In a recent interview with Fightful, CJ Perry commented the business considerations at promotions like WWE, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On the business considerations at promotions like WWE: “If it’s Tony Khan or if it’s Vince, at the end of the day, they’re the directors and the producers and the CEOs of this story. It’s at least $100,000 per minute that they’re on television, maybe more now at this point. But I remember in 2020 hearing, I believe from TJ and Nattie, that Vince said that it’s $100,000 a minute to be on USA. So I think, again, this is where savage business comes into it. Are you worth that $100,000 a minute? This is a business at the end of the day. So Vince thought that was good business. It would be naïve of any of us to think he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Yes, we’re younger and we have a youthful opinion to bring to the table, but he has years of experience. So, look, it got me the biggest contract I ever got in my life and I’m very thankful for that. I think that, again, what the Bobby Lashley story taught me is scandal sells. So it doesn’t matter, it still sells. People might hate it, we still made WWE a lot of money. Like our YouTube videos made them a lot of money. This is a business at the end of the day. If it doesn’t translate into sales, if it doesn’t translate into subscriptions, ticket sales, all of that, viewership, then who cares? I’m just hired talent. We’re storytellers. We all know there’s been a ton of affairs and love triangles.”
On the genre of stories that market well: “It’s crazy. It’s crazy. Relationship stories really sell. I know that’s not necessarily AEW’s story style over there, and I think that’s great how it differs. But everyone can relate to that. Most people have all been in love at some point, heart ache, maybe broken up with, backstabbed. So I think that’s all very relatable. I think it’s also really relatable, more gender fluidity right now in this time. Especially with Millennials and Gen-Z specifically. So I think I really resonated with that story. When they pitched it to me, I said, ‘Oh, this totally makes sense.’ I resonated with it. So I found it a little offensive that everyone found it so offensive.”
On if WWE could have run further with the storyline: “Totally. I wish they would have followed up more on it, but again, I’m not the show runner and that’s not my [job]. I would love to be their show runner in the future one day. Or maybe I’ll be Larry, the digital producer [in] AEW. I want to produce and I love that stuff. Again, I take it as I’m hired.”
During a recent appearance on “The MMA Hour” podcast, Rey Mysterio commented on the future of Dragon Lee in WWE and why he believes Lee will “leave a mark.” He said,
“I’ve been watching Dragon Lee and how he’s been growing. The fact that he’s now brought up to SmackDown and is no longer part of NXT. He has a lot of potential to grow and be his own person. I’ve always said it’s very hard to duplicate someone. You’re never going to find another Undertaker, Kane, Eddie [Eddie Guerrero], Rey. When Dragon Lee makes his mark, and he will, he’s going to become his version of Rey Mysterio.”
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The Business Considerations at Promotions like WWE
Professional wrestling is not just about the in-ring action and the larger-than-life characters. Behind the scenes, there are numerous business considerations that play a crucial role in the success of promotions like WWE. In a recent interview with Fightful, CJ Perry, also known as Lana in WWE, shed some light on these considerations and provided valuable insights into the inner workings of the industry.
One of the key factors discussed by Perry was the financial aspect of being on television. According to her, it costs at least $100,000 per minute to be on television, and this figure might even be higher now. This highlights the immense financial investment that promotions like WWE make to produce their shows. It also raises the question of whether a performer is worth that investment. Perry acknowledged that Vince McMahon, the CEO of WWE, knows what he is doing and has years of experience in the industry. She credited him for securing her the biggest contract of her career and emphasized that WWE is ultimately a business.
Perry also touched upon the importance of scandalous storylines in generating revenue for WWE. She mentioned that scandal sells, regardless of whether people love or hate it. The Bobby Lashley storyline, which involved a love triangle with Perry’s character Lana and Rusev, garnered significant attention and made WWE a lot of money through YouTube views and other avenues. This demonstrates the power of storytelling and how controversial narratives can captivate audiences and translate into financial success for the promotion.
Furthermore, Perry highlighted the popularity of relationship stories in wrestling. She noted that most people can relate to love, heartache, and betrayal, making these narratives highly relatable and marketable. However, she acknowledged that different promotions have their own storytelling styles, with AEW, for example, focusing less on relationship-driven plots. Perry found it offensive that some fans were critical of the controversial storyline she was involved in, as she believed it resonated with many viewers.
When asked if WWE could have done more with the storyline, Perry expressed her desire for further development but acknowledged that she is not the showrunner. She revealed her passion for producing and expressed interest in taking on a role as a showrunner or digital producer in the future. This highlights the multifaceted nature of the wrestling industry, where performers often aspire to contribute creatively behind the scenes as well.
In a separate interview, Rey Mysterio discussed the future of Dragon Lee in WWE. Mysterio praised Lee’s potential for growth and predicted that he would make his mark in the industry. This emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent and providing opportunities for them to shine, as each performer brings their unique qualities and can leave a lasting impact on the wrestling landscape.
In conclusion, the business considerations at promotions like WWE are crucial for their success. Financial investments, scandalous storylines, relatable narratives, and talent development all play significant roles in driving revenue and captivating audiences. The insights provided by CJ Perry and Rey Mysterio shed light on the intricate workings of the wrestling industry and highlight the diverse aspects that contribute to its ongoing popularity.