How CM Punk's WWE return helped open door for potential TV rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery
In 2019, WWE signed massive media deals with NBC and Fox for the television rights of Raw and SmackDown. As both the deals are coming to an end next year, negotiations for the media rights have been initiated and it was reported that there will be a huge negotiation war and some of the broadcast giants are interested to grab the deal. A Backstage report now reveal that CM Punk played a major role for WWE to reach out for talks with Warner Bros. Discovery, who is seemingly interested for a big deal.
Dave Meltzer of WWE-WBD talks
Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Radio spoke about the future of the WWE’s prime weekly television show, Monday Night Raw. Meltzer revealed that CM Punk had helped WWE reach out for major talks with Warner Bros. Discovery for WWE Raw’s media rights deal. He said that the sale will go near $400 Million and spoke about the significance of Punk and how he helped open up the door.
WWE Raw media rights negotiations
“Things are changing greatly. Let’s just say things changed greatly with Raw negotiations from a few weeks ago. And Punk is a huge part of the selling point. They would like to get close to $400 million. I don’t think they’re gonna get $400 million but they’re shopping it around and WBD obviously being one of them. WBD seemed to be dead and it’s not dead. With Punk there and everything like that, it’s not dead. It’s not like people should go oh my God this and that with AEW. There’s no way of knowing anything other than they did have a meeting and it’s not dead. That’s all.”
Dave Meltzer on CM Punk’s Significance
“WWE as far as the Raw deal is, the belief is that they’re finalizing pretty soon. [Paul] Levesque was at Raw [on] Monday. [He] missed the one Raw if you remember because of whatever they were doing. They’re trying to close that deal. That’s pretty much it. Punk opened up what may have been a shut door. How open that door is or what is gonna transpire, I don’t know.
Punk, he’s a significant player and that’s one of the reasons he’s gonna be at the house show in Los Angeles this week because I’m sure that the people who they are courting — everyone’s headquarters is in L.A. I’m sure that they’re gonna invite everyone that they’re courting there and figuring that they’re gonna see, with Punk and Dom, they picked the right opponent for just a great reaction to go look, this is what you’re getting, this is the show we’re selling.”
WWE’s deal could close relatively soon
“The belief is it’s coming down relatively soon [but] it’s one of those things there’s no rush either. It could come down in 6 months. They’re in negotiations and AEW is in negotiations. These negotiations are going to be gigantic to the future of wrestling in many ways, depending on who gets what, depending on the days of the week, depending on the counters.”
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