Vice Sports ran a very interesting article about the WWE recently. The article
told of the change to become more family friendly and how that change led to
Shane McMahon leaving. Stephanie McMahon became executive vice-president of
creative but former lead writer Brian Gewirtz says she never wrote anything and
was just the go-between with the writers and Vince. The article reveals that
Vince never really wanted her involved in the writing process at all. We learn
that one of the main reasons NXT exists is so HHH can do the show he wants to
do. The article also reveals that audience attendance at live shows is inflated.
WrestleMania 32 supposedly drew 101,763 fans but the actual paid live attendance
for the event was between 74,000 and 86,000. It confirms that all ideas live and
die at the whims of Vince, who has thrown out a script that had been worked out
for a week on the day of Raw. It tends to burn the writers out and arguing with
Vince over changes can get you fired. But the most amazing thing revealed in the
article is that in 2012 Vince called a surprise meeting at the WWE production
office and at the meeting was Shane. He brought with him author James Frey.
Shane had set up the meeting with VP Kevin Dunn and when he came into the room
Stephanie freaked out. Shane’s proposal was that he took over all of creative,
including the writer's room, with Frey and his team at Full Fathom Five as
consultants. Dunn made the move because HHH and Stephanie want him gone but
Vince doesn’t. Vince declined his son's offer so will never know what would have
happened if he did. Vince then made a series of moves to bring in outside people
none of which lasted two years because Vince, HHH and Stephanie always blame
others for their mistakes. Outsiders say that the main reason WWE financials go
up and down is because Vince always gets in his own way. |