[Emperor Smeat]

The Sheets (Observer Newsletter Edition)

Just one week after WWE announced going live at the Performance Center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Vince McMahon changed his mind again ... The continuing of tapings became an issue on 4/21 at the Orange County, FL (where both the Performance Center and Full Sail University are located in) when an employee of the company made a public comment on the subject and asked for the tapings to be shut down. “My employer, World Wrestling Entertainment, AKA WWE, is forcing me to work the TV tapings for its weekly shows despite stay at home orders. I am unable to speak out as I need this job, and I know I will be fired if I approach my higher-ups. Despite sanitary precautions, we cannot maintain social distancing and I have to touch other people. I request the government to shut down these tapings and enforce the stay at home order so my colleagues and I may follow the social distancing rules without fear of repercussion of losing our jobs." It should be noted that, like with AEW, people have been told they don’t have to work these tapings if they are uncomfortable. That said, the massive cuts also send a message. It is also notable that 29 percent of the talent on the AEW roster worked the most recent set of tapings. In WWE, other than Reigns, Kyle O’Reilly and the NXT announcing team, there is no word of anyone not working ... It also doesn’t help the perception from the talent when Lio Rush publicly stated that he was not going to work while the pandemic was going on and then just a short time later, he was fired. He was likely to be on the list anyway, since he was one of the talents who had publicly complained about money and those who had any point made comments perceived as negative were on the list of those let go. However, it does look bad from the outside. Jon Alba, a reporter for Sports 360 in the Tampa/Orlando area noted that “While there isn’t really a way to verify if the comment above was 100 percent a WWE employee given the nature of the complaint, it should be noted that there have been several within the company who have expressed concern, many privately, over the tapings continuing.” I can verify there were talents in the company who expressed concern, and others who recognize the risks and are concerned, but have said from a WWE standpoint they don’t think there is any kind of a solution that is good, including shutting down because of so many issues with that decision economically. But across the board, nobody can come up with any kind of a logical reason to be using Jerry Lawler at this time, given his age, previous heart attack, family history of heart problems and not adhering to any social distancing with him. At one point, when Lawler, the Street Profits, Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips were all together at the announce set, it was clear the social distancing precautions were not going to change how they did that aspect of the television show. There have also been Instagram posts from backstage showing social distancing was not being adhered to ... There is a belief that the state allowing WWE to continue running, as an essential business, also had to do with getting the 2022 WrestleMania in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, as was originally planned for this year.

There were a number of new WWE cuts this past week, with perhaps the biggest name being Kassius Ohno (Chris Spradlin). Perhaps the most surprising name of those cut was Kerwin Silfies, who had been the lead Director of WWE television programming dating back to around 1984. Silfies wasn’t with the WWE the entire period. Conrad Thompson mentioned Silfies name as being put on furlough as one of the surprising departures while on his podcast with Jim Ross. Silfies had left the company at one point and was brought back. Marty Miller has been the company’s main television director but Silfies still did shows ... Two other significant releases were Sabatino Piscitelli, better known as Tino Sabbatelli, and Taynara Conti ... In the decision on cuts, it was clear that those who had fought management on contract issues were cut, notably her, Mike Bennett and Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (who were never unprofessional but turned down a number of big money offers until the money got so big they couldn’t turn it town). No doubt, even though the company agreed to the deal for five years (as they did with Bennett, who had made noises of wanting to leave) the size of their salary likely worked against them. Among other releases this past week included Josiah Williams, an on-air digital host who appeared a few times on NXT television ... Most of those cut were stars being trained and groomed to be local stars for NXT outposts in foreign markets. Expanding into new regions is no longer high on the current goals. But it is notable with all the emphasis on making Middle Eastern stars due to the Saudi Arabia deal that they cut three Middle Eastern wrestlers, which seems to tell a story about priorities changing ... Also cut was Andrea Listenberger, a member of the creative team whose main role the past few months was developing the Mandy Rose/Otis storyline, which was probably the best long-term storyline the company had.

Regarding the WWE Network, it’s too early to tell about the pandemic but the build to this year’s WrestleMania, with all the complaints, was about the same as last year, stronger early but weaker in the final week before Mania ... Regarding the hoped for deal, which could have been to sell the network itself to a larger streaming provider or just sell the PPVs, as noted, no deal was reached in time for WrestleMania, which was the goal ... The changes in tiers in the WWE Network and a free tier, originally to start already this year, is now targeted for the fourth quarter. My gut says there were no plans to rush the changes because it makes no sense to start something and then sell the content to another distributor, so the different tiers, the usage of the various independent libraries they’ve been teasing for years and such probably won’t happen until either late this year or after if they can sell streaming content to a higher paying provider. They noted when things get back to normal, or as close to normal as it gets, perhaps the situation will change. But the indication was that all talks right now are dead, since major media partners right now aren’t looking at adding a new major expense on a deal that at best won’t pay off financially for a long time. Numbers are down from last year due to a steady decline over the past two years, but first quarter growth was up very slightly. From December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020, the WWE Network went from 996,000 U.S. subscribers to 1,082,500, and from 393,000 foreign subscribers to 412,100, meaning overall 1,389,000 to 1,494,600. The growth of 87,000 in the U.S. and 19,000 outside the U.S. compares with growth of 56,000 in the U.S. during the same months last year and 13,000 outside the U.S., or 106,000 to 69,000. Still, because they started from a lower point, subscribers on March 31, 2019 were down 7.6 percent from the same day last year in the U.S., and 3.1 percent outside the U.S. In addition, there were a lot more free subscribers, with 149,000 on 3/31 this year and only 46,000 last year ... However, from March 31 until the day after WrestleMania, that changed again. The WWE Network added 170,000 paid subscribers, but also had 187,000 new subscribers ordering for free during those days. This year, those numbers were 127,000 new subscribers paid, and 327,000 free ... On the day after WrestleMania, and usual high point of the year, there was an increase of 239,000 new paid subscribers from New Year’s Eve to the day after WrestleMania. This year that number ended up being 233,000, almost identical but a very slight overall decline. On the day after WrestleMania, there were 1,622,000 paid subscribers and 476,000 free subscribers for 2,098,000. That number last year was 1,767,000 paid and 233,000 free for 2,000,000. In 2018, it was 1,808,000 paid and 316,000 free for 2,124,000. Overall network revenue alone was down 7.8 percent in the first quarter of this year as compared to last year, while in the U.S the drop was 9.0 percent.

Regarding Saudi Arabia, McMahon noted there is an uncertainly regarding a second show this year. “They want to run another huge event,” he said. “We usually have two. They have the same constraints. We are not too sure we’ll get the okay to perform in November or December. They want us to. “ McMahon noted that if there is only one show this year, that both sides have agreed that it will tack on another event at the end of the current contract so while revenue will be down this year, it’ll be made up for in the future so the company won’t be out any money on the deal. He said they were still working on Middle East TV rights, which were the last major rights negotiations not completed.

A few more notes on Howard Finkel, who passed away on 4/16 at the age of 69. Tommy Dreamer, who visited Finkel in his assisted living center where he had been, said the Jerry Lawler report that Finkel suffered a stroke a few years ago at the time when nobody, even friends of his, could get any information on him, was inaccurate. In an interview on the Busted Open radio show, he said, “A lot of people said Howard had a stroke. Howard did not have a stroke. Howard had a rare genetic brain disease. His brain was shrinking and I hate that because the whole `Out Think the Fink’ and he was slowly losing his mind. He had stroke-like systems but he kept falling because of his brain. I didn't post pictures of us on social media. I took them all the time I would visit him, but Howard had such pride. He didn't want the people to know that he was sick. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. He was literally just sitting there watching the Mets game until it was time to watch wrestling."

Smackdown on 4/17 did a 1.39 rating and 2,187,000 (1.30 viewer per home) viewers and a 0.6 in the 18-49 demo. The demo number was down 6.9 percent from last week, the rating was down 0.7 percent from last week and the total audience was down 5.6 percent. The 18-49 rating, which staying the same at 0.6, was an actual viewer drop from 823,000 last week to 766,000 this week. It was the lowest rating, demo rating and total audience for Smackdown on FOX, but no surprise since last week’s show had the benefit the first show after WrestleMania and wrestling numbers for the most part are down ... Last year on the same week, FOX averaged 3,043,000 viewers and a 0.6 in the demo, so they are even in the demo and down 28.1 percent in viewers.

So there was a weird situation on 4/20. Logan, who was cut a few days earlier, was booked in a few segments on Raw. The plan wasn’t to keep her employed, but the idea was that since they are still paying her for 90 more days, if there was a reason to use her, they would. Since the idea was that she was going to be back for a short while, her name was scripted into a few promos. And then the decision was made not to use her on the show, but they didn’t change the promos. I’ve got no idea if what was planned, which I believe was a segment where she’d be linked up with the Viking Raiders, has been dropped or may take place in the future. But even if she is on Raw next week, that doesn’t mean her firing was rescinded They are also doing an angle working the Drake Maverick firing into a storyline. Maverick cut a nearly tearful promo about losing his job and the idea is that he needed to prove to himself and WWE that he was good enough and the cruiserweight tournament was his last chance. Then he lost to Jake Atlas in the first tournament match. Since it’s round-robin, the keys are if he wins his next two he can advance, but he has to win his next match to do so. No matter what the storyline, he did need to lose the first match. It’s almost impossible to believe if they are doing a storyline where he has to win to save his job, that in the end, he doesn’t save his job. During this period that would be cruel. It’s also weird to shoot an angle that calls attention to the fact they fired a bunch of guys weeks into a pandemic. And the kicker to all this is that as of Wednesday, Maverick was still listed as being gone when the 90 days are up. Like with all the talent, they may use them because they are paying them for the next 90 days if they haven’t already made their downside money

Right now the Charlotte Flair vs. Io Shirai NXT women’s title match is not scheduled for Money in the Bank

For 4/22, AEW was No. 24 in 18-49, doing 731,000 viewers and an 0.25 in the key demo. NXT was No. 50 in 18-49, doing 665,000 viewers and a 0.18 in the demo. AEW’s total audience was up 7.0 percent from the prior week, but in the key demo, it was only up from 323,000 to 325,000, or basically identical. NXT was down 3.9 percent overall but in 18-49, they were up from 224,000 last week to 234,000 this week. Breaking 18-49 down, AEW had a 49,000 to 27,000 lead in Males 18-34, while NXT lead a 41,000 to 40,000 lead in Women 18-34. What is notable and unusual is that with 18-34, only 39.7 percent of the NXT viewers were men while for AEW, the number was 55.1 percent. Both are much lower than usual indicating 18-34 males watching other programming ... AEW did a 0.12 in 12-17 (up 9.1 percent from last week), 0.13 in 18-34 (down 13.3 percent), 0.37 in 35-49 (up 5.7 percent) and 0.30 in 50+ (up 7.1 percent). The audience was 60.9 percent male in 18-49 and 51.2 percent male in 12-17, so guys were down but women were much higher than usual by percentage. Because NXT was out of the top 50, we don’t have comparisons from last week, but the show did a 0.07 in 12-17, 0.10 in 18-34, 0.26 in 35-49 and 0.34 in 50+. The show did 59.4 percent male in 18-49 and 30.7 males in 12-17, so there has a reason that with women 12-34 the4 show was up and men 12-34 the NXT show was a disaster based on usual patterns.

Here are some more details on the 4/15 shows. NXT peaked in the first quarter coming off NCIS with 730,000 viewers for Finn Balor vs. Fabian Aichner. AEW peaked in the sixth quarter with 729,000 viewers for Jon Moxley vs. Jake Hager. Moxley vs. Hager start-to-finish lost 47,000 viewers, but gained early overall, peaked in 18-49 from 9:30 to 9:45 and overall gained 23,000 in 18-49, however it dropped in the final quarter so it clearly went too long, while the tag title match in NXT gained in the final quarter, as it hadn’t gone nearly as long. AEW had a 323,000 to 224,000 edge in the 18-49 demo. AEW averaged 1.32 viewers per home, down from usual. NXT won five of eight quarters overall, the first four, partially from their edge in the lead-in, but their greatest lead was quarter two when AEW dropped badly. Most quarters were close and NXT also won the main event quarter overall ... * AEW opened with 703,000 viewers and 315,000 in 18-49 for a Jake Roberts promo and Lance Archer vs. Colt Cabana. NXT had 730,000 viewers and 253,000 in 18-49 for Balor vs. Aichner. In quarter two, AEW lost 65,000 viewers and 11,000 in 18-49 for the end of Archer vs. Cabana, a Britt Baker vignette, hype videos for Moxley vs. Hager and Baker vs. Cassandra Golden. NXT lost 30,000 viewers and 3,000 in 18-49 for the end of Balor vs. Aichner, a Velveteen Dream promo and an interview and video package with Charlotte Flair. In quarter three, AEW gained 23,000 viewers but lost 15,000 in 18-49 for the Inner Circle vignette and Sammy Guevara vs. Suge D. NXT lost 22,000 viewers and 13,000 in 18-49 for Aliyah vs. Xia Li and the beginning of Akira Tozawa vs. Isaiah Scott. While not a match and not an in-ring, this would be the first quarter since the start of AEW where Jericho has been featured and AEW lost the quarter in total viewers 678,000 to 661,000. In quarter four, AEW lost 8,000 viewers and 2,000 in 18-49 with the end of Guevara vs. Suge D, a Guevara promo and beginning of Kip Sabian vs. Chuck Taylor. NXT lost 22,000 viewers and 14,000 in 18-49 for the end of Tozawa vs. Scott, A Tozawa interview and another Dream interview. In quarter five, AEW gained 54,000 viewers and 41,000 in 18-49 for the res of Sabian vs. Taylor. NXT gained 23,000 viewers but lost 35,000 in 18-49 for Tegan Nox vs. Raquel Gonzalez and a Keith Lee vignette. In quarter six, AEW gained 22,000 viewers and 24,000 in 18-49 for Shawn Spears vs. Justin Law and mostly Moxley vs. Hager. NXT gained 24,000 viewers and 29,000 in 18-49 for Dexter Lumis vs. Tehuti Miles, an Adam Cole promo and the Dream/Balor angle. In quarter seven, AEW lost 19,000 viewers but gained 9,000 in 18-49 (peak of 18-49) for the second quarter of Moxley vs. Hager. NXT lost 29,000 viewers and 9,000 in 18-49 for he beginning of Matt Riddle & Timothy Thatcher vs. Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish for the tag titles. In quarter eight, there was a big turnaround as AEW lost 50,000 viewers and 10,000 in 18-49 for the end of Moxley vs. Hager. NXT gained 41,000 viewers and 35,000 in 18-49 for the end of Riddle & Thatcher vs. Strong & Fish.

Konnan did an interview this past week and listed Primo, Epico and Lio Rush as wrestlers he would be interested in bringing to AAA from the recent list of WWE cuts

If you see the name Zach Sammartino of Dartmouth in the NFL draft this week, he is related to Bruno Sammartino. The 6-foot-4 315 pound offensive lineman was first team Ivy League and comes from Pittsburgh. Bruno Sammartino was his great uncle