first XFL team provided some insight into the league’s planned schedule. The report states that there will be 10 regular season games, with half of those being played at the respective home team’s stadium. As for rule changes and things that will differ from the NFL, those have yet to be confirmed. However, it will likely be addressed in the XFL live stream scheduled for December 5th.

What do you think about the named XFL cities thus far?

The latest update on WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s second attempt at the XFL has been made.

The official Twitter account of the XFL confirmed that they will reveal all eight teams playing in the inaugural season of the XFL reboot on December 5th. It was written in the tweet, “The wait is almost over! This coming Wednesday, Dec. 5, we unveil our eight cities and the venues we will play in for our inaugural season in 2020. Watch LIVE at Noon ET on http://XFL.com  or right here on Twitter! #XFL2020.”

The wait is almost over! This coming Wednesday, Dec. 5, we unveil our eight cities and the venues we will play in for our inaugural season in 2020.

🎥 Watch LIVE at Noon ET on https://t.co/hAlDLJuvRV or right here on Twitter! #XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/3AW9J2Qe9x

— United Football League (@TheUFL) November 29, 2018

Earlier this week it was revealed that the XFL will be bringing a team to St. Louis for its revival in 2020 with five games being held at the Dome at America’s Center. We will pass along the list of cities announced when made available. 

The original XFL only had one season, which took place in 2001 and was produced by WWE and NBC. It took place during the NFL off-season and promoted as having fewer rules and encouraging rougher play than other major leagues. Although NBC signed with WWE to air two seasons of the league, NBC pulled out of its broadcast contract for the XFL after the inaugural season, citing the poor viewership. The league ceased operations entirely in May 2001.

The XFL is set to kick off in 2020, and the league is finally beginning to take shape. McMahon made the announcement of the league’s revival earlier this year. McMahon said he and the XFL wanted to ‘reimagine’ football. Exactly what that means is unclear, however, talk of rule changes and shortening the game were mentioned.

With that being said, after the initial announcement of the league, and hiring former NFL star Oliver Luck as the league’s commissioner, not much news about the XFL has come out. Now, however, it appears the first city to receive a team for the 2020 league has been announced. Per a report from KSDK, St. Louis is the first city to be receiving an XFL team.

The remaining seven cities are expected to be announced next week. Up until 2015 St. Louis was the host city to the NFL’s Rams. However, they soon departed and opted to move to Los Angles instead. The report states St. Louis’ XFL team will play 10 regular season games, with five being played at the Dome at America’s Center.

McMahon has put quite a financial interest into the new venture and is expected to have paid half a billion dollars after the first three years of operations. “The Chairman of The Board” sold $100 million to fund the XFL’s parent company, Alpha Entertainment. Per an SEC filing, WWE is listed as a minority owner of the XFL.

What other cities do you think will be receiving XFL teams?

It looks like the famed sneaker and clothing brand, Adidas, has taken issue with Vince McMahon’s Alpha Entertainment logo. McMahon created Alpha Entertainment to front his XFL relaunch project. The XFL will officially kickoff in 2020. McMahon’s first attempt at the XFL failed in the early 2000s. Now, it appears that he wants to give it a second go.

As the XFL prepares for kickoff, it looks like McMahon is facing issues regarding Alpha Entertainment’s logo. Adidas has reached out to the United States Patent & Trademark Office and asked for more time to oppose the logo McMahon registered for the company.

Adidas feels as though the logo infringes upon their brand. The company has been given a March 6, 2019 deadline to file an opposition or another extension before doing so.

Earlier this year McMahon held a press conference on Alpha Entertainment’s YouTube channel, announcing the XFL relaunch. McMahon’s goal is to make the XFL “football reimagined” from the NFL’s product. This could mean anything from shortening the game, changing of the rules to make it more physical, or anything else. No news has surfaced in regards to team names and where they might be located, but expect more on that in the coming months.

Do you think McMahon will be forced to make changes to his Alpha Entertainment logo?

Vince McMahon picked the perfect time for the relaunch of the XFL. There’s currently a ton of controversy within the NFL over the National Anthem. Several years ago, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began to kneel during the playing of the National Anthem.

Kaepernick began the silent protest to shed light on what he believes to be an epidemic of injustice against people of color at the hands of police within the United States. The topic has attracted mainstream attention and has divided the United States even further. While some sympathize with the protest, others believe the playing of the Anthem is nor the place or time.

Vince McMahon is part of the latter. During the announcement of the XFL’s relaunch, McMahon called the playing of the anthem before sporting events, “a time-honored tradition.” He made it very clear that players in the XFL would be required to stand during the anthem being played.

XFL And The Anthem

XFL CEO and commissioner Oliver Luck dove further into the topic. He appeared on former Green Bay Packers linebacker AJ Hawk’s podcast, The HawkCast. Here’s what he had to say on the matter:

“Vince feels strongly about that, so that will be one of those things that will differentiate us from the NFL. Remember, unlike the NFL we will not have a union when we start. There won’t be collective bargaining….we could say to a player, ‘Hey there is a clause in the contract that says I hereby agree to stand for the National Anthem.’

“Period. End of story. That won’t have to be collectively bargained. My position would be as long as a player knows beforehand that that’s part of the contract then that’s a workplace rule and we can enforce that workplace rule.

“If you go into a contractual situation, knowing what the workplace rules are, you’re obligated to follow those rules, otherwise there will be consequences.”

H/T WrestleZone for the transcriptions

– The XFL is returning in 2020 and a former WWE star has interest in playing for a team.

Gene Snitsky, who is 48 years old, revealed in an Instagram post last week that he’s “seriously considering” trying out for the XFL.

https://instagram.com/p/BnuMgGTFmO7/

Before wrestling, Snitsky played college football at the University of Missouri. He was also on a Canadian Football League (CFL) preseason roster in 1995 for the Birmingham Barracudas.

– Hulk Hogan is showing his support for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today as they take on the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The official Twitter account of the Buccaneers tweeted this video of “The Hulkster” on the sidelines at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Hey brother! Let’s see those ?, @HulkHogan.#GoBucs | #PHIvsTB https://t.co/gdBYfUM2B6

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 16, 2018

• Bray Wyatt reveals how he got JoJo

WWE Hall Of Famer Bret Hart recently did an interview on CBS Sports’ In This Corner podcast to talk about several professional wrestling topics. “The Hitman” offered his thoughts on the way wrestlers are treated in WWE. Hart says that those who work as employees in WWE have better benefits than the wrestlers do:

“Employees who work for WWF they have better benefits than the wrestlers do. The ones they should take care of is the wrestlers. They still don’t take care of the wrestlers the way they should. I think that’s a real shame.”

Hart then discussed Vince McMahon’s relaunch of the XFL. He said the only reason the venture is even possible is due to the success of the wrestlers, who in reality are funding the project, and they won’t see a dime of profit from it either. To add insult to injury, he thinks XFL players will receive better treatment than WWE wrestlers as well:

“They’re gonna put millions of dollars into the XFL, another one,” Hart continued. “We all know that’s being paid for by the wrestlers, by the wrestling industry. But none of that is gonna filter down to any of the wrestlers. That’s gonna filter down to a bunch of football players being padded with football contracts and they’re gonna have special doctors and they’ll get all the things the wrestlers never got.

“They will be treated like the finest cattle you know animals, you know the treatment they will get is heads and tails above what the wrestlers will get. The wrestlers will get chicken feed at the bottom. If they get injured, they get sent off. It’s a very cut and dry world in pro wrestling.”

You can listen to Bret Hart’s full interview on the In This Corner podcast by clicking this link here.

H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions

Vince McMahon is going all in for the relaunch of he XFL.

The revamped league that is expected to return in February 2020 already received $100 million in funding from McMahon, who sold a swath of his stock in World Wrestling Entertainment to initially fund the XFL under his new brand Alpha Entertainment.

Now it appears that number was just a pittance compared to what McMahon expects to spend over the first three seasons of the XFL — assuming the league sticks around that long.

The first iteration of the XFL only went one season.

According to ESPN, McMahon told insiders that his investment in the XFL would likely be around $500 million over three seasons.

New XFL CEO and commissioner Oliver Luck explained that the $100 million that McMahon helped to relaunch the league wouldn’t be nearly enough to actually sustain the kind of financial commitment needed to fuel a new professional football endeavor.

“People were focused on the $100 million, but the truth is that doesn’t even get us to the 20-yard line,” Luck said in the interview.

The biggest chunk of the cost to run the league will go to the players’ salaries, which are expected to average around $75,000 per athlete on a 40-man roster. Some of the higher end players may end up with bigger contracts.

Add to that, McMahon and the XFL are also expected to pay out more than $10 million in the first season just for insurance premiums to cover the players’ injuries.

Luck added that finding an insurance carrier for the league was a top priority for McMahon after announcing that the XFL was coming back. That cost alone could continue to add cost with so few insurance companies willing to cover a sports league like the XFL.

By all accounts, McMahon is not only financially invested in the XFL but he seems committed to make the league work the second time around after the organization originally folded in 2001.

With the XFL set to kickoff play in 2020, the league has finally made a major decision in the league’s future. It was announced that former NFL and NCAA executive Oliver Luck is the new commissioner of the XFL. You can check out the official announcement, featuring comments from owner Vince McMahon, here below:

We are proud to announce that former #NFL and #NCAA executive and quarterback @OliverLuckXFL has been named the #XFL Commissioner & CEO. pic.twitter.com/ROzr027Bld

— United Football League (@TheUFL) June 5, 2018

Stamford, Conn., June 5, 2018 – The XFL today announced that former NFL and NCAA executive and quarterback Oliver Luck has been named the league’s Commissioner & CEO. The new XFL kicks off in early 2020 and will deliver a fan-centric, innovative experience, including fast-paced games and a family-friendly environment, complemented by cross-platform viewing options and real-time fan engagement.

“Oliver and I share the same vision and passion for reimagining the game of football,” said Vince McMahon, XFL Founder and Chairman. “His experience as both an athlete and executive will ensure the long-term success of the XFL.”

“Football has always been a constant in my life and I’m excited about the unique opportunity to present America’s favorite sport to fans in a new way,” said Oliver Luck. “The XFL will create first-class organizations that local cities across the country will be proud of.”

Earlier in his career, Luck served as President of NFL Europe and General Manager of the league’s Frankfurt Galaxy and Rhein Fire. Most recently Luck was the NCAA’s Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships where he oversaw all NCAA regulatory functions including enforcement, academic and membership affairs, and the Eligibility Center.

Prior to the NCAA, Luck spent four years as the Director of Athletics at his alma mater, West Virginia University, where he presided over the school’s transition into the Big 12 Conference. He was also the first President and General Manager of Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, and led the organization to two MLS Cup titles.

A Rhodes Scholarship finalist, Luck graduated from West Virginia University where he was a three-year starting quarterback, two-time Academic All-American, two-time team MVP and currently ranks sixth on the school’s all-time list for both passing yards and touchdowns. Luck was selected in the second round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers where he played until 1986.

Luck earned his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1987. He’s a member of the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame and CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame.

Plans for the XFL at launch include eight teams, 40-man active rosters and a 10-week regular season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game.

Click here to see a video message from XFL Commissioner & CEO Oliver Luck.

ABOUT THE XFL

The new XFL will reimagine football for the 21st century when it kicks off in early 2020.

Football is America’s favorite sport boasting over 85 million fans but the traditional season is just too short. Seeing a tremendous opportunity to fill the void, Vince McMahon, XFL Founder and Chairman announced on January 25, 2018, the launch of a new league, which he is personally funding. McMahon is building the XFL with the same commitment and resolve that he has demonstrated building WWE into a global media and sports entertainment powerhouse.

Delivering authentic, high energy football for the whole family at an affordable price, the XFL will offer fast-paced games with fewer play stoppages and simpler rules. The league will launch with eight teams, 40-man active rosters, and a 10-week regular season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game. Each contest will be a high profile event with tens of thousands of fans, featuring innovative elements that bring them closer to the players and the game they love. The XFL will also establish a health, wellness and safety program that meets the needs of today’s athletes.

The XFL will embrace the latest on and off-field technology, providing live game coverage, content and real-time engagement across multiple platforms, giving fans greater access than ever before. We will build strong grassroots relationships with local organizations in our Host Cities through social responsibility partnerships, and the XFL will enjoy the support of WWE’s many extraordinary resources and promotional capabilities.

Media Contact: Lou D’Ermilio – LOUD Communications lou@loudcommllc.com or 917-601-6898

CM Punk “All In” Meet & Greet An Instant Sellout

CM Punk, the man who’s name still gets chanted at almost every WWE event despite leaving the company four years ago, is still in high demand. Tickets for his meet and greet during “All In” weekend sold out almost instantly on Wednesday.

Only 200 tickets were allocated, so it was inevitable for the event to sell out so quickly due to Punk’s popularity, especially in his hometown of Chicago.

Being the awesome guy that he is, Punk took it upon himself to allow fans who missed out on tickets to still have a chance at meeting him by hanging around after 4pm.

Because all of the tickets for the @CMPunk appearance sold out rather quickly…. Punk has decided to accommodate as many fans as possible, he will stay later and have a walk-up option starting at 4pm. This will be a limited to time. pic.twitter.com/izEpiEAECm

— One Hour Tees (@OneHourTees) May 23, 2018

Nikki Bella: Ninja Warrior

Nikki Bella will appear on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior reality competition series on Thursday night (5/24) to promote Red Nose Day, an annual event to raise money and awareness for children living in poverty.

https://youtu.be/cHgYgIwGPv4

XFL Merch

Vince McMahon’s revived XFL football promotion is now selling official merchandise at XFLShop.com. The league is scheduled to kick off in 2020.

The #XFL kicks off in 2020, but you can gear up now with the launch of our official store: https://t.co/2KaTaKoefZ

Retweet for a chance to win a surprise pack of XFL merch! ???? pic.twitter.com/PVgr3ahx9t

— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 22, 2018

According to a new SEC filing, WWE owns a minority stake in Vince McMahon’s XFL football league.  The 10-Q filing shows that WWE is a minority owner in Alpha Entertainment, parent company of the XFL. According to PWInsider, the filing reads:

“On April 3, 2018, the Company entered into a transaction with Alpha Entertainment LLC (‘Alpha’), an entity controlled by Vincent K. McMahon, granting Alpha rights to launch a professional football league under the name ‘XFL’.

Alpha has announced that it expects that this launch will occur in early 2020. Under these agreements, WWE received, among other things, a minority equity interest in Alpha without payment by, or other financial obligation on the part of, WWE.”

The XFL is set to launch in 2020. Vince McMahon officially made the official announcement in late January. Although McMahon had stated that WWE and XFL would be separate entities, XFL commercials have been airing at WWE live events.

• Related: Triple H Comments On Vince McMahon Bringing Back The XFL

– Vince McMahon and Alpha Entertainment recently applied to trademark their own and the XFL logo. They also filed to trademark terms related to Alpha and the XFL.

– WWE recently replaced their social media banners with the image of ex-UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey pointing up at the WrestleMania 34 sign. A lot has been made of Rousey’s debut at the Royal Rumble at her pointing at the sign.

In an apparent shot at “The Rowdy One,” Charlotte Tweeted out the following picture of herself and captioned it “Champions don’t need to point.”

Champions don’t need to point. #WrestleMania34 pic.twitter.com/bMYBj8vBvm

— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) February 6, 2018

– Following last night’s Super Bowl The Rock appeared on Jimmy Fallon to announce the launch of his new reality competition series “Titan Games.” The series will air on NBC with 10 episodes in its first season; and is being produced by both A. Smith & Company (who produces American Ninja Warrior) and Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions. “The Great One” will serve as the host of the show in addition to executive producer. Here’s The Rock’s announcement of the show on Fallon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4QNYfcD8Yw&feature=youtu.be

Announcing our new @SevenBucksProd competition series @NBCTitanGames! Creating a platform where I put the spotlight where it belongs…on the ones who accept the challenge of a lifetime. Don’t just watch me on this show, join me on this show: https://t.co/Y6aVyLadNs #TitanGames pic.twitter.com/COBbFZI4JS

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 5, 2018

– In reference to last night’s Super Bowl, Vince McMahon’s XFL Twitter account took a few shots at the NFL during the game. The XFL commented on the NFL’s catch rules, how dragged out their game is, and the complexity of the NFL rule system. Check it out:

In the XFL, a catch is a catch. #XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/0oWoji9DQb

— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 4, 2018

Less stall, more ball. #XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/9ibV0vR8v7

— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 4, 2018

Simpler rules. #XFL2020 pic.twitter.com/wj2B3jE9Cg

— United Football League (@TheUFL) February 4, 2018

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross was on Busted Open Radio on Thursday to discuss the news of Vince McMahon re-laumnching the XFL, how he would run the league, Stephanie McMahon commentating the women’s Royal Rumble match & whether Vince would book Reigns to win it again in Philly. Here are some highlights sent in by the show’s producer:

If he ran the XFL, what would he change about the product vs the 2001 product:

“You’ve got to be very selective of your cities and how those cities and franchises are going to be managed and promoted. You need to sell tickets, and generally local promoters have a better handle on getting tickets sold vs outsiders, so local promotion is important.

Stadium selection is important. The LA Chargers are playing in a soccer stadium and no one seems to care. It will hold the costs down in that regards.

There was no kickoffs. I like punts and kickoffs because there’s a chance for a big play.

Another issue is where do you get good officials from? The NFL sure as hell doesn’t have a monopoly on them, because you see what they’re using.”

How important is talent for the new XFL:

“It would be a good move (referencing signing RG3, Tim Tebow, Tony Romo) if you’re creating a football league from scratch. We had Tommy Maddox. He was a UCLA QB, got drafted and cut from the NFL, got picked up for the XFL and was resigned to the Steelers. I think those are the kind of stories he would be looking for.

For me, any player that plays in the XFL would want to eventually end up in the NFL. To me, that’s a great selling point. The NFL won’t admit it because they will say ‘we get our players from college football’. The XFL doesn’t have to follow those rules.”

What went wrong with the XFL the first go-round:

“The teams didn’t have enough time to practice, gel and develop chemistry. They had very little time to practice. There was very little quality football. This will be interesting to see, to see who Vince brings together. This, I’ll bet, will be a who’s who in Vince’s inner circle.”

Why he believes Vince bringing back the XFL:

“He loves taking calculated risks. I had the first meeting with him after the first XFL went down, and I think we lost 50 million or something like that. We had a regular meeting and we talked about the XFL for a minute or two. He said ‘JR I took a calculated risk and it didn’t go down. I still believe in the concept.’

I don’t have an issue with the concept. I don’t know if he’s bored or he just loves the challenge. I know that was a challenge that went unfulfilled, didn’t succeed at it, and maybe there’s something to be said about his competitive nature. I can tell you that he sees something that is different than the last go-round. It should be exciting as it progresses.”

Stephanie McMahon announcing the women’s Royal Rumble match:

“To me, it’s a booking. It’s a casting. I see it as a special guest appearance. Simple as that. In my days I’ve worked with many people, some good and some bad, but we’ve always seemed to have worked through it. She will be produced just like anyone else out there, having someone in her ear. Let’s see how it plays out.”

If Vince would book Roman Reigns to win the Royal Rumble in Philly again:

“Hell yeah he would. If he thought it was the right thing for business. I don’t have an issue with marking a talent and going all the way with them. Promoters these days love 50/50 booking. He has a star appeal. I’ve always loved this kid. I worked with him in Florida Championship Wrestling when he was a large nose tackle and needed to work on his body to get to where he is today. If it’s the right thing for business, Vince will book him.

We can’t deny the fact that Reigns gets reactions. There’s a lot of guys in wrestling that don’t get the reactions we’d like them to get. They’re not over. Reigns is over. Maybe as a heel or a controversial figure, but they damn sure like to boo him, and as long as there’s an ass every 18 inches in the seats, I don’t care.”

Busted Open airs live every Monday–Friday 9am-12pm EST on SiriusXM Rush 93

Vince McMahon’s XFL re-launch announcement has been met with more questions than answers. Many in the media are wondering why the much-maligned league would make a comeback.

Vince took the time to answer questions on several topics to media members following the announcement.

XFL Questions and Answers

One of the bigger questions football fans have is whether or not the XFL will allow protests or kneeling during the anthem.

Vince has said social and political causes have no place in his football league. “People don’t want social and political issues coming into play when they are trying to be entertained,” McMahon told ESPN. “We want someone who wants to take a knee to do their version of that on their personal time.”

Vince was also asked if he felt President Donald Trump would support his vision of football. Vince’s wife Linda serves in President Trump’s administration. “I have no idea whether or not President Trump will support this,” McMahon said.

“Let me say as far as our league is concerned it will have nothing to do with politics, and nothing to do with social issues either. We’re there to play football. We want really good football, and that’s what the fans want too.

“When they tune in I don’t know if they want to be dealing with social issues and things of that nature. And that’s what we’re going to deliver.”

Asked about the unique set of rules the league is promising, Vince stated that there will be a firm set of instructions for all players.

“There will be a booklet to make sure that all the players understand the rules.” McMahon said.

“We intend for everyone to abide by those rules. As far as the national anthem is concerned, I think this: the national anthem is a time-honored tradition that is played to this day and many years in the past in our country; whatever our rules are what our players will abide by.”

Asked about allowing players with criminal records into the league, Vince said “The quality of the human being is important,”

“You want someone that has does not have any criminality whatsoever associated with them. In the XFL, If you have a DUI (driving under the influence) you will not play in the XFL.”

After Vince McMahon’s announcement of the XFL’s return in 2020, there is no shortage of football players and wrestlers lining up to get a spot in the league.

Reactions to XFL Announcement

Johnny “Football” Manziel might be looking at the XFL as a place where he can make a comeback. He released the following on Instagram after Vince’s announcement yesterday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeYsci7Fvyn/?utm_source=ig_embed

“Woken” Matt Hardy put his own spin on yesterday’s announcement:

Currently getting off a CRAFT with WINGS & was just exposed to the XFL news..

Well, MeekMahan positively knows how to get the POST-PANGAEA Plane buzzing..#XFL2020 & “Vince McMahon” (sic) are still currently at the PINNACLE of Social Media Trends across the globe. pic.twitter.com/yUZo0tfTMV

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) January 25, 2018

Each XFL game will take place on Rusev Day:

I would like to be a participant in VKM LONG SHOT #XFL2020

— Miro (@ToBeMiro) January 25, 2018

Brad Shepard brings up a good point about the 2020 start date:

https://twitter.com/TheBradShepard/status/956351977847476229?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F01%2Fxfl-comeback-twitter-reacts

Marcus Mosher has some advice on how the league can be successful:

Listen.. if the XFL was smart, the first thing they have to do is bring in some quality, big-name QBs.

Bring in Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel, etc.

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 25, 2018

Corey Graves has some concerns:

Does this mean I have to be on MORE shows? 😳#XFL2020

— Corey Graves (@WWEGraves) January 25, 2018

New XFL Kicks Off In 2020 (Official Announcement)

STAMFORD, CONN. – Professional football will be reimagined when the new XFL kicks off in early 2020, Vince McMahon announced in a live stream event today.

The XFL will deliver a fan-centric, innovative experience, including shorter, fast-paced games and a family-friendly environment, complemented by cross-platform viewing options and real-time fan engagement.

Plans for the XFL at launch include eight teams, 40-man active rosters and a 10-week regular-season schedule, with a postseason consisting of two semifinal playoff games and a championship game.

“The new XFL is an exciting opportunity to reimagine America’s favorite sport,” said McMahon. “As we move towards kickoff, we look forward to listening and implementing innovative ideas from players, coaches, medical experts, technology executives, the media and most importantly football fans.”

McMahon, a visionary and an accomplished business executive, is personally funding this venture through Alpha Entertainment, a new private entity. McMahon will continue as WWE Chairman & CEO.

Relive the full streamed announcement at XFL.com and YouTube (youtube.com/xflofficial). For the latest updates, follow the XFL on Facebook (facebook.com/xfl), Twitter (@xfl2020) and Instagram (@xfl), and be sure to join in on the conversation using #XFL2020.

This appears to be confirmation that Vince McMahon’s “major sports announcement” scheduled for 3pm (Eastern) later today is indeed the return of the XFL football league.

The Alpha Entertainment press conference will stream across the company’s new digital platforms, including their official YouTube channel.

The company has already posted a “Live Video” as a placeholder for the press conference. During the live feed, viewers got a glimpse of what’s to come later today.

As seen above – the XFL is back. The league is expected to return in 2020.

• Report: Vince McMahon Launching Football League In 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fz19LqlSt8