WWE CFO George Barrios talked company business at JP Morgan’s 41st annual Global Technology, Media and Telecom conference on Thursday. There wasn’t much new about the WWE Network but he noted that they are now looking to price it between $9.99 and $14.99 per month, a bit lower than previous estimates. Barrios also noted that the new WWE 2K14 video game will have a strong online gaming presence. A full transcript can be found here at SeekingAlpha.com.
WWE 2K14 will be released on October 29th, 2013 according to a report by IGN. While an earnings release notes that it will be released on all platforms, only XBox 360 & Playstation 3 are listed.
Take-Two is WWE’s new video game partner as they acquired the rights to the license following THQ’s bankruptcy. Details are slim regarding the upcoming release, other than The Rock being on the cover.
Triple H spoke about the Attitude Era during an interview with Forbes.com.
“It’s one of those things — I’ve talked about this with Austin and a little bit with Rock, too — you don’t realize is happening at the time; it’s just what you’re doing,” said Triple H. “We were all so wrapped up in what we were doing, and it was so competitive with each other. It’s only now that I think we can look back and go, ‘Wow. That was a pretty special time, and we shared some pretty special things all together and made history.’ I think at the time you’re doing it, you realize it’s going well, but you’re just so deep in there that you can’t even fathom really what you’re doing. To look back at it now and see all those times, and to watch the video game…when we did the voiceovers to the video game, to go back and watch some of those scenes take place, it’s crazy because you forget what a…that was just another day then.”
When asked what keeps the “fire burning” in his marriage with Stephanie, “What keeps a fire burning? A big log. It keeps the fire burning”, said Triple H.
Stephanie McMahon stated that Triple H “almost defined the Attitude Era.” Triple H discussed his wife watching his matches.
“It’s funny because she knows me so well that she sees the smallest little things in there and when I come back she’ll be like, ‘Then this happened,’” he said. “She knows all the little intricacies of everything we do and knows me so well that she can see it whether I’m hurt or not hurt. She’ll be watching almost more intently than anybody.”
Credit – Wrestling Observer
As noted before, Stephanie McMahon revealed over WrestleMania weekend that The Rock will be on the cover of the WWE 2K14 video game. This was originally supposed to be a major reveal and there were people unhappy that Stephanie ruined those plans.
2K Sports is new to working with WWE and were “freaking out” at first. The idea was to do the reveal sometime in the near future and have Rock on RAW to promote it. Rock’s people have told the Take Two Interactive people that he will be able to promote the game this year.
Stephanie McMahon announced on Twitter that The Rock will grace the cover of the newly branded series, WWE 2k14.
“Breaking News: @TheRock will be featured on the cover of WWE 2K 14″ Casey Collins EVP CPG #BPS#Wrestlemania’
The WWE 2K14 video game is scheduled for a Autumn 2013 release.
Via PWInsider:
In what will go down as one of the strangest stories I can ever remember writing about, Extreme Rising emailed current champion Stevie Richards today, demanding he return their title belt (which he has kept since winning and has taken overseas and to independent shows to defend as a way to raise the profile of the promotion) or else…because of Richards said he would defend the belt via a videogame.
Yes, really.
Over the course of the weekend, Richards and former ECW star Danny Doring, who are close friends, were writing each other back and forth via Twitter and Facebook.
Richards, a videogame and technology aficionado, posted a photo of the Rising belt and his copy of the latest Madden videogame on his Twitter account, jokingly offering to defend his belt via the game online since he lost his bookings over Wrestlemania weekend.
Doring then posted a photo of the old ECW World Tag Team belt (which has been in his possession since the company closed in 2001) on his Twitter account and responded that he would put up that belt as well, joking it would be “defunct promotion vs. defunct promotion.”
Shortly after, Richards received an email from the promotion, upset over the two friends “blowing off steam online”, as Richards termed it, demanding the return of the belt by the end of this week, noting they were “disappointed” over the description of the promotion as defunct.
Richards noted that what really upset him the most was that the promotion “doubted his ability as a Madden player.” He noted that Rising was upset over something that “20 people saw on Twitter” and said he’s tried to help the company by carrying their belt and was amazed they saw the comments as anything more than two people goofing off online.
He also noted that it was silly no one just called him, especially since he hasn’t had any communication with anyone at Rising beyond a text announcing the cancellation of the Wrestlemania weekend shows.
One Extreme Rising official noted they were upset over the promotion being described as “defunct”, which is something Doring, not Richards, wrote.
Despite the threat, Doring and Richards intend to play the game after all and Richards is looking for a way for the game to be streamed online for whoever cares to watch it. The two intend to build up their “new rivalry” online. Stay tuned to their Twitter accounts (linked above) for more.
Credit: PWTorch.com
WWE has released a new survey asking if they should partner with established animated franchises for films. Potential cartoon franchises WWE would consider partnering with include Rugrats, He-Man, Looney Tunes, Smurfs, and Alvin and The Chipmunks.
WWE is already working on a Scooby-Doo movie, which will be released in 2014 during WrestleMania season. WWE looking to expand into animated movies is part of the company’s attempt to reach kids and families, who make up a significant portion of their audience.
WWE’s game franchise will be sold to Take Two according to a report by IGN.
Terms of the sale are unknown at this time, as details have not been finalized. These negotiations appear to have taken place outside THQ’s formal auction process.
We will provide more details as we receive them.
WWE video game licensee THQ is schedule to place a number of its properties up for auction as part of their bankruptcy proceedings according to a report by PWInsider.
Their report states that in the past 24 hours, there have been rumors that EA Sports will take over the WWE license, but nothing at this time has been confirmed.
UK Playstation Magazine editor Ben Wilson also discussed the possibilities of EA Sports taking over the WWE video game franchise in a podcast which was posted yesterday.
WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin spoke with Inside The Ropesrecently. The video is embedded below. Here are a few highlights:
His WWE ‘13 sit down promo with CM Punk and Jim Ross:
“It was a lot of fun going back and being a part of WWE 13 the video game, hang out with my good buddy Jim Ross and CM Punk, a young guy in the business I really like, I really like what he’s bringing to the table and what he’s doing. To go back and play The Rattlesnake character was a lot of fun. You know we pushed the envelope a little bit there but we played it straight down the middle, but I would’ve loved to ramp it up and go full bore Stone Cold on him, but it just wasn’t that time. Who knows if there will be a time down the road, but I enjoyed being that guy. It’s a dynamic part of my personality. I enjoy the adrenaline.”
Bruno Sammartino’s criticisms of The Attitude Era:
“Bruno is a legend in the business and his opinion is his opinion. I think he’s very closed minded about the Attitude Era. One thing I think he’s missing out on is the fact that it’s the entertainment business. Speaking from a Stone Cold standpoint, I went out there and I entertained and I pushed the envelope but when it came time to ring that bell in that 20 by 20 ring, I wrestled my ass off. I brawled and I fought and I gave the fans every bit of their moneys worth. Bruno’s opinion is what it is. When you look back at where the business was, it was a little slow. I can appreciate that, but you fast forward all these years and it’s a little faster and either you like it or you don’t.”
THQ has released a new video to promote the release of WWE ’13 featuring CM Punk and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
The video is a sit-down confrontation between the two which was recorded over the SummerSlam weekend back in August. The video’s main focus is on Austin vs. Punk “WWE ’13″ video game, but also promotes a potential Austin vs. Punk real-life match.
Austin also talks up John Cena and Punk as the top stars that he would run with, but notes “the rest of the locker room” is just happy to be on television.
The sit-down concludes with a tense handshake and Austin noting he would beat Punk in video games and a real-life match.
Syfy announced Wednesday that Edge will be returning to “Haven” as “Dwight Hendrickson” for a role in the new fall season. The show premieres Friday, September 21 at 10:00 p.m. EST immediately following Smackdown.
Also, Edge will be appearing in other Season 3 episodes, with air-dates to be announced later.
As noted before, Jim Ross recently filmed a sitdown interview with CM Punk and Steve Austin for the WWE ’13 video game. The interview was designed to be like the Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels DVD interview from last year.
Austin and Punk talked about who would win between the two in real life and how that would play into WWE ’13. While there is a lot of respect between Austin and Punk, it’s said that they put on a lot of heat and tension for the cameras. There’s still no word yet on when or where the interview will air.
RAW General Manager AJ Lee wrote the following on Twitter to fans complaining about her being downloadable content in the new WWE ’13 video game:
“A lot of you are bummed I’m DLC, but I just did cartwheels & cried. I’m so grateful & SO FRICKEN HAPPY to just be a part of the game. AHHHHH. I made myself in CAW mode in every Smackdown vs Raw growing up, so this is just unbelievable. This has been the best year of my life.”
Credit – PWInsider
Jim Ross wrote that he will be conducting a sitdown face to face interview with CM Punk and WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin this weekend in Los Angeles. The interview will be used for promotion in the forthcoming WWE ’13 videogame being released by THQ.
The marketing and promotion for the game is being centered around Punk and the return of the “Attitude era” in the game. Austin of course epitomizes that era of WWE history.
As we noted yesterday, THQ and WWE will unveil the complete roster for the game, slated for a 10/30 release on all major gaming platforms, this weekend during the Summerslam AXXESS event.
