In this WrestleTalk News, could Vince McMahon take over WWE creative, Triple H’s Royal
Rumble signing spree, compulsory CM Punk speculation story and more!
Seemingly being the only person to watch HBO business drama Succession and come away thinking:
Logan Roy is such a role model - Vince McMahon forced his way back into WWE five months after
being forced out due to an investigation into sexual misconduct claims against him, and
the potential misallocation of hush money payments.
And like any good wrestling return, he did it by bringing back his nostalgia faction
- his former right and left hand executives George Barrios and Michelle Wilson, both whom
he ruthlessly fired three years ago because they didn’t agree with him on the direction
of the WWE Network.
You might as well be teaming up with Randy Orton or Kevin Owens.
If they turn on you again, you’ve only got yourself to blame.
Because Vince’s name is actually controversial, stock market poison - with his departure back
in July corresponding with a jump in share price - he has ingeniously smuggled his return
inside the larger Trojan Horse diversionary tactic of selling WWE, threatening to block
the company’s sale unless he’s the one to do it.
Of course, he may never actually intend to sell WWE.
Like many NXT call-ups, it could just be dropped after a three week push, next seen chasing
after the revived 24/7 championship on Raw.
But at least right now, for the all-important stock market, he has to look like he’s serious.
CNBC is now reporting WWE has hired financial services firm JPMorgan to “advise on a sale
[of WWE]” and “If a deal occurs, it would likely occur in the next three to six months.”
That’s because then is the same time TV rights deals will be negotiated, so the buyer
could get the broadcast rights to Raw, SmackDown and NXT, while also owning the source IP.
Front Office Sports have already reported that the Saudi investment fund is a potential
suitor - which we covered in the video linked down below.
This is a potentially very morally dubious deal, as not only would the company then be
intrinsically linked to a highly controversial state with record of human rights abuses,
it could also pave the way for Vince’s return.
The Saudi Royal family could have enough money to take WWE private again, which means they
could just install Vince with all the power, keeping the company’s inner-workings completely
private, and not having to answer to a publicly traded board or shareholders.
The CNBC article have listed other potential buyers:
Comcast, who own NBCUniversal, which already has the exclusive rights to Raw, NXT and the
WWE Network.
They are also set to earn $9 billion next January following them selling their stake
in Hulu to Disney.
That could easily cover the cost of WWE, which is speculated to be between $5-7 billion.
Fox, who already have the TV rights for SmackDown.
That deal hasn’t been as successful for their viewing figures as hoped, though.
Disney, back under the control of IP hoarder Bob Iger, who spearheaded acquisitions of
Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm and 20th Century Fox during his 15 year reign, could easily
nab WWE and add significant revenue through their theme park business.
Warner Bros. Discovery, which could spell disaster for AEW, who currently air on their
TNT station.
This is very unlikely though, as Warner Bros merger with Discovery last year has left them
saddled with debt.
There’s the usual new broadcast suspects of Netflix, who could do with a live sports
offering to boost stagnant subscribers, and Amazon, who have already gotten into sports
rights with the Premier League, Tennis and MLB.
And there’s also Endeavor, who own the UFC, and Liberty Media, which owns Formula 1.
The best way to stay up to date with this crazy WWE sale story is by superkicking our
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and prediction videos!
Totally coincidentally, MJF has tweeted: “I feel like I don’t talk enough about
how much I love - Comcast (NBC Universal)- Fox - Disney- Warner
Bros Discovery- Netflix- Amazon- Endeavor Group Holdings And- Liberty Media”
Because WWE isn’t the only big bidding war of 2024.
There’s also a very, very, very slim, almost remote possibility, that WWE’s current biggest
rival could buy them.
The contract says Khan on… but it’s not Nick Khan!
Eric Bischoff has speculated “there’s at least a 20% chance” Tony Khan’s family
could buy WWE.
But then you minus Scott Steiner’s 25% chance of winning at Sacrifice and you’re quickly
left with -5% probability.
Senor Joe, the numbers don’t lie!
What is far more likely, however, is that in a few weeks time, Vince will be running
creative again, firing all your favourite wrestlers and winning the Royal Rumble.
He just can’t help himself!
Vince’s return is currently supposed to be for the sole purpose of selling WWE.
Dave Meltzer has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that “the word is” he is not coming
back to TV.
In fact, “he’s not even returning to his office” at WWE’s Stamford, Connecticut
based head quarters.
Although even Dave doesn’t believe what he’s saying, adding “We’ll see how long
that lasts.”
In an internal meeting, WWE have told employees that Vince will not be involved in day-to-day
operations, and the current management team of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan
will remain in place.
Thing is, nobody believes it.
One site has been told by a WWE source: “I don’t know of many people who see [Vince’s
return] as a positive” and when asked if there are any signs McMahon will take back
control of creative, another said: “No.
But I’m sure it will happen.”
Again proving Luke and I can see the future, after accurately predicting Charlotte Flair
would return and immediately win the title from Ronda Rousey, we predicted this when
we recorded it last Tuesday - three days before the Vince news broke:
I’m sorry, everybody, our cursed powers will accidentally manifest Vince winning the
Rumble later this month.
For our full video predicting every WWE wrestlers’ Royal Rumble chances in 3 words or less, click
the link down below!
Probably in an effort to sign as many wrestlers as possible before Vince starts firing them
all again, several reports have come out on Triple H’s desire to bring in new stars…
Fightful Select writes that WWE are internally interested in top New Japan star, the former
Bullet Club member Tama Tonga.
Tonga just defeated WWE star Karl Anderson at New Japan’s WrestleKingdom 17 to win
the NEVER Openweight Championship.
Apparently Tonga could’ve been one of Triple H’s wrestlers that got away.
Fightful note that WWE offered him a contract several years ago, but he turned it down so
he could wrestle with his brother Tanga Loa in New Japan as the Guerrillas of Destiny.
Over the last two years, Tonga has transitioned into a singles push.
And continuing New Japan’s weird trend of putting the NEVER Openweight title on wrestlers
who could be about to leave, Tonga’s contract is up in a matter of weeks - potentially making
him a surprise debut candidate for the Royal Rumble.
This follows WWE’s interest in Tonga’s younger brother Hikuleo.
Fantasy book a Samoan vs Tongan Bloodline feud, where Haku just beats everyone to a
bloody pulp.
Speaking of Hikuleo, he has a loser leaves Japan booked match against his former Bullet
Club leader Jay White, although we don’t yet know when that will take place.
White reportedly has New Japan dates booked after January 28th - implying Hikuleo will
lose that match, potentially making him a free agent.
That doesn’t rule out Jay White appearing in the men’s Royal Rumble match, though.
New Japan owe WWE a favour for Triple H letting Karl Anderson lose at WrestleKingdom despite
him being under contract on Raw, so a New Japan star could just appear as a one-off
surprise cameo - not fully opening a Forbidden Door.
More letting someone sneak in the Forbidden upstairs window for a quickie and then sneak
out again.
It’s speculated that another wrestler is being brought back in following the most recent
taping of MLW.
Spoiler ahead for those shows if you don’t want to know.
EJ Nduka has lost his MLW Tag Team Championship to the Samoan SWAT Team, paving the way for
him to go to one of the many promotions that are interested in him - with WWE, AEW and
a few in Japan wanting him to sign.
EJ had previously been in NXT as Ezra Judge, signing back in 2018 before being released
in May 2021.
That was a surprising release, as he was so physically impressive - at 6 foot 5 and a
former bodybuilder, and presumably fit what WWE wanted ‘future WrestleMania headliners’
to look like.
And finishing the potential WWE Rumble return round up, it’s…
Compulsory CM Punk Speculation Story!
CM Punk’s Instagram story has an image of him training in the gym behind some very heavy
dumbbells, listening to Have Heart’s song Watch Me Rise, which has the lyrics:
“I’d rather die on my feet than live on my knees
I’d rather die on my feet so you can watch me
Watch me rise with the things we carry: the loss, the scars, the weight of hevay hearts,
the things we carry” Almost lost amidst the chaos of his last appearance
in AEW, Punk suffered a torn left triceps in his main event title match against Jon
Moxley.
Could this be a sign that Punk is ready to return to the ring?
In January?
The most Royal Rumbley of months?
CM Punk to WWE confirmed.
Watch mine and Luke’s predictions for every WWE wrestler’s Royal Rumble chances in 3
words or less, fewer, in our new series The 3 Count now!