Brandon Thurston
@brandonthurston.bsky.social
Email: brandon @wrestlenomics.com | Signal: BrandonThurston.14
NEW: Data confirms WWE ticket prices have roughly doubled since TKO merger.
In terms of real dollars, a WWE ticket that used to cost about $60 pre-TKO is now about $120.
But average Raw & Smackdown attendance has yet to suffer. It's actually up.
wrestlenomics.com/articles/202...
In terms of real dollars, a WWE ticket that used to cost about $60 pre-TKO is now about $120.
But average Raw & Smackdown attendance has yet to suffer. It's actually up.
wrestlenomics.com/articles/202...
October 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
NEW: Data confirms WWE ticket prices have roughly doubled since TKO merger.
In terms of real dollars, a WWE ticket that used to cost about $60 pre-TKO is now about $120.
But average Raw & Smackdown attendance has yet to suffer. It's actually up.
wrestlenomics.com/articles/202...
In terms of real dollars, a WWE ticket that used to cost about $60 pre-TKO is now about $120.
But average Raw & Smackdown attendance has yet to suffer. It's actually up.
wrestlenomics.com/articles/202...
Wrestlepalooza should be no added cost today if you're a customer of Spectrum, Hulu + Live TV, Verizon FIOS, Fubo, or a streaming customer of DirecTV.
Otherwise, you'll need to sub for $30. Full access to the new ESPN app might get worked into other providers by next year.
Otherwise, you'll need to sub for $30. Full access to the new ESPN app might get worked into other providers by next year.
September 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Wrestlepalooza should be no added cost today if you're a customer of Spectrum, Hulu + Live TV, Verizon FIOS, Fubo, or a streaming customer of DirecTV.
Otherwise, you'll need to sub for $30. Full access to the new ESPN app might get worked into other providers by next year.
Otherwise, you'll need to sub for $30. Full access to the new ESPN app might get worked into other providers by next year.
TKO press release
September 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
TKO press release
September 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
In this video from Local 8's Facebook page, they explain 2300 Arena is a non-union venue and AEW is choosing to work with them. AEW will run 7 events there from tonight through Sept 6.
August 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
In this video from Local 8's Facebook page, they explain 2300 Arena is a non-union venue and AEW is choosing to work with them. AEW will run 7 events there from tonight through Sept 6.
IATSE Local 8 is protesting AEW and 2300 Arena's stagehand compensation ahead the series of shows that begin tonight in Philadelphia.
They've also posted videos on their Facebook page outside the venue, using AEW's business talking points against them: facebook.com/IATSELocal8
They've also posted videos on their Facebook page outside the venue, using AEW's business talking points against them: facebook.com/IATSELocal8
August 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
IATSE Local 8 is protesting AEW and 2300 Arena's stagehand compensation ahead the series of shows that begin tonight in Philadelphia.
They've also posted videos on their Facebook page outside the venue, using AEW's business talking points against them: facebook.com/IATSELocal8
They've also posted videos on their Facebook page outside the venue, using AEW's business talking points against them: facebook.com/IATSELocal8
ESPN press release: "ESPN and WWE today announced that WWE Premium Live Events will debut on ESPN platforms beginning September 20, earlier than previously announced."
ESPN's DTC streaming platform launches tomorrow.
Confirm's @postwrestling.com earlier report of PLE on Sept 20.
ESPN's DTC streaming platform launches tomorrow.
Confirm's @postwrestling.com earlier report of PLE on Sept 20.
August 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
ESPN press release: "ESPN and WWE today announced that WWE Premium Live Events will debut on ESPN platforms beginning September 20, earlier than previously announced."
ESPN's DTC streaming platform launches tomorrow.
Confirm's @postwrestling.com earlier report of PLE on Sept 20.
ESPN's DTC streaming platform launches tomorrow.
Confirm's @postwrestling.com earlier report of PLE on Sept 20.
Our reporting that in 2023 WWE got the Alamodome to agree to an exclusivity clause that closed out any other wrestling event for a period is just one venue example but raises questions about whether there are other such agreements with venues.
wrestlenomics.com/venue-agreem...
wrestlenomics.com/venue-agreem...
August 15, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Our reporting that in 2023 WWE got the Alamodome to agree to an exclusivity clause that closed out any other wrestling event for a period is just one venue example but raises questions about whether there are other such agreements with venues.
wrestlenomics.com/venue-agreem...
wrestlenomics.com/venue-agreem...
Antitrust cases are of course difficult and expensive but MLW did the work of defining the relevant market (televised wrestling in the U.S.) and alleging monopoly power at least sufficient to overcome WWE’s motion to dismiss and ultimately cause WWE to settle for $20M.
August 15, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Antitrust cases are of course difficult and expensive but MLW did the work of defining the relevant market (televised wrestling in the U.S.) and alleging monopoly power at least sufficient to overcome WWE’s motion to dismiss and ultimately cause WWE to settle for $20M.
TKO announced UFC's domestic media rights will go exclusively to Paramount in 2026 and that numbered events will no longer be on PPV but will be viewable for Paramount+ subscribers at no added cost.
The deal is for 7 years at $1.1B per year, TKO disclosed, more than 2x the existing deal with ESPN.
The deal is for 7 years at $1.1B per year, TKO disclosed, more than 2x the existing deal with ESPN.
August 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
TKO announced UFC's domestic media rights will go exclusively to Paramount in 2026 and that numbered events will no longer be on PPV but will be viewable for Paramount+ subscribers at no added cost.
The deal is for 7 years at $1.1B per year, TKO disclosed, more than 2x the existing deal with ESPN.
The deal is for 7 years at $1.1B per year, TKO disclosed, more than 2x the existing deal with ESPN.
As usual, Vince McMahon's NDA payments still have a presence in TKO's financial reporting. Some of TKO's "Certain legal costs" included payments "Mr. McMahon has agreed to make... to certain counterparties personally."
August 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
As usual, Vince McMahon's NDA payments still have a presence in TKO's financial reporting. Some of TKO's "Certain legal costs" included payments "Mr. McMahon has agreed to make... to certain counterparties personally."
All 4 reported segments of WWE's business were up in revenue.
The release highlights that live event revenue was up thanks to higher ticket prices and an increase in site fees.
Media rights revenue was up thanks to escalating fees and SmackDown "format expansion" to 3 hours.
The release highlights that live event revenue was up thanks to higher ticket prices and an increase in site fees.
Media rights revenue was up thanks to escalating fees and SmackDown "format expansion" to 3 hours.
August 6, 2025 at 8:20 PM
All 4 reported segments of WWE's business were up in revenue.
The release highlights that live event revenue was up thanks to higher ticket prices and an increase in site fees.
Media rights revenue was up thanks to escalating fees and SmackDown "format expansion" to 3 hours.
The release highlights that live event revenue was up thanks to higher ticket prices and an increase in site fees.
Media rights revenue was up thanks to escalating fees and SmackDown "format expansion" to 3 hours.
Q2 contained WrestleMania. WWE revenue and profitability were up significantly from the prior year.
Q2 2025 revenue: $556.2M
Q2 2024: $456.8M
Q2 2025 adj EBITDA: $329.8M
Q2 2024: $251.3M
6-month comparisons were also up.
Q2 2025 revenue: $556.2M
Q2 2024: $456.8M
Q2 2025 adj EBITDA: $329.8M
Q2 2024: $251.3M
6-month comparisons were also up.
August 6, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Q2 contained WrestleMania. WWE revenue and profitability were up significantly from the prior year.
Q2 2025 revenue: $556.2M
Q2 2024: $456.8M
Q2 2025 adj EBITDA: $329.8M
Q2 2024: $251.3M
6-month comparisons were also up.
Q2 2025 revenue: $556.2M
Q2 2024: $456.8M
Q2 2025 adj EBITDA: $329.8M
Q2 2024: $251.3M
6-month comparisons were also up.
TKO Q2 earnings results are out.
Revenue and adjusted EBITDA (a customized metric meant to reflect profitability) targets for the year have been increase over previous guidance.
Revenue and adjusted EBITDA (a customized metric meant to reflect profitability) targets for the year have been increase over previous guidance.
August 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM
TKO Q2 earnings results are out.
Revenue and adjusted EBITDA (a customized metric meant to reflect profitability) targets for the year have been increase over previous guidance.
Revenue and adjusted EBITDA (a customized metric meant to reflect profitability) targets for the year have been increase over previous guidance.
Update on this:
AEW today says it won't file an unredacted version of its filing that would disclose the trustees and beneficiaries behind Beatnik Investments LLC, the entity that controls AEW.
The judge said he would remand this back to state court if AEW didn't disclose...
AEW today says it won't file an unredacted version of its filing that would disclose the trustees and beneficiaries behind Beatnik Investments LLC, the entity that controls AEW.
The judge said he would remand this back to state court if AEW didn't disclose...
August 4, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Update on this:
AEW today says it won't file an unredacted version of its filing that would disclose the trustees and beneficiaries behind Beatnik Investments LLC, the entity that controls AEW.
The judge said he would remand this back to state court if AEW didn't disclose...
AEW today says it won't file an unredacted version of its filing that would disclose the trustees and beneficiaries behind Beatnik Investments LLC, the entity that controls AEW.
The judge said he would remand this back to state court if AEW didn't disclose...
Continued.
These are the pages that most heavily focus on Lesnar. The full 101-page complaint can be read here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
These are the pages that most heavily focus on Lesnar. The full 101-page complaint can be read here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
August 4, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Continued.
These are the pages that most heavily focus on Lesnar. The full 101-page complaint can be read here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
These are the pages that most heavily focus on Lesnar. The full 101-page complaint can be read here: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Here's what Janel Grant's lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon alleges about Brock Lesnar.
(These pages contain detailed descriptions of alleged sexual abuse by McMahon and what Grant says was his attempt to traffic her to Lesnar during a contract negotiation.)
(These pages contain detailed descriptions of alleged sexual abuse by McMahon and what Grant says was his attempt to traffic her to Lesnar during a contract negotiation.)
August 4, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Here's what Janel Grant's lawsuit against WWE and Vince McMahon alleges about Brock Lesnar.
(These pages contain detailed descriptions of alleged sexual abuse by McMahon and what Grant says was his attempt to traffic her to Lesnar during a contract negotiation.)
(These pages contain detailed descriptions of alleged sexual abuse by McMahon and what Grant says was his attempt to traffic her to Lesnar during a contract negotiation.)
Paul Levesque is asked about dealing with the fallout of the sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE:
“All we can do is move forward. And allegations are allegations, right? It’s a complicated relationship for anybody in life. Nobody is perfect...”
“All we can do is move forward. And allegations are allegations, right? It’s a complicated relationship for anybody in life. Nobody is perfect...”
August 1, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Paul Levesque is asked about dealing with the fallout of the sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE:
“All we can do is move forward. And allegations are allegations, right? It’s a complicated relationship for anybody in life. Nobody is perfect...”
“All we can do is move forward. And allegations are allegations, right? It’s a complicated relationship for anybody in life. Nobody is perfect...”
Bill Simmons (who interviewed Nick Khan before WM) mocks the idea of asking about Vince McMahon. He doesn’t ask because the interviewee would give a “shitty answer,” he says.
Simmons: “Neither of us want to talk about it.”
Cody says the answers can get worse when there’s a follow-up.
Simmons: “Neither of us want to talk about it.”
Cody says the answers can get worse when there’s a follow-up.
August 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Bill Simmons (who interviewed Nick Khan before WM) mocks the idea of asking about Vince McMahon. He doesn’t ask because the interviewee would give a “shitty answer,” he says.
Simmons: “Neither of us want to talk about it.”
Cody says the answers can get worse when there’s a follow-up.
Simmons: “Neither of us want to talk about it.”
Cody says the answers can get worse when there’s a follow-up.
The judge in the Dispensa v. Moxley & AEW case has denied AEW's motion to file information about its ownership under seal. AEW is trying to establish diversity of jurisdiction to get the case out of Michigan state court and into federal court...
July 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The judge in the Dispensa v. Moxley & AEW case has denied AEW's motion to file information about its ownership under seal. AEW is trying to establish diversity of jurisdiction to get the case out of Michigan state court and into federal court...
Dr. Carlon Colker's defamation case against Janel Grant's attorney Ann Callis has been transferred to Judge Sarah F. Russell, who is the judge for Grant's sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE.
Colker has Donald Trump's defamation lawyer, Alejandro Brito.
Colker has Donald Trump's defamation lawyer, Alejandro Brito.
July 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Dr. Carlon Colker's defamation case against Janel Grant's attorney Ann Callis has been transferred to Judge Sarah F. Russell, who is the judge for Grant's sex trafficking lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE.
Colker has Donald Trump's defamation lawyer, Alejandro Brito.
Colker has Donald Trump's defamation lawyer, Alejandro Brito.
I used a colon as a delimiter for grouping, so it included most of these.
July 21, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I used a colon as a delimiter for grouping, so it included most of these.
Never underestimate the drawing power of Sheldon
July 21, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Never underestimate the drawing power of Sheldon