WWE President Nick Khan joined Bill Simmons for a wide-ranging interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast, revealed Friday, at some point earlier than WrestleMania 42 begins at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Khan discussed the corporate’s plans for the weekend, its long-term talent growth technique, the return of managers, the state of Zuffa Boxing, and more.
On returning to Las Vegas for a second consecutive yr
Khan defined the choice to maintain WrestleMania in Las Vegas for the second straight yr, citing the town’s infrastructure, hospitality capability, and geographic comfort for media and leisure executives.
“There’s no city that can handle that quantity of people better than Las Vegas can.”
Khan famous that the choice was additionally influenced by media trade geography. With Disney, Netflix, and most main leisure firms based mostly on the West Coast, Las Vegas affords easy accessibility for key stakeholders. He praised the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and its government Steve Hill for the execution of main occasions within the metropolis.
He additionally emphasised the significance of scheduling WrestleMania away from competing main sporting occasions, noting that this yr’s date avoids the Final Four and different conflicts. Khan pointed to WWE’s broader scheduling philosophy, which has seen premium reside occasions repositioned to benefit from gaps within the sports activities calendar — the Royal Rumble now occupying the open weekend between the convention championships and the Super Bowl being one outstanding instance.
Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar opening Sunday evening on ESPN
Khan confirmed that Sunday evening’s WrestleMania card will open with Oba Femi going through Brock Lesnar, airing on ESPN and ESPN Unlimited throughout the first hour.
Saturday evening’s first hour will air on ESPN 2 and ESPN Unlimited, with the rest of each nights accessible on different platforms.
Khan described the match as a deliberate alternative to highlight a brand new technology of talent towards a longtime identify.
“It’s a match when Paul [Levesque] and I sat together with a number of other folks said, this seems to have a bit of a hot hand here. Let’s start big. New versus old, a lot of good stuff, a lot of good angles.”
He praised the work each performers have performed within the construct, singling out Oba Femi’s promo with Paul Heyman on the Raw go-home present.
Accelerating NXT talent growth
Khan revealed that the choice to take NXT on the highway was a deliberate response to considerations concerning the getting old of WWE’s prime male talent. He stated that roughly a yr in the past, he and Triple H visited the WWE Performance Center to meet with Shawn Michaels and Matt Bloom, who oversee NXT operations on a day-to-day foundation.
Khan stated they assessed the highest male roster — Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Brock Lesnar, and Drew McIntyre — and famous that each one are 40 years previous or older.
“We said, all right, we got to make sure we’re preparing for the future here.”
Michaels instructed them that NXT wanted to tour to ensure that youthful talent to obtain genuine crowd reactions and find out how to work completely different markets. Khan stated they permitted the request inside per week and NXT started touring shortly after. He credited that call with accelerating the event of Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans, amongst others.
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk
Khan recognized the Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk match as one of the vital compelling storylines heading into the weekend, noting that Punk himself acknowledged on the go-home present that that is his first one-on-one WrestleMania essential occasion match.
He addressed the broader query of Punk’s longevity and the accountability each performers share in speaking when their our bodies can not maintain essential event-level work.
“The good thing with him and with Brock and with Cena last year is they’ve all been quite responsible in their life. So the conversation of, hey, you, Brock, or now Punk, you have to tell us when you start feeling like, I’m not going the way that I used to go. Tell us and let’s figure out something else for you.”
Khan acknowledged Punk’s damage historical past this decade, together with the torn tricep at his first Royal Rumble again, however stated that since returning 9 months later, Punk has carried out at what Khan described as an “A-plus level.”
Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker accidents
Khan addressed the accidents to each Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, acknowledging that Breakker was on a big trajectory earlier than taking place.
When Simmons requested whether or not Breakker was deliberate for a significant match on the WrestleMania card, Khan stopped in need of confirming particular plans however didn’t deny it.
“There was a major push behind him. That was evident, and we hadn’t finalized WrestleMania matches or order of matches at that moment.”
Khan praised the Seth Rollins fake-injury-to-real-injury arc, calling the unique work “one of the greatest works of all time” earlier than noting the unlucky actuality {that a} reliable damage adopted. He described these conditions as analogous to any sports activities franchise coping with in-season accidents that may alter the course of a whole marketing campaign.
Biggest WWE stars by 2033
Simmons requested Khan to establish who could be the corporate’s largest star by 2033. Khan supplied a number of names:
Rhea Ripley was his first reply. Khan famous she remains to be in her late 20s and already occupies a prime place within the firm. He stated she passes what he calls “the room test” — whether or not a performer appears like a significant presence after they stroll to the ring.
“She has a chance. She’s already up there. She also passes, though, when you’re in the room test, does this person feel like a major person just walked down the runway into the ring? No question. She has it.”
Logan Paul was Khan’s second choose. He confirmed Paul is now full-time with WWE, having simply turned 30. Khan praised his work ethic and dedication to the enterprise.
Bron Breakker was talked about with the caveat that WWE can not rush his growth.
Oba Femi was described as an apparent candidate.
Trick Williams drew specific reward. Khan stated he values that Williams is a former SEC athlete, understands media inherently, and possesses authenticity.
“I always look for people whose inner voice matches their outer voice. Trick Williams is Trick Williams.”
The return of managers
Khan confirmed that WWE is actively working to broaden using managers, one thing Simmons stated he had advocated for repeatedly in conversations with Khan through the years.
Khan stated that in the identical Performance Center go to the place NXT touring was mentioned, he and Triple H instructed Michaels and Bloom to establish performers who could not have long-term in-ring futures however who excel on the microphone, and to develop them towards managerial or different on-camera roles.
He mentioned Pat McAfee’s potential transition right into a heel supervisor function and confirmed that Stephen A. Smith has expressed curiosity in a managerial function, noting that Smith particularly desires to play a heel character.
“He would be a phenomenal manager. He’s, and he wants to be a heel. Most people say they want to be heels. He really wants to be heel.”
Khan and Simmons briefly mentioned the best managers of all time, with each citing Paul Heyman and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan as their prime picks.
On changing into an on-screen character
When requested whether or not he would ever seem as an on-screen character, Khan was emphatic.
“Never. That will never happen. Never, ever, ever. I’m a behind the scenes guy.”
He drew a parallel to his prior profession as an agent, throughout which he prevented public-facing media appearances, believing his identify ought to solely seem “after pay to the order of.”
ESPN
Khan acknowledged that the combination with ESPN stays a brand new expertise for longtime followers. Simmons described it as “still weird” to see WWE protection on Sports activitiesCenter.
Khan framed it as a pure evolution, noting that WWE was as soon as on UPN and the Nashville Network and is now on Netflix, USA, and ESPN.
“It’s worked out, in my opinion, great for the consumer, great for the company, great for our athletes, in terms of their potential to cross over.”
He credited Jimmy Pitaro at ESPN and Bela Bajaria at Netflix because the respective driving forces behind the WWE offers at these firms, noting the significance of getting the decision-makers at companion firms be real champions of the connection.
Zuffa Boxing Update: Conor Benn and Legislative Goals
Khan offered an replace on Zuffa Boxing, the TKO-owned boxing enterprise. He stated he’s “happy with how we’ve started it” and requested for endurance, saying the initiative wants a few years to be correctly evaluated.
He mentioned the latest Conor Benn struggle with Regis Prograis in London, noting the opponent was coping with a number of accidents however calling Benn “game.” Khan outlined his view of the legislative objectives tied to the Muhammad Ali Enhancement Act, together with coaching camp insurance coverage for fighters and minimal per-round pay.
On the broader boxing panorama, Khan stated the purpose is to replicate a league-like construction comparable to what exists within the UFC and WWE, the place the most effective persistently struggle the most effective and there’s programming consistency.
Middle East state of affairs
Khan addressed the continuing battle within the Middle East and its impact on WWE’s worldwide plans, noting that some beforehand deliberate occasions within the area have been affected.
“Number one, we’d never send our wrestlers, our crew, anybody into an unsafe environment.”
He stated the state of affairs has not but materially affected the corporate’s broader plans however characterised the method as “wait and see.” He famous that companions like Turki Alalshikh have continued to function occasions elsewhere, together with the latest Netflix card from Tottenham Stadium in London.
Economic considerations
When Simmons requested about his largest worry for the subsequent 18 months, Khan pointed to broader financial considerations.
“I think the middle class started getting squeezed 10 years ago. So people with money are fortunate and they have a lot of disposable income. Those things can always affect any business.”
However, he expressed confidence within the reside occasion enterprise, saying that post-COVID shopper habits has shifted decisively towards experiences over materials items. He reported that WWE’s attendance dip has been within the single-digit share vary, which he attributed largely to the tip of John Cena’s retirement tour and the pure adjustment interval as the corporate builds its subsequent technology of essential occasion talent.
