The Pepsi Center Takes Aim At WWE - Statement

The Associated Press released an article noting that WWE confirmed they would be moving this Monday's Raw to Los Angeles at the Staples Center. While the article was headlined with "WWE, NBA Reach Settlement", there is nothing in the actual piece that gives that impression, only noting that the Staples Center reached out to the company offering to help with the conflict. The article also noted that WWE would return to the Denver Coliseum on Friday 8/7, the venue offered to the company for Raw. WWE turned that venue down due to the logistical issues of moving the taping into a smaller facility than originally anticipated. There is still no word on how WWE expects to fill the Staples Center for Raw with less than a week's notice.

The following statement was posted on the official website of the Pepsi Center:

Kroenke Sports Enterprises announced Wednesday that despite reaching an agreement in principal with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon on Tuesday afternoon, a formal agreement could not be reached to reschedule the WWE Monday Night RAW event originally scheduled for Monday, May 25.

As of 4:30pm MDT on Tuesday, May 19, KSE believed that it had used its best efforts to meet WWE's terms for rescheduling the event to this Sunday night, May 24 at Pepsi Center. The new terms were very favorable to WWE and the KSE team believed Mr. McMahon was on board with the new deal that would have allowed Denver fans to enjoy the event.

However, McMahon apparently changed plans overnight and has now decided to move the event to Los Angeles. The event is now scheduled to take place at STAPLES Center on Monday. Fans with tickets for the Denver show will be able to receive refunds at the original point of purchase beginning Thursday, May 21 at 10am.

"Despite the propaganda campaign launched by WWE and Chairman Vince McMahon, the KSE team maintained a professional manner throughout this process. We had hoped for, and worked hard toward an amicable resolution - which we verbally had on Tuesday," said KSE Executive Vice President Paul Andrews. "We understand there will be many disappointed WWE fans in the Denver area. It's unfortunate and disappointing that WWE executives ultimately chose this path. The sensationalism employed by WWE in this instance is not surprising. The amount of publicity and coverage enjoyed by their group over the last few days has clearly become their new business goal instead of finalizing what we thought was a favorable solution and would have ultimately allowed their fans to attend the event."

credit: wrestlingattitude.com

It's good the Pepsi Center didn't allow WWE to air their show, because Vince McMahon is the devil, HHH is the Anti-Christ and WWE isn't wrestling, not like TNA. TNA IS wrestling because they have STING! The STAPLES Center can have WWE marks!

Oh yeah, Sunday Night Raw...it just rolls off the tongue and sounds reasonable for the WWE right? If I was WWE, I wouldn't bother doing business with KSE anymore and went with an all or nothing proposal instead of returning on Friday. They were completely in the right and didn't need to accomodate anyone.

Bolty B wrote:

It's good the Pepsi Center didn't allow WWE to air their show, because Vince McMahon is the devil, HHH is the Anti-Christ and WWE isn't wrestling, not like TNA. TNA IS wrestling because they have STING! The STAPLES Center can have WWE marks!

This wasn't funny when Sykesy did it months ago and it isn't funny now. Move on please.

I think that they expected the WWE to film it and not air it live and Vince loves having Raw live. So moving it to LA is probably better for WWE.

I'd fully expect them handing out free tickets like TNA does just to fill the arena and say they "sold out" the event.

babaganoosh wrote:

I'd fully expect them handing out free tickets like TNA does just to fill the arena and say they "sold out" the event.

and don't forget, that WCW did that, too.

But this is LA, it's a big city, I think they will legit sell out.

Big city yes, but how many people can really free up the time in less than a week's notice to go to Raw? Things that I'm paying quite a bit of money for that will eat up like 3 or 4 hours of my time, it's not a really impulsive decision that I'd be making.