WWE News: More Budget Cuts And Filming Delayed, Expected $20 Million To Be Cut

Vince McMahon is at it again, cutting the budget for WWE’s huge loss in May. As we updated you on July 3, big WrestleMania names might be too expensive this year due to major cuts within the entire organization. After the $300 million loss, McMahon and his band of financial gurus sat down to discuss what to cut, who to cut, and where to cut.

In a big update, more filming is being delayed for the WWE Network in an ongoing effort to release more strain to the budget. There is an expected $20 million to be cut.

“According to sources, the second season of WWE Legends House is now up in the air as well. If they even do a second season, it will be delayed. There are people close to the filming of season one who are under the impression that there won’t even be a second season due to the ongoing budget cuts.”

What exactly does this entail for the future of WWE?

The new season of Tough Enough has already been delayed until October. It will be shot at the WWE Performance Center. Tough Enough ‘s comeback season took place in 2011, when Andy Leavine won the competition. Since being released in 2012, Leavine now works with World Wrestling Council.

As the budget continues to shrink, more opportunities will diminish with it. Logically speaking, the more money WWE makes, big spending will be back with ease. Imagine Brock Lesnar’s deal, if he wishes to renew at the end of his current deal. Could WWE even match what is in his head?

Guys like Lesnar and the Rock aren’t cheap. Speaking of Rock’s payday, he receives a percentage of the pay-per-view buy rates, instead of a flat fee. If WrestleMania 28 and 29 exploded with buys, the Rock gets paid more. Often times the percentage, if harder, on WWE’s pocketbook than a flat rate.

It’s all one continuous and monotonous variable that stems from the product being put out for the WWE Universe to judge and critique. Love him or hate him, but John Cena is making the company money right now, that wasn’t being done in May.

Below are the last five episodes of RAW ‘s TV audience numbers:

• June 2: 4.14 million average
• June 9: 4.12 million average
• June 16: 4.00 million average
• June 23: 4.03 million average
• June 30: 4.33 million average

Numbers are slowly climbing after the Payback pay-per-view’s following RAW started to take a dip in the ratings. The summer-storylines usually bring in viewers by the millions back to the product. Lesnar returning will allow old fans to watch, as well as MMA enthusiast that followed Lesnar during his UFC days.

The more demographics hit by WWE, the better. Something needs to change, so WWE can go back to spending more money to make money. It will be the most turbulent summer that WWE has encountered in quite some time. We will keep you up to date on the continuing-budget cuts, because they are not done by a long shot.