WWE to Uni?

[some guy]

Over in the online wrasslin nerd circles there's been sporadic talk about WWE getting in with Uni at some point in the not-to-distant future. One story I hear says they're replacing the NBA thing, another says something with a soundstage.
I know Impact Wrestling just came back to Universal, but it's not like they're joined at the hip.
Anybody hear anything about this?

 

[Jwhee]

No WWE if there is TNA.
If WWE isn't willing to regularly film a tv show at USF, then WWE wont come.​

 

[some guy]

No WWE if there is TNA.

If WWE isn't willing to regularly film a tv show at USF, then WWE wont come.​

​

From what I've heard TNA hasn't made any long-term deals yet since coming back, not like before with "The Impact Zone".
And presumption is that WWE would be putting in a Hall of Fame type thing (replacing NBA city), not using Uni for filming. NXT is supposedly pretty comfortable at FullSail.

 

[Jwhee]

They would need to film a show at USF if they want a hall of fame. So I think they might move NXT there, which is better then full sail because they would get a bigger audience.

 

[some guy]

They would need to film a show at USF if they want a hall of fame.

What makes you say that? NBA doesn't film there afaik.

So I think they might move NXT there, which is better then full sail because they would get a bigger audience.

I would be very surprised if that happened. Everything I've heard says WWE is happy with the FullSail facilities, and more importantly the crowds there respond well. The Impact Zone crowds weren't so hot. I haven't caught enough of the current product to judge how they are since leaving the road, but I doubt moving a couple of soundstages over helped much.

 

[Jwhee]

Because, the people that are making the deal with them says that they must film a show at USF.

 

[some guy]

Because, the people that are making the deal with them says that they must film a show at USF.

Good reason, lol.
It'll be interesting to see what sort of reactions they get compared to TNA.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

WWE is terribly stale in its current state and ratings are close to there all time lows, and TNA does not ever register in the world of sports entertainment. If I were UNI, dumping TNA for WWE would be a huge upgrade, but ultimately both are utterly forgettable.


Jimmy Thick- In other words, Uni can have them both, but give me the Bella twins.

 

[Bairstow]

 

[CJR]

WWE charges people to see NXT tape (only Full Sail students get to see it for free, others are $10). They won't be leaving FS since they make a little money from ticket sales, plus get footage. At UO, they would probably spend more renting the soundstage and not be able to sell any tickets (Universal won't let TNA charge for tickets, so why would they let WWE?). There's no real benefit for them to go that route since a WWE restaurant may fail, as it did in New York.

 

[some guy]

PWInsider reports that TNA is not scheduled to return to Universal Studios to tape Impact Wrestling episodes any time soon. Word is that TNA was unable to secure any dates for 2014 due to the soundstages being booked out for other productions already.

an update for the nobody in particular that cares

 

[some guy]

NBCUniversal, looking to retain rights to WWE’s popular “Smackdown” and “Raw” programs on its SyFy and USA channels, is thinking about creating a Hall of Fame for the entertainment company at its Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, The Post has learned.
While no concrete offer has been made, NBCU brass, as they put together a final pitch to present to Vince McMahon’s WWE, have talked about such a deal sweetener, sources said.

http://nypost.com/2014/01/24/nbcuniversal-out-to-keep-wwe-mulls-hall-of-fame/

 

[71jason]

Interesting. Is Ted Turner no longer affiliated with TBS/TNT? Because Vinnie Mac seems like a guy who would hold a grudge for decades, don't see WWE ending up there if he is.

 

[some guy]

Interesting. Is Ted Turner no longer affiliated with TBS/TNT? Because Vinnie Mac seems like a guy who would hold a grudge for decades, don't see WWE ending up there if he is.

I'm pretty sure he's been gone from AOL/TimeWarner/ChickenAndWaffles since before WCW died.

 

[some guy]

TNA Wrestling has worked out a deal with Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida that will see Impact Wrestling (and two pay-per-view tapings) return to the venue starting in March.

Here is TNA's upcoming taping schedule at Universal Studios:

MARCH 13 – IMPACT LIVE
MARCH 14 – IMPACT Taping
MARCH 15 – IMPACT Taping

APRIL 10 – IMPACT LIVE
APRIL 11 – IMPACT Taping
APRIL 12 – IMPACT Taping
APRIL 26 – One Night Only Taping
APRIL 27 – TNA Pay-Per-View Event
APRIL 28 – IMPACT Taping
APRIL 29 – IMPACT Taping

MAY 7 – IMPACT Taping
MAY 8 – IMPACT Taping
MAY 9 – IMPACT Taping

Additional details on TNA's new arrangement with Universal Studios in Orlando will be announced soon

and so the plot congeals into pretty much the same shape it was in before.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Interesting. Is Ted Turner no longer affiliated with TBS/TNT? Because Vinnie Mac seems like a guy who would hold a grudge for decades, don't see WWE ending up there if he is.

He sold off his shares years ago when he was pushed aside.

 

[71jason]

and so the plot congeals into pretty much the same shape it was in before.

Eh, I just saw TNA pulled like 250 people to a house show--they'll be lucky to survive to May. And if corporate daddy Universal decides it's better to be in business with WWE, it's not like the company has a whole lot of stroke to prevent being evicted.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Nice to see them at Universal again. Always great to see production going on there.

I'm sure they'll be fine. TV ratings are steady. Their house show attendance is different everywhere. You'll see reports of a few hundred in one place and 2k in another. What should be telling is how many show up to the next PPV in Miami.

 

[some guy]

Eh, I just saw TNA pulled like 250 people to a house show--they'll be lucky to survive to May. And if corporate daddy Universal decides it's better to be in business with WWE, it's not like the company has a whole lot of stroke to prevent being evicted.

I'd be surprised if they didn't make it through the announced taping dates at least. I think if/when Spike drops them will be the final nail. Maybe their international tv deals can help them tread water, but without Sting and the impending loss of everybody else I don't know if International TV will re-sign when it's contract time.

AlsoThe Post isn't known for its wrasslin or theme park insight (to my knowledge), so they might just be picking up the old "WWE HoF maybe at CityWalk?" rumor and grafting it onto WWE negotiation rumors.