Vince McMahon Bans More WWE Terms - Full Details On Why Inside
? In its first week out, the WWE Unforgiven DVD finished in second place on Billboard's Video Sales – Recreational Sports DVD, behind a DVD on NHL player Sidney Crosby. WWE's only other title on the chart is that of Mr. Perfect. The Rock DVD finally fell off the chart after being on it every single week since its release in June.
? Here are notes on WWE's viewership in the UK. For the week ending October 12, the live Raw drew 32,000 viewers. Thursday's replay of the show drew 56,000 and the Friday replay drew 55,000. SmackDown drew 55,000 viewers on a Friday and 44,000 for the next day's replay. TNA nor UFC did significant numbers.
? We reported yesterday that WWE informed all of their announcers this week to refer to talent as "entertainers" instead of wrestlers or even Superstars effective immediately. In addition to this new rule, Vince McMahon has also banned the use of the term "sports entertainment" and is now just being referred to as "entertainment."
According to numerous sources, the decision is part of a organized plan of attack towards getting WWE as a company re-classified as an entertainment touring event, as posed to a legitimate sporting event. The internal hope within WWE management is that by doing this, they will take power away from the Athletic Commissions in certain States and keep the company from having to pay taxes on their events.
Obviously, this would also have the company benefit of preventing WWE from being held to the letter of the law in States like Georgia, who's Athletic Commission is looking at putting stricter restrictions on the professional wrestling industry following the Chris Benoit incident. We'll have to see what comes of this and whether the strategy could even work, but that's why the change was made.