Wrestlenomics

Wrestlenomics covers the business of pro wrestling. Pollock & Thurston is a weekly podcast hosted by John Pollock of POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston. They are often joined by a relevant guest.

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496 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes496

Newest first

Oct 17, 2020 · 1 hr 2 min
If a man yells in a forest and no one listens... is it a podcast?
*Big WWE Q3 preview: New CFO Kristina Salen debuts, Will Vince have an easier time talking ratings?, Will online merch sales remain strong? *WWE extends its deal with Amway Center in Orlando *Total Bellas gets renewed *How did the WWE's draft episodes of Raw and Smackdown affect ratings compared to previous draft episodes? Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Oct 10, 2020 · 1 hr 2 min
We march backwards into the future
The latest in wrestling business news: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis lifts restrictions on sports events, which might WWE could hold WrestleMania in Tampa next spring. What would happen to wrestling if Andrew Yang became Secretary of Labor? The latest on trends in wrestling viewership as WWE NXT and AEW Dynamite went against the Vice Presidential Debate. Finally, we explore the ways in which many of the creative tools used to influence wrestling economics have been diluted. Plus: Has U.S. wrestling adapted creatively for the ways in which the economics have shifted from being primarily a events-based business to a primarily media-driven business? Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Oct 3, 2020 · 1 hr
The pillars of wrestling's future
We've been spending too much time focusing on linear trends in pro-wrestling viewership. There are 3 factors we can study to understand the future of wrestling TV value. Plus the latest on NJPW CEO Harold Meij's resignation from New Japan Pro-Wrestling; WWE taking control of talent third-party video accounts; and WWE EVP Paul Levesque's comments on the suggestion that NXT might move away from Wednesday nights. Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Sep 26, 2020 · 1 hr 1 min
SEC Theater
This podcast contains a dramatic reading of correspondence between the Security and Exchanges Commission and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. SEC Theater soundtrack: https://vimeo.com/273529383 Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Sep 19, 2020 · 57 min
The End of Pax McMahona
On the eve of the opening of the G1 Climax, New Japan's parent company Bushiroad releases its annual financial report. What did we learn about New Japan's fiscal year? A major executive is leaving NBCUniversal. What will it mean for WWE Raw? How did WWE fare against the return of Monday Night Football? And what might wrestling programs learn from viewership trends for Monday Night Football? Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Sep 12, 2020 · 53 min
The bill's coming due
An estimate of AEW pay-per-view buys for All Out 2020 and for every PPV in the short history of All Elite Wrestling so far. Plus, more news on WWE's objection to wrestlers monetizing third-party video platforms, including comments from an interview with Andrew Yang. Listener questions brings Brandon Thurston to make an attempt estimating AEW's full financial picture, including annual revenue for 2020. Is AEW really profitable already? How much of an effect with the return of Monday Night Football have on WWE Raw beginning next week? Watch Chris Van Vliet's full interview with Andrew Yang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I1WhXBxrUw Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Read Brandon's written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Sep 5, 2020 · 58 min
Secretary of Labor
Andrew Yang tweets notwithstanding, does WWE really have the rights to its talent legal names? Vince McMahon is reportedly threatening to punish talent unless they stop using third-party monetized platforms like Cameo and Twitch. What's motivating this move? Brandon Thurston explains. Then, will NXT move away from its head-to-head competition with AEW Dynamite on Wednesdays? Does USA Network really want to compete with AEW as much as WWE does? All that and more. Plus, a theory on how some wrestling booms work. Maybe star power wasn't the only major factor. Read Brandon's written work at wrestlenomics.com Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Follow Brandon Thurston on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandonThurston Support on Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Aug 29, 2020 · 57 min
Estimate the Thunderdome
TV production for WWE likely just got more expensive with the introduction of the Thunderdome. Brandon Thurston explains his latest estimate of WWE finances for the remainder of the year. Plus, it was an unusual week in TV viewership as Raw and Smackdown did their biggest audiences in months, NXT ran unopposed, and AEW was preempted into other time-slots. Which Japanese wrestling companies are profitable? Not many of them, and New Japan greatly outpaces them all. Finally we close with a prediction about what the wrestling business will look like a few years from now. For Brandon's written work visit http://wrestlenomics.com Follow Wrestlenomics at http://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Follow Brandon at http://twitter.com/brandonthurston Support on Patreon on http://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Aug 22, 2020 · 46 min
No off-color comments
The ThunderDome Era of the Coronavirus Era is upon us. How much will it cost WWE? I don't know. How much will it eat into WWE's profits? We'll get an idea soon. How hyped is Kevin Dunn about drone cameras? Very. As AEW is bringing ticketed fans into Daily's Place, we consider where Japan was with COVID-19 when New Japan decided to bring fans back into venues. Who's a draw and why is it sometimes a bad question? All that and more. Signup now for the Wrestlenomics Patreon today. You won't be charged $5 monthly until October 1: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics Why is Orange Cassidy Popular? https://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2020/08/20/why-is-orange-cassidy-popular/ Read Brandon's latest written work at https://wrestlenomics.com Follow Wrestlenomics on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wrestlenomics Follow Brandon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/brandonthurston Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Aug 15, 2020 · 1 hr 10 min
Passive engagement
"The people who would supposedly never stop watching beginning to stop watching. Brandon Thurston looks at the results of the Wreddit Census from 2020 and 2019 and how they may be an informative supplement to linear TV viewership data. What will happen if the timing of WWE and AEW's TV rights negotiations end up coinciding a couple years from now? Plus, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of WWE and AEW. Visit wrestlenomics.com Follow Brandon Thurston at twitter.com/brandonthurston Follow Wrestlenomics at twitter.com/wrestlenomics" Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Aug 8, 2020 · 39 min
The Best of WWE Excuses
After helping WWE complete major increases in the value of its U.S. TV deals, WWE has hired Nick Khan to be its new President and Chief Revenue Officer. His hiring, and the introduction of other executives like new CFO Kristina Salen, comes as TV viewership is in unprecedented decline and there's ambiguity whether the popularity of the brand is being hindered by COVID-19, or by some broader problem with creative. Plus, a study of quarter-hour data shows there are certain quarters that are likely to gain viewers. Unlike NXT's women's roster, women on AEW's roster seldom appear in those viewer-friendly quarters. Are women in AEW not put in those positions because they're not over, or are they not over because they're not put in those positions? For more visit wrestlenomics.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 31, 2020 · 50 min
WWE Q2 2020 Earnings Report: Compelling Content
Avid reader of SEC filings Brandon Thurston breaks down the WWE Q2 2020 earnings report as only he can. We look at all the news as the company was even more profitable than the market expected, leading to an increase in shares in after market trading. Plus: How did Vince McMahon respond to questions about declining TV viewership? Online merchandise sales are way up. Live Event business is almost non-existent to due COVID. Yet the company is more profitable than ever. In fact, WWE is so profitable that executives (yes, those very executives who cut costs and laid off workers in April) are thinking about resuming the company's stock buyback program. For more, go to wrestlenomics.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 25, 2020 · 1 hr 25 min
Why Comcast should buy WWE
How should we read TV viewership declines in 2020? How low do viewer metrics have to be for it become a concern for WWE's TV partners like Fox and USA Network? Plus, Brandon Thurston lays out an argument for why the acquisition of WWE by Comcast (while unlikely) would be in the best interest of partners, shareholders, and fans. Referenced in this episode: Ad Age Remotely: WWE Chief Brand Officer on pivoting during the pandemic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAgAyqBNHwg Vince McMahon's 1991 letter in The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/14/sports/backtalk-world-wrestling-federation-answers-body-slams.html For more information, go to wrestlenomics.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 18, 2020 · 1 hr 7 min
The life and times of the key demo
What matters when it comes to wrestling TV viewership? Brandon Thurston talks about the coveted key demo, total audience, and TV rights fees. The number of wrestlers working 10 or more matches for major companies exploded in recent years. What does it mean for independent wrestling? Plus: Stephanie McMahon talks about the gender pay gap, Florida takes the lead in COVID19 cases, NBCU launches Peacock with WWE content, a preview of the upcoming WWE Q2 earnings report, and more. For articles and resources from the leading source for wrestling business analysis, visit wrestlenomics.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 11, 2020 · 57 min
WWE has a new Chief Financial Officer
The foremost independent expert in pro-wrestling business, Brandon Thurston breaks down the most pressing news stories of the week. *Comments from Paul Levesque downplay WWE's COVID test results as reportedly more than 30 people test positive for the virus, and cases rise in Florida. *WWE announces the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer, former Etsy CFO Kristina Salen. *WWE viewership doom watch: detailed insight on viewership for the big programs and an explanation about why it's unlikely the current TV deals will change any time soon. Take the Pro-wrestling Favorability Survey at wrestlenomics.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jul 4, 2020 · 57 min
The scales of Moxley and Cena
What can we learn from Google web search data related to the biggest stars in WWE and AEW? Why is the linear wrestling audience so old? Is it representative of the actual consumer base or skewed by media choices? Plus, Brandon Thurston goes into detail talking about research he recently did breaking down the quarter-hour data in the Wednesday night competition between NXT and AEW. More for written articles and resources go to wrestlenomics.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 28, 2020 · 39 min
Wrestling before and after COVID: Speaking Out movement, COVID19 testing
We go through the facts from the news transpiring from the Speaking Out movement, as numerous stories of sexual assault and other misconduct where made public in the past week. Then, as many as 30 people within WWE reportedly have contracted COVID-19 after the company has declined to administer COVID testing until recently. Visit wrestlenomics.com for Brandon Thurston's latest written work and access to a great collection of data and resources related to the wrestling business. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 20, 2020 · 1 hr 12 min
Class-action lawsuit against WWE over MENA TV rights
We learned of an update in the complaint filed by a pension leading a class-action lawsuit against WWE. The plaintiffs claim WWE and its executives failed to disclose information to stockholders as the company’s deal with Middle East North Africa TV partners OSN ended early, and an attempt to make a deal with Saudi-owned MBC faltered. Numerous stories of abuse and sexual misconduct in the wrestling industry have appeared online in what’s being called the #SpeakingOut movement. Plus the latest on COVID-19, as a talent tests positive, NJPW returns to events, and Dragon Gate is set to have its first event with fans, in July. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 13, 2020 · 58 min
The importance of new stars
Wrestling stars who spike business usually do so soon after being elevated to main event status for the first time in their career. We explore this and the news of the last week or so, including: -New Japan announces its return to events -Triple H on why WWE isn't doing COVID-19 testing, and his new executive title -MLW signs with DAZN -The new free tier for the WWE Network means the end of free trials -Was WWE Network really as profitable as Stephane McMahon said recently? References: Stephanie McMahon “CMO Moves” interview: https://soundcloud.com/user-204678039/stephanie-mcmahon-cbo-of-wwe-staying-slightly-ahead-of-the-curve Paul Levesque pre-NXT Takeover media conference (via Fightful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaAYXe3sDmg Paul Levesque post-NXT Takeover media conference (via Fightful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr4v6AtrDxI COVID-19 country data: ourworldindata.org Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/96dd742462124fa0b38ddedb9b25e429 WWE proxy statement 2019: https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/wwe/SEC/sec-show.aspx?FilingId=13989063&Cik=0001091907&Type=PDF&hasPdf=1 MLW signs deal with DAZN: https://www.f4wonline.com/mlw-news/mlw-signs-us-streaming-deal-dazn-312911 Vince McMahon email to staff: https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=136910 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Jun 7, 2020 · 34 min
A letter to white innocence
As people across the U.S. protest racism and police brutality, we divert from the usual focus on wrestling business. Audio clip sources: -Xavier Woods, UpUpDownDown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmmTyEmCZpE -MVP, Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-QQM4xcLMU0 -James Baldwin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwhNWPLVF-Q | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmL3F5uylo -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xsbt3a7K-8 -Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, “Tears We Cannot Stop”: https://www.audible.com/pd/Tears-We-Cannot-Stop-Audiobook/ -Toni Morrison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2txzMkT5Pc -Nikki Giovanni: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikpa5o3cu3Y -Malcolm X: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_uYWDyYNUg Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy