What Does The WWE Stand For?
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The WWE is an American professional wrestling promotion company based in Stamford, Connecticut. The company has both live and taped events. The WWE acronym stands for World Wrestling Entertainment.
WWE’s History
The WWE, which officially stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, is a privately-owned company based in Stamford, Connecticut. The WWE has a long and storied history, dating back to the early 1950s. The company has seen a lot of changes over the years, including a name change from World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to WWE in 2002. The WWE is the largest professional wrestling company in the world, and it produces a variety of shows, including Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live, and NXT.
WWE’s humble beginnings
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the early 1950s. WWE is a sports entertainment company that specializes in professional wrestling. It is the largest wrestling promotion in the world, broadcasting to over 650 million homes in 170 countries.
WWE was founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1952. The company was originally known as Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC). In 1963, McMahon and Mondt sold CWC to Vince McMahon Sr., who renamed it World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).
Under Vince McMahon Sr., WWWF became the premier wrestling promotion in the United States. It featured such stars as Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Nikolai Volkoff, and Superstar Billy Graham. In 1979, WWF expanded internationally with the launch of its first overseas territory, WWF Japan.
In 1982, Vince McMahon Jr. took over WWF from his father. He began to change the focus of the promotion from traditional wrestling to entertainment-based programming. This new direction proved to be highly successful, and WWF quickly became one of the most popular television programs in America.
In 1984, WWF debuted its iconic television program, Monday Night RAW. RAW quickly became must-see TV for wrestling fans around the world. In 1985, WWF launched another successful TV show, Saturday Night’s Main Event. These two programs helped WWF become one of the most popular entertainment companies in America.
In 1988, WWF expanded its international reach by launching its first international satellite network, Sky Channel’s Superstars of Wrestling. This network gave WWF a truly global reach for the first time ever.
In 1993, WWF changed its name to World Wrestling Federation (WWF) due to litigation with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The name change was short-lived though; in 2002, after narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, WWF changed its name back to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Today, WWE is more popular than ever before thanks to its innovative programming and global reach. It is safe to say that WWE has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1952!
WWE’s global expansion
In 2002, Vince McMahon led WWE’s global expansion, taking the company public and making it the first publicly traded pro wrestling company in U.S. history. That same year, WWE launched two new television shows: SmackDown!, which aired on Thursday nights, and Velocity, which aired on Saturday mornings.
In 2005, WWE acquired World Championship Wrestling (WCW), greatly expanding its roster of talent. The acquisition also helped WWE launch its new channel, WWE Network, in 2014. Today, WWE is truly a global phenomenon, with programs broadcast in more than 180 countries and 30 languages.
WWE’s Business
WWE, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company that deals primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales.
WWE’s live events
WWE’s live events are the lifeblood of the company, bringing in the vast majority of its revenue. WWE puts on hundreds of live events each year, both in the US and internationally. The company strives to make each live event an immersive experience for fans, with a mix of in-ring action, pyrotechnics, and other special effects.
WWE’s flagship event is WrestleMania, which is typically held in early April. WrestleMania is the biggest and most important event on the WWE calendar, and consistently draws huge crowds and generates massive amounts of revenue. Other major events include SummerSlam (held in August) and Survivor Series (held in November).
WWE’s TV shows
WWE’s main television shows include Raw, SmackDown, NXT, Main Event, Total Divas, and Tough Enough. Raw is WWE’s flagship program that airs on Monday nights on the USA Network. SmackDown is WWE’s secondary show that airs on Friday nights on Syfy. NXT is WWE’s developmental show that airs on Wednesday nights on the WWE Network. Main Event is a syndicated show that airs on Tuesday or Wednesday nights depending on the market. Total Divas is a reality show that airs Sunday nights on E!. Tough Enough is a reality competition show that aired for two seasons in 2011 and 2012 but will return in 2015.
WWE’s merchandise
WWE’s merchandise plays a big role in their business model. A lot of their merchandise is sold through their website, which brings in a lot of revenue. They also sell a lot of their merchandise through live events. At these events, they sell t-shirts, hats, and other memorabilia. This is a great way for them to make money, as they can sell these items at a higher price than what they would normally be able to sell them for online.
WWE’s Future
As WWE looks to the future, the company is focused on creating more entertaining and engaging content across all platforms. WWE is also committed to continuing to grow its global reach and connecting with fans around the world.
WWE’s new TV deal
WWE has a new five-year TV deal with Fox worth a reported $1 billion, which begins in October 2019. The deal is a game-changer for WWE, as it represents a dramatic increase from the $180 million per year that WWE currently receives from NBCUniversal. The deal also provides WWE with much greater flexibility in how it presents its programming, as Fox is willing to air WWE content on a variety of its networks, including Fox Broadcast, FS1, and FS2.
The new TV deal is just the latest example of WWE’s aggressive expansion into new markets and businesses. In recent years, WWE has launched its own network (available in over 180 countries), expanded its live event business into China and the Middle East, and signed major partnerships with ESPN and Fox.
WWE’s ambitious plans for growth are evident in its financial filings, which show that the company has been investing heavily in new businesses and development projects. In 2018, for instance, WWE spent $39 million on research & development (R&D), up from just $5 million in 2015. This increased spending appears to be paying off, as WWE’s revenues have grown steadily in recent years, reaching $930 million in 2018 (up from $825 million in 2015).
Looking ahead, it is evident that the WWE has big plans for growth. With its new TV deal with Fox, WWE is positioned to reach an even wider audience and generate even more revenue in the years to come.
WWE’s new streaming service
The WWE has been a publicly traded company since 1999, and while it has had its ups and downs, it is now in the midst of a renaissance of sorts. Thanks to the meteoric rise of performers like The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and John Cena, the WWE has once again become a pop-culture mainstay. It is now looking to take things to the next level with its very own streaming service.
The WWE’s new streaming service will launch in early 2018 and will feature all of the company’s live events, original programming, and classic matches. 24/7 coverage of WWE Network will also be included. The service will cost $9.99 per month with a six-month commitment.
The WWE’s move to a streaming service is a direct response to the increasing cord-cutting trend. More and more people are ditching traditional cable or satellite TV packages in favor of cheaper, more flexible streaming options. The WWE is hoping that its diehard fans will be willing to pay a little extra for the convenience of having everything in one place.
Only time will tell if this gamble pays off, but the WWE is clearly positioning itself for the future. With plans for more original programming and live events, the WWE’s streaming service could be a major force in the quickly evolving world of entertainment.
WWE’s new partnerships
In January 2019, the WWE announced new partnerships with Topps, Mattel, and Hasbro. These are all major toy companies that have had a partnership with the WWE in the past. The new partnerships will begin in 2020 and will last for five years. The WWE has also signed a new multi-year deal with KSW, a Polish mixed martial arts promotion.