WWE Vs ITV: UK WARS!! WWE DESPERATE!!! Unique Contracts; Mark Deals!!

> Regarding these unique contracts WWE is offering to key UK talents that have some name value or are marketable, they are described as different from anything WWE has ever done and are being called "competition-killer" deals by some. The deals are not for WWE NXT and the WWE Performance Center or the main roster, and are low-dollar guarantees that would see the talent stay in the UK and be allowed to work indies. WWE would also have the right to approve or not approve their indie dates. The talent would now have a small cushion from WWE and the added value of being associated with the company. The key here is that WWE will be able to lock the talent in and prevent them from going to ITV or other promotions that have streaming content.

>We don't have confirmation on who has been offered deals but The Wrestling Observer says some of the names are fairly well-known in the "UK hardcore community" while others have no name value at all. Many have worked WWE tryouts in the past but the company wasn't interested in them at the time. Several who worked the recent tryouts in Glasgow were offered this new deal as well. WWE is reportedly doing background checks and has told the potential signings to clean up their social media accounts but the actual physical contracts have not been offered yet.

> These new contracts from WWE were a hot topic backstage at the recent ICW show in Glasgow with some trying to pressure others into not signing, calling them "mark deals" and saying WWE "don't want you, they just don't want anyone else to have you."

> There's also speculation on WWE possibly doing some kind of TV show with these new UK talents for that market only. The idea is that just being associated with WWE will be a big boost to the local marketability of each talent signed.

>>2013104
WWE bit themselves in the arse by only ever airing on sky sports in the UK, wrestling is in our blood but WWE
is forever a niche interest over here. They would have 10s of millions of diehard fans if it was on free tv for us growing up

But free tv doesn't make money in the UK though. Look at what happened to TNA.

yeah sounds like if anyone signs that they're retarded. That's based they got JR commentating.

>>2013141

TNA were on some literally who channel

>>2013141
TNA were on challenge lol, its like channel 58 or some shit

WoS is on ITV, literally channel 3

>>2013141
TNA were on Challenge TV, which while fairly long-running is still a niche "cable" channel. World of Sport will be airing on ITV, which is one of the terrestrial TV channels that literally everyone in the UK with a TV gets - and more than likely watches. It's relevance in UK TV is on par with the BBC

>>2013138
Maybe, maybe not.

The one time any of the terrestrial networks ever showed any interest in American pro wrestling whatsoever was at the very height of Attitude era. Around 1999 channel 4 showed something like Heat or Superstars on its T4 programming, and they hosted Royal Rumble.

The fact none of the networks ever bid on it suggests Vince was always content with the lump sum he got from Murdoch.

It should be noted that Channel 4 mishandled their WWF content completely, including putting advert breaks in the Royal Rumble - the very PPV that is liable to be ruined by regular breaks.