Photo: Sports Business Journal
WWE President Nick Khan told staff on Monday in a town hall that WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque will continue in his role as head of creative, according to sources who viewed the town hall and informed POST Wrestling. We also obtained audio of the call.
“A number of us [TKO President] Mark [Shapiro], [TKO CFO] Andrew [Schleimer], others, were able to get Paul Levesque to extend with us in a multi-year deal,” Khan said. “We’re excited about that. He’s the head of creative amongst other things and has been doing a great job for and with us.”
Khan also addressed online criticism of WWE during the town hall, after being prompted by a question read by Shapiro, asking how WWE is addressing “concerns about over-commercialization and creative direction.”
Khan pushed back on recent criticism of WWE’s product, characterizing it as coming from “a vocal minority.”
“To me, if you make business decisions based on online sentiment, just know that you’re going to be making said decisions on a minority percentage of voices, a vocal minority,” Khan told staff.
“Allow me to give you an example,” he said as he seemed to read online criticisms of years’ past.
Khan read what he said was a comment about Roman Reigns from six years earlier: “I can’t remember the last time the WWE Universe hated a wrestler this much. He will never work.”
The WWE President when on to recount the negative fan reaction to Reigns after his Royal Rumble 2015 win.
“When Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble in 2015, fans when to Twitter with the hashtag, #CancelWWENetwork. It trended for two days.”
Vince McMahon used the same “vocal minority” phrase at the time when he downplayed the reaction to that year’s Rumble event.
Khan read what he said was a tweet: “Why does WWE insult fans like this with a bum like Roman Reigns?”
He read another response related to Bad Bunny: “I’m losing my mind. Why is Bad Bunny in the WWE? Bad Bunny single-handedly ruined the Royal Rumble,” a comment that seems to refer to Bad Bunny’s involvement in the 2022 Rumble.
Khan continued: “On The Rock’s return to WWE: ‘The people don’t want the People’s Champion. The Rock came back one too many times, and now people are sick of him.’”
Next, Khan cited criticism of John Cena, continuing to frame these criticisms as unrelated to business results.
“On John Cena’s retirement tour: ‘Who needs a John Cena retirement tour? Haven’t we seen enough of him? … John Cena’s retirement year was so random.”
Then he turned to online comments about CM Punk.
“Last, on CM Punk: ‘Why would they ever return this bum to the WWE? He will never main event again.’”
Khan referred to comments Shapiro made earlier in the call about online sentiment that showed Night 2 of WrestleMania was more favorably received than Night 1. Khan praised the headlining talent.
“I said CM Punk, Roman Reigns, as anyone who watched it [knows], stole the show,” Khan said. “Pretty good re-signing CM Punk, who’s been a model citizen here.”
While discounting online reactions from fans, Khan also encouraged internal dialogue.
“So the most important thing is to have open dialogue. Myself, Paul, the creative team, what’s working, what’s not working, who to push, who not to push.”
WWE communications staff did not respond to a request to comment from POST Wrestling.