WOR: WWE Cutting Back on Bringing in Extras

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Meltzer mentioned on Observer Radio that WWE had planned to bring in extras from the Texas indies for some of their upcoming shows but ended up calling and cancelling on them due to budgetary reasons. This has been a common practice where they hit up local indies before a TV taping to have some extras ready for segments/to help out for random tasks. These are the guys you would typically see as security guards for example. The one pitfall that Dave saw was that Vince could easily book a segment the day of the show that requires extras and they won't have any and will need to scramble to get guys in within a few hours. 

[This Player Hating Mothman]

What is the purpose of penny pinching this extreme? That there's no room in the budget for extras on your weekly television show.

[Deleted]

At this point you might as well just cut the roster down to six people who have three or four masks they rotate between to create different jobbers and tag teams.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Jul 13, 2021 23:23:06 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

At this point you might as well just cut the roster down to six people who have three or four masks they rotate between to create different jobbers and tag teams.

The world’s first billion-dollar shindie wrestling fed.

[lildude8218]

Extras were getting $500 a piece plus catering whether they were used or not as of a few years ago when I had a friend who was an extra on both Raw and Smackdown but wasn't used.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jul 13, 2021 23:23:06 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

At this point you might as well just cut the roster down to six people who have three or four masks they rotate between to create different jobbers and tag teams.

Like when CHIKARA had masked jobbers, named like headlock harry.

[Deleted]

Jul 13, 2021 23:33:10 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

Extras were getting $500 a piece plus catering whether they were used or not as of a few years ago when I had a friend who was an extra on both Raw and Smackdown but wasn't used.

I remember when a friend of mine at the local gym told me that he was the dude they used to break one of those cars back when Lesnar wrecked HBK in that Trips feud. I thought he was bullshitting but next thing I know he's a jobber in one of those early Ryback squash matches. I really do wonder if they've just been getting the $500 or if they've even been getting paid less or more.

[Chiral]

"My Nick Khan got that hellhole running so efficiently that all the physical labor is now done by a single Australian man."

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Jul 13, 2021 23:51:48 GMT -5 Chiral said:

"My Nick Khan got that hellhole running so efficiently that all the physical labor is now done by a single Australian man."

Poor Slapjack.

[BatPunk]

Could be part of the PC visit. They have so many people twining there, why do the need to hire extras.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Jul 14, 2021 0:17:42 GMT -5 BatPunk said:

Could be part of the PC visit. They have so many people twining there, why do the need to hire extras.

The problem with using PC talent is that NXT contracts cover travel expenses so you're paying to fly them out every week you need them versus just giving a local indie guy $500 for a night of work.

[Dub H]

Jul 13, 2021 23:15:50 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

What is the purpose of penny pinching this extreme? That there's no room in the budget for extras on your weekly television show.

Right?Like what story-based tv show doesnt hire extras?

The name may be misleading for WWE,as extras are pretty important

[Bo Rida]

This is yet another example of wwe knowing the price but not the value.

How many on the roster first appeared as extras? Aside from the practical benefits it puts talent on wwe's radar, gives the extra an idea of how things work and makes their path more tangible, paid work experience that benefits everyone. Even the money might stop a future main-eventer quitting the business.

[thelonewolf527]

Jul 13, 2021 23:33:10 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

Extras were getting $500 a piece plus catering whether they were used or not as of a few years ago when I had a friend who was an extra on both Raw and Smackdown but wasn't used.

I guess if they got 10 extras that's 5,000 dollars a TV taping, so 10,000 x 50 = 500,000 dollars a year

[A Platypus Rave]

Jul 14, 2021 1:57:09 GMT -5 thelonewolf527 said:

Jul 13, 2021 23:33:10 GMT -5 lildude8218 said:

Extras were getting $500 a piece plus catering whether they were used or not as of a few years ago when I had a friend who was an extra on both Raw and Smackdown but wasn't used.

I guess if they got 10 extras that's 5,000 dollars a TV taping, so 10,000 x 50 = 500,000 dollars a year

which is still probably cheaper than flying NXT talents to do job work... and it has the benefit of you know... not jobbing potential future talent.

[eJm]

Jul 14, 2021 2:32:22 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Jul 14, 2021 1:57:09 GMT -5 thelonewolf527 said:

I guess if they got 10 extras that's 5,000 dollars a TV taping, so 10,000 x 50 = 500,000 dollars a year

which is still probably cheaper than flying NXT talents to do job work... and it has the benefit of you know... not jobbing potential future talent.

People mention it but that’s why I don’t get this either if true. Like, not trying to say how to run a billion dollar company but hiring a few extras a year to do stuff for your show, giving you more options for stories and scouting talent without setting up a whole event, isn’t going to ruin them. It just isn’t.

And getting NXT talent to replace them? Like, you’re going to have to put the work to revamp them right away because you made your PC talent who was on NXT last week a security guard which, worse case scenario, might conflict with something they did on that show. Or at the very least, some people will go “Wait, they’re signed to WWE? So they weren’t a real security guard/how did that happen?” and just messes with stuff.

[The Thread Barbi]

So no more zombie invasions?

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Jul 14, 2021 4:32:20 GMT -5 eJm said:

Jul 14, 2021 2:32:22 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

which is still probably cheaper than flying NXT talents to do job work... and it has the benefit of you know... not jobbing potential future talent.

People mention it but that’s why I don’t get this either if true. Like, not trying to say how to run a billion dollar company but hiring a few extras a year to do stuff for your show, giving you more options for stories and scouting talent without setting up a whole event, isn’t going to ruin them. It just isn’t.

And getting NXT talent to replace them? Like, you’re going to have to put the work to revamp them right away because you made your PC talent who was on NXT last week a security guard which, worse case scenario, might conflict with something they did on that show. Or at the very least, some people will go “Wait, they’re signed to WWE? So they weren’t a real security guard/how did that happen?” and just messes with stuff.

Also, if they are flying out prospects each week to the host city to take part in extra work, that's two days a pop that they aren't at their million dollar training facility, effectively undermining the investment of the Performance Center.

[Zombie Mod is not a ghoul.]

Jul 14, 2021 4:48:37 GMT -5 The Thread Barbi said:

So no more zombie invasions?

theres now zombies freely roaming the u.s. wrestling scene?

so thats how the zombie invasion started in the walking dead

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I like others am really curious what they are really trying to save budget on after a RECORD BREAKING PROFIT YEAR.

Like the moves and cuts WWE is doing would lead you to believe that they are in financial trouble and need to severely cut back but the numbers that come out about them do not add up to that. The sudden rise of Nick Khan to power and the downright ruthless cutting of the finances leads me to believe something is truly up here. Every other day we're hearing about cuts to some division of them.