Difference between revisions of "World Wrestling Entertainment"
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| − | + | ===Defunct championships=== | |
| − | * [[WWE | + | *[[WWE Cruiserweight Championship]] (1991-2007)<small>1</small> |
| − | * [[WWE Hardcore Championship]] (1998-2002) | + | *[[WWE Hardcore Championship]] (1998-2002) |
| − | * [[WWE European Championship]] (1997-2002) | + | *[[WWE European Championship]] (1997-2002) |
| − | * [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] (1981-2001) (recognized officially 1997-2001) | + | *[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (2001)<small>2</small> |
| − | * [[WWF Million Dollar Championship]] (1989-1992, 1995-1996) | + | *[[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] (2001)<small>2</small> |
| − | * [[WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship]] (1991) | + | *[[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] (1981-2001) (recognized officially 1997-2001) |
| − | * [[WWF Women's Tag Team Championship]] (1983-1989) | + | *[[Million Dollar Championship|WWF Million Dollar Championship]] (1989-1992, 1995-1996) |
| − | * [[WWF International Heavyweight Championship]] (1959-1963, 1982-1985) | + | *[[WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship]] (1991) |
| − | * [[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] (1967-1985) | + | *[[WWF Women's Tag Team Championship]] (1983-1989) |
| − | * [[WWF International Tag Team Championship]] (1969-1985) | + | *[[WWF Canadian Championship]] (1985-1986) |
| − | * [[WWF | + | *[[WWF International Heavyweight Championship]] (1959-1963, 1982-1985) |
| − | * [[WWF North American Championship]] (1979-1981) | + | *[[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] (1967-1985) |
| − | * [[WWWF United States Championship]] (1970-1975) | + | *[[WWF International Tag Team Championship]] (1969-1985) |
| − | * [[WWWF United States Tag Team Championship]] (1963-1967) | + | *[[WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship]] (1978-1985) |
| + | *[[WWF North American Heavyweight Championship]] (1979-1981) | ||
| + | *[[WWWF United States Championship]] (1970-1975) | ||
| + | *[[WWWF United States Tag Team Championship]] (1963-1967) | ||
| − | < | + | <small>1</small>WCW Cruiserweight title from 1991 to 2002 |
| − | + | <small>2</small>Acquisition of WCW and ECW. | |
| − | *[[ | + | |
| − | + | ===Defunct accomplishments=== | |
| + | *[[King of the Ring]] (1985-89, 1991, 1993-2002, 2006) | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:29, March 19, 2008
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) is a publicly traded company dealing with wrestling entertainment. It also had failed venues in football (the XFL) and body building. The WWE puts on wrestling shows both in live events and on television and also has video games and product licensing. It was previously known was the WWF, World Wrestling Federation before changing its name. It is the largest entertainment wrestling organization in the world.
Vince McMahon is the majority owner and Chairman of the company and his wife Linda McMahon holds the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Together with their children, Executive Vice President of Global Media Shane McMahon and Senior Vice President of Creative Writing Stephanie McMahon, the McMahons hold approximately 70% of WWE's economic interest and 96% of all voting power in the company.
The company's main headquarters is located at 1241 East Main Street in Stamford, Connecticut. There are also international offices in Los Angeles, New York City, London, and Toronto.
Some promotional names that the WWE has:
WWE's revenue in fiscal 2006 (from May 2005 to April 2006) was approximately $400 million (US), with a net profit of approximately $47 million. As of August 2006, the company's market capitalization is over $1 billion (US). Its stock is traded on the NYSE [1].
History
The World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was born in 1963 when Vince McMahon split off from the larger NWA league which was mostly a series of "mom and pop" wrestling entertainment outfits with each organization staying in its own area. The company was renamed the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979. Under McMahon, the WWF would start to go national in the 1980's, breaking the unwritten rule of not encroaching on the turf of other regional leagues. As his revenue increased, he also started to sign the best known names from other organizations.
The breakthrough signing that became the first nationally recognized superstar was Hulk Hogan who, due to his appearance in Rocky III, had a national recognition that few other wrestlers could manage. Other big named wrestlers were brought in including Andre the Giant. Superstardom hit paydirt with the production of the first nationwide Pay per view Wrestlemania in 1985. Incorporating well known actors such as Mr. T into the production helped to turn the WWF and Wrestlemania into a mainstream hit.
Allegations of steriod abuse hit the WWF in 1994 as well as sexual harassment claims. They were a costly public relations nightmare that led to big cuts in salary for the wrestlers and staffs and saw many wrestlers leave to Ted Turner's WCW league including Hulk Hogan.
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin rose as a star in the late 1990s in a new edgier era that saw a movement away from family fun to attacking authority, more violence, and swearing. The WWF and the WCW went more head to head during this time including having competing wrestling shows on Monday nights.
Going Public
On April 29 1999, the WWF made its return to terrestrial television by launching a special program known as SmackDown! on the fledgling UPN network. The Thursday-night show became a weekly series on August 26 1999.
On the back of the success of the Attitude Era, on October 19, 1999 the WWF's parent company, Titan Sports (by this time renamed World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc.) became a publicly traded company, offering 10 million shares priced at $17 each. WWF announced its desire to diversify, including creating a nightclub in Times Square, producing feature films, and book publishing.
In 2000 the WWF, in collaboration with television network NBC, announced the creation of the XFL, a new professional American football league that debuted in 2001. The league had surprisingly high ratings for the first few weeks, but initial interest waned and its ratings plunged to dismally low levels (one of its games was the lowest-rated primetime show in the history of American television). NBC walked out on the venture after only one season, but McMahon intended to continue alone. However, after UPN demanded that SmackDown! be cut by half an hour, McMahon shut down the XFL.[2]
In March 2001 McMahon's empire grew when he acquired his main competitor WCW, which had been losing money and was sold for about $7 million.
In May 2002 the name of the company was changed from the WWF to the WWE after it was ruled that the World Widelife Fund owned the rights to the WWF label in the United Kingdom.[3].[4]
Another smaller wrestling company, Extreme Championship Wrestling, was purchased in mid 2003.
In April 2002, about a month before the name change, WWE decided to create two separate rosters, one on RAW, the other on SmackDown! due to the overabundance of talent left over from the Invasion storyline (which involved talent from the absorbed ECW and WCW rosters interacting in WWF storylines). This is known as the WWE Brand Extension. Following the Brand Extension, a yearly Draft Lottery was instituted to exchange members of each roster and generally refresh the lineups.
In August 2002, the company launched WWE Niagara Falls, a retail establishment in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
On May 26 2006, WWE revived Extreme Championship Wrestling as its third brand with the new ECW program airing Tuesday nights on the Sci Fi Channel.[5]
Championships and accomplishments
Current champions
Accomplishments
| Brand | Accomplishment | Latest winner | Date won |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAW, SmackDown!, ECW | Royal Rumble | John Cena | January 27 2008 |
| Money in the Bank | Edge | May 7 2007 | |
| Diva Search | Eve Torres | October 29 2007 |
Current developmental territory champions
| Promotion | Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won | Date aired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FCW | FCW Southern Heavyweight Champion | Heath Miller | January 19 2008 | N/A (House show) |
| FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion | Jake Hager | February 15 2008 | N/A (House show) | |
| FCW Florida Tag Team Champions | The Puerto Rican Nightmares (Eddie Colón and Eric Perez) |
February 23 2008 | N/A (House show) |
Defunct championships
- WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991-2007)1
- WWE Hardcore Championship (1998-2002)
- WWE European Championship (1997-2002)
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship (2001)2
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (2001)2
- WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1981-2001) (recognized officially 1997-2001)
- WWF Million Dollar Championship (1989-1992, 1995-1996)
- WWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1991)
- WWF Women's Tag Team Championship (1983-1989)
- WWF Canadian Championship (1985-1986)
- WWF International Heavyweight Championship (1959-1963, 1982-1985)
- WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (1967-1985)
- WWF International Tag Team Championship (1969-1985)
- WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship (1978-1985)
- WWF North American Heavyweight Championship (1979-1981)
- WWWF United States Championship (1970-1975)
- WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1963-1967)
1WCW Cruiserweight title from 1991 to 2002
2Acquisition of WCW and ECW.
Defunct accomplishments
- King of the Ring (1985-89, 1991, 1993-2002, 2006)