WWE Network Subscriber Count Surpasses 2 Million

During WWE's first quarter conference call on Monday, which they consider a huge success. WWE Network subscriptions, among other numbers, were released.
WWE Network subscriptions (both paid and free) saw a 9% jump over the day after WrestleMania 33, and ended at 1,808,000 paid, and 2,124,000 total. This marks the first time WWE has reported over 2 million subscribers on their service.
You can see the press release from WWE below
WWE® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that its digital streaming service, WWE Network, reached a record 2.12 million total subscribers following last night’s WrestleMania®.1 This is a 9% increase from April 3, 2017, the day after WrestleMania last year.
“We expect to deliver record subscriber levels, revenue and Adjusted OIBDA in 2018,” said George Barrios, WWE Co-President. “WWE Network’s continued growth along with our massive reach across traditional television as well as digital and social platforms, reaffirms the effectiveness of our global, multi-pla..

WWE Announces Brock Lesnar Has Re-Signed, Will Defend Title Later This Month

WWE dropped a bombshell on Monday afternoon, revealing that they'd re-signed Brock Lesnar, and setting up a championship match.
Lesnar will face his WrestleMania opponent in Roman Reigns on April 27 in a cage match for the WWE Universal Championship at The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia. Reigns has gone winless in his two attempts to beat Lesnar in the past.
You can see WWE's announcement below:
WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon announced today that Universal Champion Brock Lesnar has re-signed with WWE. Lesnar’s next appearance is scheduled for the Greatest Royal Rumble event, where he will compete against Roman Reigns in a Steel Cage Match for the Universal Title at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday, April 27, at 7 p.m. AST.
The Greatest Royal Rumble will stream live on the award-winning WWE Network and will be available on pay-per-view outside of the Middle East with regional broadcast information forthcoming. Tickets..

Los Ingobernables De Japon Returning To Ring Of Honor

Tetsuya Naito and his stable are coming to North America
Ring of Honor will be hosting a War of the Worlds Tour which will be four nights in four North American cities. The tour will take place between May 9th to May 13th and will include more wrestlers from New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor. The following is an excerpt from the press release on the Ring of Honor website.
Los Ingobernables de Japon, one of the hottest stables in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, will appear on all four nights of the fifth annual War of the Worlds Tour this May, ROH officials have announced.
LIJ is led by Tetsuya Naito, one of the most highly regarded and charismatic pro wrestlers in the world. The former IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental champion will be joined on the tour by fellow LIJ members IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions EVIL and SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI, all of whom have been champions in NJPW.LIJ is led by Tetsuya Naito, one of the most highly regarded and charismatic p..

Fight Size Update: Booker T’s New Job, WWE Network Tiers, Men In Charlotte Flair’s Entrance, ALL-IN

This is the Fight Size Update for the evening of April 9th.
– In the video above, Pro Wrestling Unlimited discusses the reported altercation between Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon. After this report surfaced, it was announced Brock Lesnar re-signed with WWE.
– Booker T took a position with a youth football league after teasing with a tweet which led to XFL speculation.
I have accepted the role as president of new football league. More details coming at 3PM.
— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) April 9, 2018
Here’s the big announcement. I’m excited to begin working with Football Minds! Link to press conference: https://t.co/MdFIg5BRzL #FootballMinds https://t.co/oZMKYpd1W6 pic.twitter.com/QBWkYgmVih
— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) April 9, 2018
– As part of Make-A-Wish, John Cena inducts kids into the “Circle of Champions” in the following WWE video.
– On a conference call, WWE Co-President George Barrios said WWE will soon be implementing a tier system to the WWE Network.
– ..

WWE Raw Results For 4/9: Several Debuts, Several Returns, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn Battle For Employment, A Tournament Begins!

Welcome to Fightful's live coverage and discussion for Monday Night WWE Raw!!
Join us for live coverage, and comment on our boards below, or our forums by registering for FREE at fightful.com.
Post-Raw podcast:

– Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon makes her way to the ring and she has her am in a brace, McMahon says she is disappointed in the WWE Universe for their reaction to her. McMahon says that she was amazing in the ring at ‘Mania 34, McMahon says she brought out the best in Ronda Rousey last night. McMahon says she is proud of what Rousey accomplished last night before bringing her out, Rousey then makes her way to the ring.
McMahon says that the better woman won at ‘Mania 34, McMahon says that Rousey is a role model for people everywhere. McMahon says she wants to blaze new trails in the WWE together, McMahon says that Rousey taught her a real lesson last night. McMahon even goes as far as to say that she is friends with Rousey again, the two hug and then Rousey app..

Okada, Deonna Purrazzo Announced For All In

All-in's talent roster continues to grow, and now features the greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all-time
Current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada is the latest star to add his name to the expanding list of wrestlers for Being The Elite's “All-In” show this September.
Okada is All In
September 1st pic.twitter.com/IAGH7TjJaw
— All In (@ALL_IN_2018) April 9, 2018
Also added to the show is women's wrestling standout and Fightful Pro Series alumni Deonna Purrazzo. Purrazzo has worked for Ring of Honor, WWE, NXT, Impact Wrestling in her short career.
I’m @ALL_IN_2018
September 1st! pic.twitter.com/AdIlB90PSB
— Deonna Purrazzo (@DeonnaPurrazzo) April 9, 2018
Thus far, Cody, Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson, Adam “Hangman” Page, Tessa Blanchard, Marty Scurll, Rey Fenix, Penta El Zero M and television star Stephen Amell are also announced for All In. The show will feature wrestlers who will have main evented New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor, I..

EXCLUSIVE SPOILERS: Debuts On WWE Raw

Several NXT stars have made the jump to WWE Raw. FightfulSelect.com was able to gain a copy of tonight's WWE Raw
Ember Moon makes her WWE Raw debut on the Raw after WrestleMania, just a couple of days after dropping the NXT Women's Championship to Shayna Baszler at NXT Takeover: New Orleans. Ember Moon is set to interrupt an Alexa Bliss promo and work a tag match alongside Nia Jax against Bliss and Mickie James.
Authors of Pain will make their debuts on the main roster with longtime manager Paul Ellering. They'll take on the former Smackdown tag team championship duo of Heath Slater and Rhyno. AOP were last seen coming up short at NXT Takeover: New Orleans in the NXT Tag Team Championship match.
No Way Jose is also set for his debut, as he will take on an enhancement talent. Jose has largely been absent from NXT TV in recent months, but is often used as a “show starter” for NXT Live events to get the crowds going.
In addition, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and Je..

WWE Monday Night Raw 4/9/18 Full Show Review | Fightful Wrestling Podcast | RAW AFTER MANIA, Paige Retires, Big Debuts And Returns

Fightful.com's Sean Ross Sapp and Alex Pawlowski bring you all your coverage from the Raw after Mania for April 9 2018, and WrestleMania fallout! Topics include
– Ember Moon debuts
– Authors of Pain Debut
– Brock Lesnar's deal!
– No Way Jose debuts!
– Jeff Hardy returns
– Samoa Joe returns
– Paige retires!
For additional premium podcasts, the Fightful Weekender podcast, members only podcasts, outtake and behind the scenes footage, retro shows, Q&A shows, dark match commentary, early access to interviews and segments, subscribe to Fightful Select!

Superstar Shakeup Announced For Next Week’s Raw And Smackdown

Raw and Smackdown rosters will be jumbled up a bit.
During Raw, WWE announced the next Superstar Shakeup for next week and it will take place on both Raw and Smackdown between April 16 and 17. The shakeup is different from a draft because it revolves around talent exchanges instead of an entire overhaul of the rosters. The last Superstar Shakeup was a year ago.
It's that time again… The #SuperstarShakeup BEGINS next Monday on #RAW! #RAWAfterMania pic.twitter.com/7ujoUfzLlP
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018
Even though the brands will be independent on the weekly shows, WWE has moved towards co-branded pay-per-views starting with the next event WWE Backlash, per WWE. Technically the brands will also be performing together later this month when the company heads to Saudi Arabia for The Greatest Royal Rumble.
The last Superstar Shakeup saw two champions change brands and Sami Zayn follow Kevin Owens to Smackdown as they were feuding at the time. On Raw, announcers mentioned that A..

Raw Tag Team Championship Vacated; New Champions To Be Crowned Later This Month

The Raw Tag Team Championship is vacant.
At WrestleMania 34, Braun Strowman did not have a plan for his tag team partner but decided to choose an audience member to be his tag team partner. He picked Nicholas. Braun took on both Sheamus and Cesaro as Nicholas mainly stood on the apron and the two competitors won the Raw Tag Team Championship.
On Raw, Strowman told General Manager Kurt Angle that he and Nicholas had to relinquish the championship because Nicholas' obligations in fourth grade.
Due to some scheduling conflicts*, @BraunStrowman & Nicholas are RELINQUISHING the #RAW #TagTeamTitles…
*4th Grade pic.twitter.com/g8B2Uoysxd
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018
Nicholas is reportedly the son of WWE Referee John Cone.
Later in Raw. Kurt Angle said there would be a “tag team eliminator” where four teams will compete for the opportunity to face Sheamus and Cesaro at the Greatest Royal Rumble event to determine the new Raw Tag Team Champions.
The Revival beat Karl Anderson ..

Jeff Hardy Makes His Return To WWE Raw

Jeff Hardy is back on WWE television after missing several months with a shoulder injury.
Former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy returned to WWE Raw on the April 9 edition, inserting himself into the WWE Intercontinental Title picture. He came to the aid of both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor, who were outnumbered by The Miztourage during an in-ring segment.
Hardy was sidelined back in September, after sustaining an injury at the July Great Balls of Fire Iron Man tag team match. Since then, his brother Matt has been “woken” and embroiled in a feud with Bray Wyatt. It would appear based on the booking of the last two nights, Jeff and Matt are headed their separate ways on WWE TV.
Hardy himself is a four-time Intercontinental champion, and quietly among the most decorated pro wrestlers in history, also winning the WWE, World Heavyweight, Hardcore, European, Light Heavyweight, TNA World Heavyweight championships, and winning tag team titles for WWE, Raw, WCW, Ring of Honor and TNA.
You can see ..

Paige Officially Announces Retirement From WWE

Paige has officially retired from professional wrestling.
Four years ago, Paige debuted in WWE and won a championship match against AJ Lee. On Raw, she announced her retirement from professional wrestling due to an injury in the same stadium where she made her 2014 debut.
“I want to thank @WWEDanielBryan… he had his first match back at #WrestleMania, and for that you give me hope.” – @RealPaigeWWE #RAW #RAWAfterMania pic.twitter.com/2olzbB1Jad
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2018
She had not competed since last year when she was injured soon after returning to WWE with her new stable Absolution. Since then, she has been accompanying Absolution to the ring but had not directly addressed her retirement.
During her tear filled retirement speech, she said she took encouragement from the situations of Daniel Bryan and Edge. She said Bryan gave her hope but Edge showed her that there is more to life outside of WWE. She said she would have to “find something else” to do as a career.
Fightf..