Wrestlenomics

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss WWE’s enforcement of no-compete clauses involving Andrade and Samantha Irvin, and whether these clauses could withstand legal scrutiny.

Combat sports regulatory lawyer Erik Magraken joins them to break down the legality of these contracts and the push by TKO to pass the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. 

Topics this week include:

• WWE enforces a no-compete clause for Andrade
• Samantha Irvin reveals a two-year non-compete
• WWE ticket prices have doubled since the TKO merger
• Money in the Bank date change
• Missouri Commission’s ruleset for pro wrestling
• HBO Max announces a price increase
• Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly for sale
• Early metrics for ESPN’s upcoming streaming service

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/LWPwsiFcENM

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston look at last week’s “Super Tuesday” results, how TNA fared at Bound for Glory, and how best to assess a company’s success in this new era. 

Topics this week include:

• The changing metrics to assess pro wrestling companies
• TNA reports 7,794 attendance for Bound for Glory
• Advance for AEW WrestleDream in St. Louis 
• Location for WWE Elimination Chamber
• Ridge Holland released while injured
• WWE cuts & ID deals not renewed
• Mark Shapiro to be deposed
• Lawsuit reaches a settlement
• WON Hall of Fame preview 
• TV data for Raw, SmackDown, Title Tuesday, NXT Showdown & more

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/8W-yjD6nvwg

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the public funding and attendance figures from AEW All In Texas and react to SmackDown’s all-time low viewership.

Thurston discusses his reporting on AEW All In Texas and the records he has received from the Government concerning the July 11 event at Globe Life Field.

SmackDown falls to an all-time viewership figure under the new Big Data + Panel model, and we explain why this is concerning. 

Topics this week include:

• Government records reveal AEW All In Texas attendance and public funding
• WWE SmackDown hits an all-time low under new ratings model
• Ari Emanuel and Stephanie McMahon to be deposed in shareholder suit 
• Hulk Hogan’s estate files petition, potential lawsuit coming up
• WWE and AEW market-to-market comparisons in September 
• Raw viewership data from Netflix 
• TKO to report Q3 earnings on November 5

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/rmW3B3F1_qU

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat with Douglas Pucci of Programming Insider about Nielsen’s new method of tracking viewership and the negative impact it has shown for professional wrestling programs.

Pucci explains how the new method differs from the previous model, its impact on other genres of programming, and why pro wrestling has seen significant decreases.

Then, Pollock & Thurston chat about why this is a big story, WBD responds to Thurston’s inquiry, and whether this could affect TNA.

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary, Zuffa Boxing’s deal with Paramount, and Dana White appears on 60 Minutes.

Plus, Josh Nason from the Wrestling Observer returns to the show. 

Topics this week include:

• AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary tonight 
• WWE partners with DC Events for John Cena’s retirement match
• Zuffa Boxing signs deal with Paramount 
• Dana White profiled on CBS’ 60 Minutes
• Stephanie McMahon speaks at the White House 
• John Laurinaits deposed in shareholder lawsuit 
• The Riyadh Comedy Festival 
• What’s up with Programming Insider?
• Bubba the Love Sponge lawsuit update

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/VC-Mjwk8O0k

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down the head-to-head showdown between WWE and AEW, with both companies running their biggest shows of the month.

Topics this week include:

• WWE’s debut on the ESPN app with Wrestlepalooza and fan reception
• AEW All Out streaming on HBO Max
• Tony Khan on streaming numbers and running afternoon events
• Key streaming & TV viewership data from the past week
• WrestleMania 42 ticket pricing updates
• AEW Dynamite’s latest demographic breakdown
• Who will cover the costs of the UFC White House event?
• The arrest of Raja Jackson

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/SjffN97IW1I

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover a massive week of news in wrestling, MMA, and sports media. The main story is WWE announcing that WrestleMania will be held in Saudi Arabia, with U.K. journalist Robert Jackman joining the show to break down the logistics and impact of the move.

We also dive into:

• Independent promoters reacting to WWE’s Saudi Arabia strategy
• ESPN’s media call ahead of Wrestlepalooza
• Mark Shapiro’s comments at the Goldman Sachs Conference
• TKO announcing $1 billion in share repurchases
• Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford viewership numbers on Netflix
• Dana White sparring with the media
• Paramount & Skydance preparing a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
• CMLL Aniversario card streaming on Triller TV
• Legal updates across the industry
• The latest TV and streaming viewership trends

VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/live/IFwwaQMrH0A

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Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down AJ Lee’s return to WWE and SmackDown surging to the #1 show on Friday, Bryan Danielson speaking on WWE’s counterprogramming strategy, and Bubba the Love Sponge’s response to the Nick Bollea lawsuit.

Also covered on the show:

• John Cena’s upcoming retirement match in Washington, D.C.
• Paul Levesque addresses WWE’s contributions to Saudi Arabia
• Bubba the Love screens the Hogan sex tape documentary
• Zuffa Boxing promotes Canelo vs. Crawford in Las Vegas
• WWE Worlds Collide event
• Nielsen’s new era of monitoring viewership
• UFC fighters receive payments from the antitrust settlement

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/Xc2PTjW6v8k

📺 Subscribe for more pro wrestling & combat sports business coverage.

#UFC #WWE #AEW #TKO #MMA #ProWrestling #CombatSports

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Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down WWE Clash in Paris, including the record-setting gate at La Défense Arena, WWE’s international business growth, and the company’s decision to run the venue on back-to-back nights.

Plus, we cover the biggest stories across wrestling this week:

• AEW moves All Out to afternoon, PPVs available on HBO Max
• ROH Death Before Dishonor suffers technical issues
• WWE announces its “Road to Royal Rumble” European tour dates for January 2026.
• Bushiroad financial results for NJPW and Stardom – what the numbers reveal about both promotions.
• Nick Hogan files a lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge over a planned Hulk Hogan documentary.
• Update on the Liv Morgan stalker case and why prosecutors want the alleged stalker to remain in custody.
• Legal battle in Callis v. Colker – is Dr. Carlon Colker a public figure?
• AEW September to Remember – TBS to air a special 3.5-hour block featuring the Tailgate Brawl before All Out.
• Thurston petitions Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority for records related to WrestleMania in Las Vegas

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/22WwRKKiRqQ

📺 Subscribe for more pro wrestling & combat sports business coverage.

#UFC #WWE #AEW #TKO #MMA #ProWrestling #CombatSports

📌 Subscribe for weekly coverage of the business of professional wrestling with John Pollock & Brandon Thurston.

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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Neal Flanagan, filling in for John Pollock, and Brandon Thurston discuss AEW’s Forbidden Door event and press conference, WWE PLE starting on ESPN DTC streaming earlier than originally announced, plus recent legal developments.

Also:

• WWE’s PLEs moving to ESPN DTC and reworked NBCU deal
• Notes from the Forbidden Door post-show press conference
• Dr. Carlon Colker briefly discloses Janel Grant’s medical records before filings were sealed
• Kevin Foote v. AEW case in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
• Vince McMahon’s traffic case and next court date
• Latest WWE and AEW ratings, including SmackDown’s cable performance and Raw on Netflix

VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/m35ez44owXU

📺 Subscribe for more pro wrestling & combat sports business coverage.

#UFC #WWE #AEW #TKO #MMA #ProWrestling #CombatSports

📌 Subscribe for weekly coverage of the business of professional wrestling with John Pollock & Brandon Thurston.

Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer

POST Wrestling

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Wrestlenomics

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