There have been new creative pitches for the Wyatt Sicks and there's been talk that they may finally be returning to The Smackdown brand "sooner than you think", a source in WWE Creative tells PWInsiderElite.com.
We are told that the Las Vegas announcement for Wrestlemania will be made once the company crosses everything they need done off their list logistically in terms of locking in venues. One issue is whether they can get into the Stadium with enough time to set up for Mania, which is usually a 7-day or so process, and they are working to get another event that has a hold on the Stadium during that period to move their dates. They are also working on logistics for WWE's The World as there may be a conflict with the Convention Center.
We are told by some there was unhappiness the Vegas details got out before everything was set in stone and that the leak originated from The New Orleans market. The move was a TKO Call as they have a strong relationship with Vegas (and got paid a TON in site origination fee and tax credits from Vegas this year), so the feeling was they would have a stronger chance of replicating (or making more) the Wrestlemania 41 week money going back to Vegas vs. NOLA. TKO is a numbers-driven company, so they are chasing the numbers. Expect a lot more WWE major events in Vegas going forward annually, we are told.
WWE has 100% pulled up stakes from running New Orleans at this point, as they have started the process of canceling contracts related to the Mania week residency in that city. We are told that if the company has to pay penalties to partners in NOLA in order to break the contracts, they will be happy to do so. The belief is they can go back to NOLA and make it up to that market by providing them additional events, including Money in the Bank. NOLA was informed on 5/21 or 5/22. For those who have asked, this was not a case of The Rock announcing the deal with NOLA before it was done, although a few people in the company were joking that once again, something connected to Rock went awry.
One conversation among WWE employees and some talents yesterday was how a move of this nature never would have happened under the Vince McMahon regime as once something was set in stone and publicly announced, it was never, ever going to change unless absolutely forced upon McMahon. It was a reminder that this is a new, different world and a new, different company.
The annual Licensing Expo was held this week in Las Vegas. IMG, WWE and UFC shared one booth. New Japan's parent company Bushiroad had a booth and promoted NJPW there. WOW - Women of Wrestling brought in Paola Mayfield to do a signing. AEW did not have any representation on the floor that we have heard. Jazwares, which has the AEW toy license, had a big booth.
