WWE Focuses On Investment

from the Wall Street Journal:

World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) slashed its quarterly dividend by two-thirds, saying the decision strikes the right balance between investment and shareholder reward.

Shares fell 5.1% at $10.85 in after-hours trading. Through the close, the stock had fallen 39% in the last year.

The move goes against the tide of most dividend changes of late, as many company have raised or revived dividends as target seek ways to appeal to investors and tap cash piles they needn't preserve as vigilantly in the improving economy.

World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Vince McMahon called the cut "both prudent and appropriate."

"We believe this change strikes the right balance between returning capital to shareholders and investing in our future," McMahon said Thursday.

The company moved the dividend to 12 cents a share, with the decrease saving roughly $18 million each payout, based on its total number of Class A and Class B share outstanding as of March 2.

In its latest quarterly results, the company's income fell 28% despite a small revenue climb as costs weighed on the bottom line. Ticket sales for live wrestling events fell, as did demand for pay-per-view programs and home videos.

Does anybody else think Vince McMahon is the most ridiculous person in the world?

Just saying.

(I don't have any idea what slashing the dividend means)

A New Era for the WWE

from The Sun:

Forget the silliness of John Cena's yo-yoing between brands, the real talking points were Rey Mysterio moving to Raw, Randy Orton jumping to Smackdown and a string of midcarders switching brands.

But for me two draft picks stood out among the crowd because of the impact their moves could cause in the make-up of the company.

The most eyecatching transfer of all was probably Alberto Del Rio leaving Smackdown, his home since he debuted in June last year, for Raw.

It was hardly a surprise as he has been pushed heavily in his short WWE career, and a move WWE's A-brand was heavily rumoured in the run-up to the draft.

But the last move of all could also be potentially significant.

Irish brawler Sheamus is the United States champion, and his switch to Friday nights means that he will join Intercontinental champ Wade Barrett, on Smackdown, leaving no 'secondary' title on the Raw brand at all.

After the draft, Extreme Rules, and The Rock's one-off cameo next week, WWE essentially will hit a reset button.

They need to find a big hook or two to keep us going through the summer, a big angle to define a new era for the company.

Is it possible that this major occurrence could be the unification of the company's major titles?

I don't know about you, but I'm shaking in my oversized golden boots.

Miss USA kicked off Tough Enough

  from Detriot:

Dearborn's Rima Fakih, the reigning Miss USA, was booted off "WWE Tough Enough" during Monday night's episode, ending her quest to win a professional wrestling contract.

Fakih hasn't decided on her future, but she has several offers on the table. Even though she was kicked off the show, she is strongly considering becoming a professional wrestler and being part of the WWE after she ends her reign as Miss USA on June 19.

"It's fair to say, this is better than anything that has ever happened to me," she said at the end of the show.

 And it's fair to say that I'll never understand women.  Being on a WWE reality show is better than winning Miss USA?

Oh wait, is Miss USA different from Miss America?

God, I'm confused...

The WWE Draft is Bizarre

from The Sun:

JOHN CENA was moved to Smackdown in a fascinating WWE draft special — but returned to Raw within two hours.

The nine-time world champion was the first name announced as shifting from the red brand to its blue counterpart after Smackdown's Big Show and Kofi Kingston won a battle royal to open this week's Raw.

However, in the main event — a match Cena actually competed in for Smackdown — the red team of The Miz, CM Punk and newly-drafted Alberto Del Rio emerged victorious, earning another pick.

This turned out to be Cena, who destroyed the heels and celebrated to close the show.
Other moves during the evening saw Randy Orton, Sin Cara and Mark Henry go from Raw to Smackdown, with Rey Mysterio, Big Show and Alberto Del Rio heading in the opposite direction.

The two-hour show whizzed by and was entertaining enough, but WWE's draft concept is so full of logic flaws it is difficult to give it a thumbs up.

As in previous years, wrestlers competed in inter-brand matches, with the winners getting a randomly-drawn superstar from the other brand to join their show. Wrestlers were then seen celebrating this fact.

But if we follow logic through, surely if you were, say, Drew McIntrye, would you be celebrating the arrival of Orton to your show?

You would not want a top level wrestler and former world champion competing and potentially getting above you in the pecking order — whether that be from a storyline or real-life perspective.

Similarly, there is also no real reason to try and win a match to bring more competition to your door. Baffling, really.

 So, in what sense is this a "draft"?  Isn't it more like... Red Rover?

TNA's Abyss injured

from examiner.com

Last Tuesday, during TNA's tapings of their weekly show Impact, Abyss suffered a serious injury to his mouth. On Saturday, PWInsider.com reported that Abyss needed surgery to repair teeth that were severely damaged. Abyss is expected to return to action for next week's tapings. On Thursday, the taped episode of Impact aired and Abyss' injury was apparently due to a botched kick from Rob Van Dam. After the match, Abyss left the ring and was bleeding profusely out of his mouth.

I'm not sure how he could have been injured, with that gigantic leather mask over his mouth.  Apparently it isn't good for much.

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