Best Wrestlenomics Radio Podcasts (2025)

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Big Data + Panel Wreaks Havoc on WWE & AEW | Pollock & Thurston 1:18:19

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40m ago1:18:19

1:18:19

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston unpack the effect Big Data + Panel is having on the professional wrestling industry, and a blistering response from CW on the new methodology. Topics this week include: Big Data + Panel reporting by Brandon Thurston, including CW’s response Comparisons using the old and new methods for WWE & AEW Significant updates…

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John Cena at MSG | Tony Khan speaks with Ariel Helwani | Pollock & Thurston 1:15:01

7d ago1:15:01

1:15:01

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston react to Tony Khan’s sit-down chat with Ariel Helwani, TKO’s big week at Madison Square Garden, a “Stunner” of a group chat, and the WON Hall of Fame class. Topics this week include: Tony Khan returns to the Ariel Helwani Show TKO runs UFC 322 & John Cena’s Final Raw at MSG ESPN and YouTube reach an agreement Lates…

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WWE Teams with MLSE in Toronto | TKO Q3 Earnings & TNA Bound for Glory | Pollock & Thurston 1:14:09

20d ago1:14:09

1:14:09

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover WWE’s announcement with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, TKO’s Q3 earnings report, and how TNA Bound for Glory performed. Topics this week include: WWE and MLSE announce long-term partnership TKO’s Q3 Earnings Results Mark Shapiro comments on Fox’s performance with UFC TNA Bound for Glory’s gate and tickets…

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Hall of Fame Ballots Revealed | TKO Q3 Preview | Pollock & Thurston 1:22:15

27d ago1:22:15

1:22:15

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston share their Observer Hall of Fame ballots and debate who should be inducted this year. Plus: TKO prepares for its third-quarter earnings, analysis of AEW’s past quarter, Wrestle Kingdom 20 ticket update & a betting scandal rocks the UFC. Topics this week include: TKO to report Q3 earnings AEW’s past quarter perform…

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WWE Ticket Prices Double | No-Compete Clauses | Pollock & Thurston 1:23:07

1M ago1:23:07

1:23:07

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 …

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NXT vs. AEW Super Tuesday Results | Pollock & Thurston 1:11:31

2M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

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 Locat…

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AEW’s Public Funding & Attendance in Texas | SmackDown Viewership Plummets | Pollock & Thurston 59:18

2M ago59:18

59:18

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 viewersh…

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Nielsen’s Big Data Shake-Up: WWE & AEW Viewership Takes a Hit | Pollock & Thurston 34:26

2M ago34:26

34:26

By Wrestlenomics

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AEW Dynamite Turns Six, Paramount inks Zuffa Boxing | Pollock & Thurston 1:21:59

2M ago1:21:59

1:21:59

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 Bo…

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WWE Wrestlepalooza vs. AEW All Out: Winners and Losers | Pollock & Thurston 1:00:29

2M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

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 streami…

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WWE Moves WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia | Pollock & Thurston 1:36:07

3M ago1:36:07

1:36:07

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…

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AJ Lee Spikes Audience, Bryan Danielson on Counterprogramming | Pollock & Thurston 1:22:08

3M ago1:22:08

1:22:08

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 addresse…

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WWE Clash in Paris | AEW All Out Moves Start Time | Pollock & Thurston 1:17:01

3M ago1:17:01

1:17:01

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 …

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AEW Forbidden Door, WWE ESPN Move | Pollock & Thurston 1:31:42

3M ago1:31:42

1:31:42

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. Ca…

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WWE’s Growing Dominance: Aggressive Tactics Against AEW | Pollock & Thurston 1:12:46

3M ago1:12:46

1:12:46

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss WWE’s increasingly aggressive strategies to compete with AEW, and whether these practices raise antitrust concerns. They break down what this means for AEW’s future and how the company can realistically respond. Also on the show: WWE’s September PLE possibly airing on ESPN TNA is open to a move to directly …

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UFC’s $7.7B Paramount Deal | WWE PLE vs AEW All Out | Pollock & Thurston 1:10:11

4M ago1:10:11

1:10:11

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston break down the UFC’s historic $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, which will end the company’s pay-per-view business. We discuss what this means for UFC fans, the promotion’s future, and the broader combat sports industry. We also cover WWE running a Premium Live Event in Indianapolis set to go head-to-head with AEW …

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CNBC’s Alex Sherman breaks down ESPN-WWE PLE deal | Pollock & Thurston 36:05

4M ago36:05

36:05

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston present a bonus show as they welcome Alex Sherman of CNBC to break down the WWE deal with ESPN. On the show: The value of the deal for ESPN for its direct-to-consumer service Carriers that are offering the service to cable subscribers, and others that are not WWE splitting its rights across platforms and impact on …

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WWE PLEs Moving to ESPN, Brock Lesnar Returns | Pollock & Thurston 1:28:53

4M ago1:28:53

1:28:53

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston react to the news that ESPN has secured WWE’s premium live event package in the U.S. beginning in 2026. John & Brandon go over the details, what this means for the consumer, and specific factors to pay attention to. They also cover WWE’s controversial decision to bring back Brock Lesnar after the former champion wa…

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Hulk Hogan’s Death & Legacy | Pollock & Thurston 2:06:42

4M ago2:06:42

2:06:42

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston are joined by David Bixenspan (Between the Sheets) to discuss the life, death, and complex legacy of Terry Bollea a.k.a. Hulk Hogan. We cover the reaction to Hogan’s passing, his controversial lawsuit against Gawker, and how the media has handled the coverage of his death. VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/04…

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Breaking Down WWE's Netflix Numbers | Pollock & Thurston 1:26:04

4M ago1:26:04

1:26:04

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston analyze WWE’s Netflix performance after six months, based on the latest Netflix engagement report. Special guest Lavie Margolin joins the show to break down TNA Slammiversary at UBS Arena, attendance insights, its U.S. TV distribution, and his upcoming book project. We also cover: San Diego’s budget plans for WWE S…

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AEW vs. WWE: Who Won The Weekend? | Pollock & Thurston 1:09:31

5M ago1:09:31

1:09:31

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston wrap up AEW’s All In Texas weekend, which aired against WWE’s Great American Bash & Saturday Night’s Main Event. Who were the winners and the losers of the weekend? How successful was All In Texas? How did WWE fare with its strategy of presenting three cards in Atlanta? Plus, viewership for Katie Taylor vs. Amanda …

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AEW All In Texas & WWE's Counter Strategy | Pollock & Thurston 1:07:33

5M ago1:07:33

1:07:33

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston preview the battle between AEW & WWE this weekend with three shows on Saturday. Trish Speirs joins us from The Trish and Sarah Wrestling Podcast to discuss the promotion of All In Texas, the attendance and gate figures, WWE’s opposition by placing two shows on the same day, and AEW’s overall direction after the fir…

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CM Punk Apologizes for Saudi Arabia Comments | Pollock & Thurston 1:11:17

5M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover the past week involving CM Punk’s trip to Saudi Arabia, apology for past comments, and the backlash. We go into the comments made in the past, how Punk addressed them at the kickoff event, the reaction online, and Thurston’s opinion piece from earlier this week. Plus, Pollock & Thurston have exclusive details…

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WWE Returns to Saudi Arabia | Pollock & Thurston 1:19:54

5M ago1:19:54

1:19:54

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss WWE’s return to Saudi Arabia amid political unrest in the Middle East, and speak with journalist Karim Zidan. Pollock & Thurston review the latest requests from Janel Grant for the discovery phase of her case. Stephanie McMahon sits down with WWE President Nick Khan. Additionally, Tony Khan discusses AEW’s …

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How WWE Is Leveraging Politics: CM Punk, Saudi Arabia & Trump Ties | Pollock & Thurston 1:27:42

5M ago1:27:42

1:27:42

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat about the political identity of WWE and the promotion of CM Punk’s match in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions. Plus, WWE & McMahons refile motions in the ring boy lawsuit, Janel Grant requests travel logs for Colker & McMahon, BKFC president details a past meeting with Vince McMahon, a lawsuit is filed agains…

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Can Paul Levesque Handle the Truth? | Pollock & Thurston 1:15:44

6M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat about R-Truth returning to WWE, the WBD split, WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, and Canelo vs. Crawford. First, we examine the six days between Ron Killings stating that his WWE contract wasn’t being renewed, the ensuing fan outrage, his return at Money in the Bank, and Paul Levesque’s non-answer at the post-show…

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Can Vince McMahon Succeed Without WWE? Inside His New Company '14TH & I’ | Pollock & Thurston 1:14:31

6M ago1:14:31

1:14:31

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover this week’s major stories, including more information on Vince McMahon’s new company, 14TH & I. Then, they chat about SmackDown staying in its three-hour format and how important the program is for the USA Network, the recent contract expirations, and what leverage points the talent possess. Plus, two more an…

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Why is WrestleMania Leaving New Orleans? | Pollock & Thurston 1:06:42

6M ago1:06:42

1:06:42

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover the news that WrestleMania 42 is leaving New Orleans and is expected to land in Las Vegas. They chat about Thurston’s exclusive report, WWE’s handling of the announcement, how Las Vegas is expected to land ‘Mania for the second year in a row, and the ramifications of such a significant change. Major news brok…

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AEW Timeline: 2019 - Present | Pollock & Thurston 1:39:37

7M ago1:39:37

1:39:37

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston dissect the history of AEW as it heads into Double or Nothing, six years after the promotion’s first event. John and Brandon discuss the company's highs and lows since its launch, the important moments in its history, the most impactful moves, and how it affected the professional wrestling industry. Plus: WWE prese…

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TKO Profits From Fewer WWE House Shows | Pollock & Thurston 1:15:09

7M ago1:15:09

1:15:09

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the latest developments in the wrestling industry, including TKO COO Mark Shapiro’s appearance at the JP Morgan conference following the company’s Q1 earnings report, highlighting cost-cutting and WWE’s live events strategy. Plus, the influence of Sabu, WWE confirms Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on Jun…

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Analyzing 5 Million Reddit Comments | Pollock & Thurston 1:18:29

7M ago1:18:29

1:18:29

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover an extensive Wrestlenomics study, movement in the Janel Grant case & a TKO Q1 earnings preview. Brandon Thurston has conducted a big study into Reddit, focusing on fan opinions toward WWE over AEW over the past six years and when shifts occurred. Judge Sarah Russell has made a notable ruling in the Janel Gran…

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More Ring Boys Come Forward | Pollock & Thurston 1:07:47

7M ago1:07:47

1:07:47

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the amended complaint and new allegations in the ongoing ring boy lawsuit. This past week, a 111-page amended complaint was filed, including three additional “John Does” added to the suit. We discuss the new allegations being levied, provide further information, discuss the plaintiffs’ argument in favor of …

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WrestleMania 41, WWE Acquires AAA | Pollock & Thurston 1:11:30

7M ago1:11:30

1:11:30

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston go through the success of WrestleMania 41 as WWE promotes the biggest weekend in its history. They discuss WWE’s released business metrics, Netflix stats, the reception for the two-night event, Paul Levesque’s speech at the Hall of Fame, and many other topics from Las Vegas. The major news on Saturday included WWE …

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WrestleMania Week Business Breakdown | Pollock & Thurston 1:10:36

8M ago1:10:36

1:10:36

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss WrestleMania Week and more developments from WWE and AEW. Pollock and Thurston go through expected attendance and revenue, how Las Vegas landed the event, and a historical look at WWE’s business across closed circuit, PPV, WWE Network, and Peacock eras. Plus: Nick Khan on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Paul Leve…

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The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch & LightShed’s Brandon Ross | Pollock & Thurston 1:13:59

8M ago1:13:59

1:13:59

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the latest filings in the ring boy lawsuit, and welcome Brandon Ross and Richard Deitsch. Richard Deitsch from The Athletic joins the show to speak about WWE’s transition to Netflix, the impact of the first WrestleMania on the platform, and the brand's popularity while transferring its leadership away from …

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AEW Fan Survey Results with Jesse Collings | Pollock & Thurston 1:19:09

8M ago1:19:09

1:19:09

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston go through the results of an AEW fan survey conducted by Jesse Collings and the state of its fanbase. Collings joins us to break down the results, how fan sentiment has changed over the past year, positive and negative responses, who is connecting, whether the company is growing its audience, and other insights. Pl…

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TNA Cuts & WrestleMania 41 with Sean Ross Sapp | Pollock & Thurston 1:07:14

8M ago1:07:14

1:07:14

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston are joined by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful to discuss the TNA cuts and the lead-up to this year’s WrestleMania. They chat about the reaction internally to the TNA cuts including Gail Kim being let go and the state of TNA in the marketplace. Plus, the promotion of WrestleMania 41 as WWE prepares for its major week in …

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Netflix vs. Cable: How is WWE performing? | Pollock & Thurston 57:52

9M ago57:52

57:52

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss estimates of WWE’s viewership on Netflix and compare it to cable. Estimates on how WWE’s U.S. viewership on Netflix compares to its performance on cable, recent comments by analysts on WWE’s performance on the streamer, and more. VIDEO VERSION: https://youtube.com/live/N6qCcapUdgY Plus: Omari Palmer (Odysse…

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TKO and Saudi Arabia enter boxing | Pollock & Thurston 1:05:18

9M ago1:05:18

1:05:18

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston are chatting about TKO’s official entry into boxing with last week’s announcements and what it means for the industry. John Nash from Hey Not The Face is our guest to discuss the impact TKO can have on the boxing industry, Dana White’s comments last week, the fate of the Ali Act, and the financial power from Saudi …

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WWE Employee Benefits, Raises Cut | Pollock & Thurston 1:12:59

9M ago1:12:59

1:12:59

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss issues among WWE staff with employee incentive programs cut. Pollock and Thurston discuss new details of a consolidated shareholder lawsuit against WWE. The lawsuit alleges that the company manipulated its sales process and that the investigation into Vince McMahon was a “sham.” SLAM Wrestling editor Greg O…

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Linda McMahon faces Senate in confirmation hearing | Pollock & Thurston 1:06:26

10M ago1:06:26

1:06:26

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston recap Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing to oversee the Department of Education. Reporter Aaron Rupar of Public Notice speaks with John and Brandon about last Thursday’s hearing, his outlet's coverage of the ring boy lawsuit, and how that subject was addressed at the hearing. Plus: How is Netflix assessing WWE's …

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Court Rules McMahon’s Lawyer Withheld Documents | Pollock & Thurston 1:20:31

10M ago1:20:31

1:20:31

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the court ruling related to the Vince McMahon case and documents being withheld. They break down the 44-page opinion that came down this week and explain what it is about, the status of the SEC investigation, and the statement provided by one of McMahon’s lawyers to POST Wrestling. Plus: Linda McMahon’s con…

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WWE Ring Boy Case To Continue | Pollock & Thurston 1:12:01

10M ago1:12:01

1:12:01

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston cover the latest involving the Ring Boy lawsuit and the Janel Grant case. The Ring Boy lawsuit will continue after the Maryland Supreme Court’s ruling this week to uphold the Child Victims Act. Since the ruling, additional survivors have joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs. The amended complaint was filed by Janel Gra…

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WWE Royal Rumble: 60,000+ Expected | Pollock & Thurston 1:00:50

10M ago1:00:50

1:00:50

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat about a record-setting Royal Rumble, WWE’s performance on SNME, and a return to Paris. This week, they cover the Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium, which will set new attendance and gate records and cap off an incredible month in 2025. Plus: Viewership for Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC and Peacock is conf…

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WWE and TNA enter multi-year partnership | Pollock & Thurston 1:17:16

10M ago1:17:16

1:17:16

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston are here to discuss the WWE and TNA multi-year partnership and what each side has to gain. Rich Fann from PWTorch.com will stop by to discuss the WWE and TNA alliance, the benefits and liabilities of this news, the potential value on both sides and lots more. Plus: Netflix holds its earning call and comments on WWE…

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Latest on Grant Case, Vince McMahon SEC Settlement | Pollock & Thurston 1:04:48

11M ago1:04:48

1:04:48

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss all the latest filings in the Janel Grant case and Vince McMahon’s SEC settlement. Plus: Netflix releases its first set of viewership figures for WWE Raw, TKO & Saudi Arabia poised to launch a boxing promotion, SmackDown viewership trends in the three-hour format, and the UFC’s media rights are up in the ai…

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BREAKING NEWS: Vince McMahon Fined by SEC, WWE Netflix viewership | Pollock & Thurston 31:33

11M ago31:33

31:33

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston are back to discuss the SEC’s announcement that Vince McMahon will pay a fine and reimburse WWE over regulatory violations. On Friday, the SEC announced that the former WWE chairman will pay a fine and reimburse WWE for his failure to disclose two agreements signed in 2019 and 2022. Pollock & Thurston discuss the f…

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WWE Launches on Netflix | Pollock & Thurston 1:10:11

11M ago1:10:11

1:10:11

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston react to WWE's launch on Netflix and the fallout from the show at the Intuit Dome. They chat about the presentation on Netflix, the reaction to the show, and the coverage it received. Plus: An update on all the latest news involving the Janel Grant case, SmackDown to move back to two hours, WWE’s involvement with H…

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Wrestlenomics Report: Smackdown to 3 hours, Lee Fitting & Nick Khan, AEW All In Texas ticket movement 31:27

11M ago31:27

31:27

The full written version of the new weekly newsletter: https://wrestlenomics.com/newsletter/2024/wrestlenomics-report-3-hour-smackdown-all-in-texas-lee-fitting-aew-international-rights-netflix/ Housekeeping: What is this? Smackdown moves to 3 hours in January Early All In Texas estimate of tickets distributed Netflix NFL games average about 24 mill…

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Misconduct Alleged Against WWE Production Head Lee Fitting During Time At ESPN | Pollock & Thurston 1:10:35

12M ago1:10:35

1:10:35

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston discuss the Lee Fitting story in the New York Times and Saturday Night’s Main Event ratings. Katie Strang and Andrew Marchand have a major story covering Lee Fitting’s departure from ESPN last year amid misconduct allegations. John & Brandon chat about the story, what is alleged, and WWE’s decision to hire Fitting.…