Dinner With the King Recap – Big Praise From Ric Flair, Retirement Match Opponent, Finally Getting A WrestleMania Moment, More!
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Tag: prior
Updated WWE Network Subscriber Count Revealed
WWE revealed in their second-quarter earnings report that the WWE Network averaged 1.63 million paid subscribers over the second quarter of 2017. This number is up 8% from last year. 1.158 million were from the United States while 410,000 were international.
The earnings report revealed that there was also a 6% increase in revenue generated by the WWE Network and pay-per-view buys, which totals to $54.9 million. WWE Network subscription revenue increased 7% to $49.1 million from $45.9 million in the prior year quarter based on an 8% year-over-year increase in average paid subscribers to over 1.63 million.
WWE expects the average number of paid subscribers to drop to 1.54 million in the 3rd quarter.
Backstage News on the Awkward Finish to AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens at WWE Battleground
As previously noted, WWE changed the plans for the outcome of AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens at the Battleground event. Styles was originally planned to retain the title prior to the show, however they made a last minute change to the match and Owens ended up capturing the title.
Dave Meltzer provided an update on the awkward finish to the match and confirmed that the change was actually made late into the match right before the referee bumped. The people that needed to know the finish were told that AJ Styles was winning and there was some commotion backstage when the finish went down.
Huge Shift In Betting Odds Before Tonight’s Pay-Per-View
There was a huge shift in the betting odds for the WWE Women’s Championship prior to tonight’s Great Balls of Fire event.
Sasha Banks, who was a huge underdog this morning, is now a big favorite to win the bout. Sasha is sitting at a -3250 favorite to defeat Alexa, who is a +1350 underdog.
It should be pointed out that it doesn’t necessarily indicate that she’s winning the title, as she could always win by DQ or countout.
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Major Update on Austin Aries’ Release from WWE
It was previously reported via Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio that Austin Aries asked for his release from WWE and the company granted it. However that doesn’t appear to be the case.
In the latest installment of Wrestling Observer Radio, Melzter claimed that it was actually WWE’s idea to release Aries from his 3-year contract with the company. The word is that a lot of the writing staff didn’t like him and he appeared to be thrilled when he was handed his release because he wasn’t happy with his current position on the roster.
In regards to his future, Aries can still use his name outside of WWE because he used it prior to signing with the company. Aries is locked into a 90-day period where he is being paid by WWE and can work dates that WWE proves during that time.
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Possible Injury Before Tonight’s RAW
Prior to tonight’s episode of RAW, WWE taped Drew Gulak vs. Lince Dorado for this week’s episode of WWE Main Event. Our correspondent in attendance sent word that Dorado landed badly on his knee after a tilt-a-whirl maneuver and could be legitimately hurt.
Very little details are known, but we will keep you updated on his status.
Randy Orton Issues Sarcastic Apology to Indy Marks & Indy Guys
Randy Orton took to his Twitter account and issued an apology to fans that were offended after he re-tweeted comments made by Rip Rogers. For those not aware, Rogers was very vocal about how independent wrestlers perform in today’s wrestling and focused on how too many of their matches consist of flips and dives.
Orton wrote, “Sorry to the Indy marks, Indy guys and old timers who do DIVES took offense….. just having a good time over a few drinks in Denmark closing the Smackdown Live tour….while beating Raw in making over 5 million dollars in the last 11 shows. Now I know to some that doesn’t equate to a standing room only crowd of 150 people paying $8 at an armory somewhere…. but in the big boy world that’s called putting asses in seats. So enjoy your flips, dives, and 20 superkicks per match. To each their own. I will go “dive” back into my 13th title run and get ready to “flip” when my bank statement comes this month…………headlock”
Prior to that, he posted the following: