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Here's a few examples why:
*WWE's window to negotiate exclusively with NBC-Comcast either ended on 2/1 or will end on 2/15. Once WWE hears NBC's final offer to retain the WWE TV rights, WWE can either choose the new offer or decide to hear offers from other cable entities. While NBC-Comcast will have the right to match those offers, it's going to get really interesting for WWE. They've talked about publicly confirming where they will be going (if anywhere) by April or May with, if needed, the move coming this October. The entire TV landscape for WWE could change really quickly in the coming months and either way, it will be traced back to this month.
*The Network launches in several weeks. Let's face it, come the morning of 2/24 at 9 AM, there will be a race amongst WWE fans to see who can sign up first for the Network. The Video on Demand element will go live at 9 AM while live programming will begin it's 24/7 broadcast once that evening's Monday Night Raw goes off the air. Not since WWE launched Monday Night Raw in January 1993 have we seen a completely game changing move from the company. The entire face of their company and what drives it changes forever in 22 days.
*CM Punk's status is up in the air. WAY up in the air. As of this writing, neither WWE nor Punk are publicly commenting on where he stands, but if the longest reigning WWE champion since Hulk Hogan's first WWF title reign ended is gone, the ripple effect on the company, its marketing, its licensing and creative plans are huge. Perhaps he returns, perhaps he doesn't, but the last week has shown to WWE that this is a major story and major stories don't just disappear without some sort of resolution. What that resolution is and how it comes about - if it ever does - will be something to watch.
*Plans Change. With the Punk exit and the fan outcry for Daniel Bryan, there's been a lot of meetings in the last few days about where WWE is going for Wrestlemania, what could and/or should be changed (if anything) and who should be in what position. With the 30th Wrestlemania being a huge celebration for the company, the hype machine has been rolling already, yet the creative is filled with far more question marks than usual for the show of shows. That creates a really high stakes situation not just for WWE creative, but management and all the talents as well. It's time for all hands on deck.
*Elimination Chamber marks "final" traditional PPV, at least in the United States. WWE will probably end up taking this show as a loss leader as it will end a PPV run that has been going since March 1987. Sure, there will be international distribution and PPVs will still be available via traditional means (at least for now) but when that show is over, the game changes. The genie will be out of the bottle...and WWE won't be able to put him back in.
*WWE NXT Arrival becomes the first WWE Network live special. NXT and WWE developmental will officially put on it's big boy pants and take its place alongside the more mainstream WWE programming this month. With a ton of cameos scheduled, a rematch of the what has been celebrated as the best NXT match of 2013 and Bo Dallas defending his NXT title against Adrian Neville in a Ladder Match, there is a lot to look forward to at "NXT Arrival", a show that will go down in WWE history.
*More WWE Hall of Famers revealed. We've heard discussion of everyone from Scott Hall to the late Paul Bearer to the Wrestlemania 1 main event to Cyndi Lauper mentioned by WWE sources in recent weeks, but as WWE builds to Wrestlemania, equally as interesting are the Hall of Famers who are revealed for the ceremony the night before Mania 30. WWE set the bar beyond high last year, so it should be fascinating to see who they opt to induct this year alongside Ultimate Warrior and Jake Roberts in what Warrior has deemed the "a**hole class."
*Sting in WWE? The negotiations are ongoing, but we'll see whether he actually signs and comes on board. If he does, in any role, it signifies the signing of the last legitimate international star who had never, ever previously worked for WWE. Considering he's been in the business since 1985...that's pretty damn impressive.
Did I mention we haven't even touched upon the Hulk Hogan back in the fold with WWE yet? How's that for proof of an insanely newsworthy month to come?
Wrestlemania is 4/6 but don't overlook tonight's Raw or anything that is going on this month in WWE history. In the years to come, we'll be pinpointing back to February 2014, which could prove to be the most newsworthy change to the pro wrestling landscape since March 2001 when WCW went out of business and ECW filed for bankruptcy shortly afterward.
Mike Johnson can be reached at MikeJohnsonPWInsider@gmail.com.
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