Wrestlenomics

Following a heavily hyped episode of AEW Dynamite, we analyze the viewership and the apparent beginning of relationship between All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. Plus, we'll unpack whether the wrestling economy is now at the point where one episode of a major weekly wrestling program is more valuable than a pay-per-view event. Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurs...

This podcast is like an MBA class but pro-wrestling examples and no college credits. Brandon Thurston unpacks the history of pay-per-view price points and discusses how or if it affected wrestling PPV sales. Plus, what challenges will independent wrestling face in the hopefully near post-corona era? Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: htt...

Join Wrestlenomics host Brandon Thurston as we harness big data to ask the big questions related to wrestling economics and wrestling popularity. Is WWE's viewership decline really that much worse than other wider trends in television and major sports? Plus news on WWE executive moves, the settlement of a class-action shareholder lawsuit. And analysis of the latest in viewership as AEW Dynamit...

A lot of AEW news this week coming off of the Full Gear pay-per-view. How many buys does it look like the event sold and how does that compare to previous AEW PPVs? Where might an additional one-hour AEW program land on TNT? Would WWE wrestlers pass the Internal Revenue Service's 20-factor test to be considered employees? A deep analysis of WWE developmental. Plus, a special presentation of Wr...

We'll go over a few things we've learned about WWE's finances after the Q3 report last week and a preview of a new estimate for Q4. Brandon estimates WWE will report more than $160 million in net income for the full year of 2020. Plus, now may be the time for a mainstream pro wrestling company to have a more sports-like creative approach. Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/...

WWE reported Q3 2020 earnings on Thursday. The first nine months of 2020 are already more profitable than any full year in company history. Hear the audio from call with comments from WWE executives themselves, along with Brandon Thurston explaining and breaking down the numbers and the jargon. New president and chief revenue officer Nick Khan made his debut on the call. This was also the first ea...

In advance of the WWE Q3 earnings report next week, a special WWE- and AEW-free podcast: *New Japan records positive net income for FY2020 *How close are Japan, the U.S., and Mexico to running the same number of events as in 2019? *TNA's 2017 business forecasts were disclosed as part of the Jarrett-Anthem lawsuit *How media effects independent wrestling Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitt...

*Big WWE Q3 preview: New CFO Kristina Salen debuts, Will Vince have an easier time talking ratings?, Will online merch sales remain strong? *WWE extends its deal with Amway Center in Orlando *Total Bellas gets renewed *How did the WWE's draft episodes of Raw and Smackdown affect ratings compared to previous draft episodes? Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow W...

The latest in wrestling business news: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lifts restrictions on sports events, which might WWE could hold WrestleMania in Tampa next spring. What would happen to wrestling if Andrew Yang became Secretary of Labor? The latest on trends in wrestling viewership as WWE NXT and AEW Dynamite went against the Vice Presidential Debate. Finally, we explore the ways in which many...

We've been spending too much time focusing on linear trends in pro-wrestling viewership. There are 3 factors we can study to understand the future of wrestling TV value. Plus the latest on NJPW CEO Harold Meij's resignation from New Japan Pro-Wrestling; WWE taking control of talent third-party video accounts; and WWE EVP Paul Levesque's comments on the suggestion that NXT might move aw...

This podcast contains a dramatic reading of correspondence between the Security and Exchanges Commission and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. SEC Theater soundtrack: https://vimeo.com/273529383 Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on P...

On the eve of the opening of the G1 Climax, New Japan's parent company Bushiroad releases its annual financial report. What did we learn about New Japan's fiscal year? A major executive is leaving NBCUniversal. What will it mean for WWE Raw? How did WWE fare against the return of Monday Night Football? And what might wrestling programs learn from viewership trends for Monday Night Football...

An estimate of AEW pay-per-view buys for All Out 2020 and for every PPV in the short history of All Elite Wrestling so far. Plus, more news on WWE's objection to wrestlers monetizing third-party video platforms, including comments from an interview with Andrew Yang. Listener questions brings Brandon Thurston to make an attempt estimating AEW's full financial picture, including annual reven...

Andrew Yang tweets notwithstanding, does WWE really have the rights to its talent legal names? Vince McMahon is reportedly threatening to punish talent unless they stop using third-party monetized platforms like Cameo and Twitch. What's motivating this move? Brandon Thurston explains. Then, will NXT move away from its head-to-head competition with AEW Dynamite on Wednesdays? Does USA Network r...

TV production for WWE likely just got more expensive with the introduction of the Thunderdome. Brandon Thurston explains his latest estimate of WWE finances for the remainder of the year. Plus, it was an unusual week in TV viewership as Raw and Smackdown did their biggest audiences in months, NXT ran unopposed, and AEW was preempted into other time-slots. Which Japanese wrestling companies are pro...

The ThunderDome Era of the Coronavirus Era is upon us. How much will it cost WWE? I don't know. How much will it eat into WWE's profits? We'll get an idea soon. How hyped is Kevin Dunn about drone cameras? Very. As AEW is bringing ticketed fans into Daily's Place, we consider where Japan was with COVID-19 when New Japan decided to bring fans back into venues. Who's a draw and w...

"The people who would supposedly never stop watching beginning to stop watching. Brandon Thurston looks at the results of the Wreddit Census from 2020 and 2019 and how they may be an informative supplement to linear TV viewership data. What will happen if the timing of WWE and AEW's TV rights negotiations end up coinciding a couple years from now? Plus, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Oppor...

After helping WWE complete major increases in the value of its U.S. TV deals, WWE has hired Nick Khan to be its new President and Chief Revenue Officer. His hiring, and the introduction of other executives like new CFO Kristina Salen, comes as TV viewership is in unprecedented decline and there's ambiguity whether the popularity of the brand is being hindered by COVID-19, or by some broader pr...

Avid reader of SEC filings Brandon Thurston breaks down the WWE Q2 2020 earnings report as only he can. We look at all the news as the company was even more profitable than the market expected, leading to an increase in shares in after market trading. Plus: How did Vince McMahon respond to questions about declining TV viewership? Online merchandise sales are way up. Live Event business is almost n...

How should we read TV viewership declines in 2020? How low do viewer metrics have to be for it become a concern for WWE's TV partners like Fox and USA Network? Plus, Brandon Thurston lays out an argument for why the acquisition of WWE by Comcast (while unlikely) would be in the best interest of partners, shareholders, and fans. Referenced in this episode: Ad Age Remotely: WWE Chief Brand Offic...

What matters when it comes to wrestling TV viewership? Brandon Thurston talks about the coveted key demo, total audience, and TV rights fees. The number of wrestlers working 10 or more matches for major companies exploded in recent years. What does it mean for independent wrestling? Plus: Stephanie McMahon talks about the gender pay gap, Florida takes the lead in COVID19 cases, NBCU launches Peaco...

The foremost independent expert in pro-wrestling business, Brandon Thurston breaks down the most pressing news stories of the week. *Comments from Paul Levesque downplay WWE's COVID test results as reportedly more than 30 people test positive for the virus, and cases rise in Florida. *WWE announces the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer, former Etsy CFO Kristina Salen. *WWE viewership doo...

What can we learn from Google web search data related to the biggest stars in WWE and AEW? Why is the linear wrestling audience so old? Is it representative of the actual consumer base or skewed by media choices? Plus, Brandon Thurston goes into detail talking about research he recently did breaking down the quarter-hour data in the Wednesday night competition between NXT and AEW. More for written...

We go through the facts from the news transpiring from the Speaking Out movement, as numerous stories of sexual assault and other misconduct where made public in the past week. Then, as many as 30 people within WWE reportedly have contracted COVID-19 after the company has declined to administer COVID testing until recently. Visit wrestlenomics.com for Brandon Thurston's latest written work and...

We learned of an update in the complaint filed by a pension leading a class-action lawsuit against WWE. The plaintiffs claim WWE and its executives failed to disclose information to stockholders as the company’s deal with Middle East North Africa TV partners OSN ended early, and an attempt to make a deal with Saudi-owned MBC faltered. Numerous stories of abuse and sexual misconduct in the wrestlin...