Read on for coverage and analysis of WWE's recent financial information.
- Really impressive revenue gains from last year.
- Good strives in their online endeavors.
- Original content that's not in-ring performances (Swerved, podcasts, reality shows) look like they'll be more of a focus in the years to come.
- Wrestlemania was a HUGE hit, especially for the Network and for its online reach.
- They've likely seen the biggest growth of Network subscribers they'll see in 2016 for Mania season. They hopefully won't sell themselves too highly on where they think subscriber numbers will be.
- I wish they'd be consistent about which quarter Wrestlemania falls in each year so we get a more even comparison in revenue.
- It's unfortunate the number of U.S. Network subscribers has declined. They've got their work cut out for them retaining and gaining new subscribers.
- Good news on making money from NXT touring. Hopefully that's even more true as time goes on.
-- It doesn't look like anything was incredibly surprising from a negative standpoint. Things are going well for them as a whole.
WWE also held a big conference call on their earnings release:
- I do think the big injuries have led to WWE shaking things up and bringing in surprising new names. I can't fault them for that.
- Good to hear those top names will be back soon-ish. Hopefully Cena and Orton are used in ways that enhance the new and emerging talents.
- Sounds like we could be in for some more debuts. Finn Balor is a pretty obvious choice, and I could see Bayley coming up in the next few months as well. Both are top acts in NXT.
- If you thought Vince was going to take the blame for his erratic scripting leading to injuries, you don't know Vince.
- I don't think they'd go back to the traditional PPV model. It's not as viable for them as it used to be. Yes, boxing and MMA draw on PPV, but they don't have so many hours of TV a week to fill with top-flight matches, nor do they have live events. Ronda Rousey didn't compete in four televised bouts and other live fights in the four weeks before a PPV, so it's more special when she was seen.
- I wouldn't count on Shane being an executive at this point.
- China will be a really big deal for them in the years to come. Or so the hope is.
- I'm surprised so much of social media use is international. It makes sense when looking at their pages, though.
- It's still funny to me Tapout went from being the clothes of choice for MMA douchebags to being WWE-owned.
WWE stock shot up after this earnings release. That's always good news.
More wrestling coming up.
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