The Big Wrestling Thread!

By Wannes
in The Sporting Arena

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Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

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USA Network's new deal with WWE could foreshadow a bigger deal

USA Network's move to renew its deal for "Monday Night Raw" with World Wrestling Entertainment for another four years may be just the beginning of a broader partnership between the NBC Universal-owned cable network and Vince McMahon's WWE.

MCMAMHON WWE, as was first reported here, is looking to start its own cable network within in the next 18 months, and NBC Universal might be a potential partner. NBC Universal has long ties to WWE that go beyond USA Network. The two companies were partners on the short-lived XFL football league, and NBC Universal sports chief Dick Ebersol and WWE Chairman McMahon have a long relationship.

One of the challenges facing McMahon and WWE is getting distribution for a new channel. NBC Universal has a channel that may fit the bill in its Universal HD network, a cable channel that carries high definition programming. Currently the channel, which is overseen by NBC Universal cable entertainment chief Bonnie Hammer, is a hodgepodge of reruns including "Hogan's Heroes" (yes, they've upgraded it to HDTV-like quality) and "Monk." It also has some sports, movies and even carries a high-definition version of "Raw."

There have been very preliminary chats between the two companies about working together on the WWE network. While Universal HD is a digital channel and only in 55 million homes, WWE programming is a big draw and it would likely help boost distribution for the network.

Obviously there are bigger fish to fry at NBC Universal right now, with cable giant Comcast inching closer to taking control of the entertainment company. For WWE, having Comcast take over NBC would be a plus because Comcast has cable systems reaching almost 25% of the country.

-- Joe Flint

Grand Master

LOC Veteran

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seriously, whoever is booking the guest hosts is really scraping the barrel this week ... Piper and the Iron Sheik?

haha, poking fun at Hogan

nice change from the standard stage ... just a doorway like at Royal Rumble '08

Piper etc were a last minute thing, they were shooting for a major star this week but it fell through due to scheduling conflicts (I don't remember who it was, I'm sure Rappy does though!).

Grand Master

Rappy Veteran

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Actually I have no idea, I thought it was Piper all along...he was named before Hatton did his stint last week...so no idea who that was!

have they changed the set then as well as the theme?

Grand Master

timster

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Actually I have no idea, I thought it was Piper all along...he was named before Hatton did his stint last week...so no idea who that was!

have they changed the set then as well as the theme?

yup, the set is been made much smaller [similar to Royal Rumble '08 at MSG] and the Nickelback song played for the opening theme as well as a new opening video

gotta love the publicity Hogan is getting from the WWE

next week's host is Jesse Ventura

Source

also, Dennis Miller will host the 2009 Slammy Awards on December 14 on USA Network

Source

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