WWE has announced a house show in India for September.
The company announced Monday evening that they will make their debut at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, India on September 8. It will be the first house show in India for WWE since 2017, when a show in New Delhi was headlined by Triple H defeating Jinder Mahal.
Tickets will go on sale for the event starting at noon IST this Friday, August 4 at bookmyshow.com. An early presale will also take place on bookmyshow.com a day prior, also at noon IST, with fans being able to pre-register now.
WWE talents announced for the show in the press release include Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, GUNTHER, Jinder Mahal, Veer, Sanga, Drew McIntyre, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Matt Riddle, Ludwig Kaiser, and “many more”.
The company previously taped a Superstar Spectacle event back in 2021 at the Thunderdome in Tampa, Florida, celebrating India’s Republic Day. The WWE Network special featured Drew McIntyre and Indus Sher (Veer & Sanga) defeating Jinder Mahal and The Bollywood Boyz (Sunil & Samir Singh) in the main event.
A new report says that WWE will be filming a new television show for the Indian market starting next month.
Post Wrestling and Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics are reporting that the series, which is being referred to as “NXT India,” is slated to begin filming in January. As of several weeks ago, the idea was to hold an eight-man single elimination tournament.
It was previously reported in WWE’s Q3 financial report that WWE was working with Sony Pictures Networks in India on a 2021 event that would develop stars in the country.
The show is expected to air on linear television in India and also on the WWE Network.
The company currently has a distribution deal in India with Sony Pictures Networks as well as India Private Limited that was extended this past March for five more years. SPN also has the distribution rights to the WWE Network in the country via SPN’s own OTT platform SonyLIV.
WWE has announced an extension and expansion of their television deal in India.
WWE and Sony Pictures Network India have announced “a five-year extension with an expanded broadcast agreement that will deliver WWE’s weekly flagship programming and localized content in India and the Indian subcontinent, making SPN the exclusive home to WWE in-ring content across its television and digital platforms.”
The deal includes SPN having the rights to air Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and WWE pay-per-views live on its sports and digital platforms in English, Hindi, and regional languages. The extended partnership “also provides SPN the rights to WWE Network which hosts thousands of hours of content to be made available to audiences in India exclusively through SonyLIV, SPN’s OTT platform. In addition and for the first time, SPN will curate content from WWE’s extensive video library which includes live events, iconic matches, interviews with Legends, reality shows, documentaries and more, on its own platforms.”
Financial terms weren’t disclosed. Dave Meltzer said on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE got a significant increase but not as big of an increase as some people expected.
“WWE has been consistently ranking in the top three properties across all sports networks in India, dominating the sports entertainment space,” Rajesh Kaul, Head Sports and Chief Revenue Officer Distribution, Sony Pictures Networks India said. “We are delighted to extend our partnership with WWE in a first of its kind deal that will give us an increased exposure to valuable content and reach out to a broader viewer base across India on multiple platforms.”
“India is a strategically important market for WWE and Sony Pictures Networks has been an extraordinary partner in helping to grow our fanbase in the region making it one of the most-watched sports properties,” James Rosenstock, WWE Executive Vice-President, International said. “The expanded partnership gives our passionate fans new opportunities to engage with the WWE brand.”
The press release announcing the deal hyped that WWE “will also return to India with even bigger live events and Superstars will visit the region for promotional tours to engage with fans.”
The Times of India confirmed today that WWE’s planned December 8th house show at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi has been canceled, with the December 9th date at the venue now being branded as a “Supershow.”
In a match that was set up a few days ago, Triple H vs. Jinder Mahal has been announced as the main event. Mahal will be the only SmackDown representation on what is otherwise a Raw house show.
While ticket sales likely played a factor, WWE put out a statement saying that the decision to reduce the tour from two shows to one was to better serve the needs of their fans in the country: “To meet the requests of WWE fans in India, and deliver the biggest main event in the country’s history, WWE is combining two nights of family-friendly action into a one-night only, exclusive Supershow.”
Jeet Rama & Kishan Raftar, who are Performance Center trainees from India, will now be wrestling in their home country as they face Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas. Kevin Owens will no longer be appearing on the tour after originally being scheduled to challenge for Mahal’s WWE Championship before he dropped it to AJ Styles.
Those who bought tickets to the canceled show can exchange them for the next night or receive a refund.
The Raw roster will also be in Abu Dhabi on December 7th before heading to India.
WWE has announced Jinder Mahal’s opponent for their two-show tour of India in December.
While doing media in India, Mahal appeared on the set of WWE Sunday Dhamaal (the company’s weekly Hindi-language program) to reveal that Kevin Owens would be challenging him for the WWE Championship on the two house shows. Mahal defending against a heel would seem to indicate that he’ll be presented as a complete babyface in the country.
The shows will take place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on December 8th and 9th. Mahal, the Singh Brothers, and Owens will be appearing at them despite it being a Raw-branded tour. Others who have been advertised for the events are Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, Alexa Bliss, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, The Miz, Sasha Banks, and Bayley.
Before going to India, the Raw roster will be in Abu Dhabi for a show on December 7th. Mahal, the Singh Brothers, and Owens haven’t been advertised for that event.
While plans could change, WWE announcing that Mahal will be defending his title against Owens in India could mean that his reign is planned to last through at least those shows. The next SmackDown-exclusive pay-per-view will be Clash of Champions on December 17th, and we should find out what Mahal’s direction for November’s dual-branded Survivor Series PPV is in the coming weeks.
As was reported a few weeks back in the Observer, it is now official that WWE will be running two December shows at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India.
Tickets for the shows on December 8th and 9th are now on sale in India, priced from $26 U.S. to $535 U.S.
They will be Raw-brand house shows featuring Jinder Mahal. The names listed for the shows are Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, and Mahal as the top stars along with Braun Strowman, Alexa Bliss, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, The Miz, Sasha Banks, and Bayley.
It had been speculated that WWE would be touring the country sometime before the end of the year. WWE has had its eye on the Indian market for much of 2017, producing a new weekly program in Hindi exclusive to the country as well as putting the WWE title on Mahal, who has been champion since May.
– X Division Champion Low Ki defeated Caleb Konley
Low Ki was busted open near his eye at one point in the match. Sonjay Dutt came out wearing an eye patch after and asked how Low Ki felt being on the other side. He said that if Low Ki was a man of honor he would give him a title shot. Low Ki shook his hand and agreed to the match.
– Davey Richards defeated Vinaash Verma
Richards submitted him with an ankle lock. EC3 came out after and whipped Verma with a belt, which led to James Storm coming out and EC3 escaping the ring.
– Knockouts Champion Rosemary defeated Laurel Van Ness (w/ Sienna)
Sienna tried to distract the referee, but Van Ness accidentally pushed her off the apron. Rosemary then scored the pin with a roll-up. The heels attacked Rosemary after the match before Allie made the save wielding a kendo stick. Rosemary took the kendo stick but just dropped it and smiled.
– EC3 entered wearing Indian-style clothing and with Ethan Singh 3 on the screen. He had a translator and cut a heel promo on the country. After the translator refused to translate, EC3 whipped him with the belt. Storm again came out to the ring. EC3 tried to whip him, but Storm kicked the belt out of his hands. EC3 escaped and Storm posed with the translator.
– Josh Mathews defeated Sandeep
Mathews talked about Scott Steiner’s return before the match. He said he handpicked his opponent, who was previously on the Indian Olympic team and was in a Bollywood movie. He then introduced a large wrestler wearing a singlet. Mathews hit a Swanton Bomb and then submitted him with the Steiner Recliner.
Mathews wouldn’t let go of the hold, which caused Mahabali Shera to come out. Bobby Lashley then attacked Shera, leading to Mathews putting Shera in the Steiner Recliner. Alberto El Patron finally cleared the ring and posed with Shera.
– Braxton Sutter (w/ Allie) defeated Trevor Lee
Lee controlled the match until he went after Allie on the outside. A neckbreaker eventually got the win for Sutter. He celebrated with Allie in the ring until Sienna and Van Ness entered. The heels ran them down and challenged Allie and Rosemary.
– Mahabali Shera won a 10-man Sony SIX Invitational gauntlet
There was a trophy at ringside. Suicide, Matt Sydal, Davey Richards, KM, Swoggle, Eddie Edwards, Spud, Kongo Kong, Moose, and Mahabali Shera were in the match. It came down to normal rules and Shera defeated KM. He celebrated and hugged his family at ringside. A Sony representative, Bruce Prichard, and Scott D’Amore then presented the trophy to him and he celebrated with the crowd.
– Moose cut a promo before being interrupted by Eli Drake and Chris Adonis. Moose said that he has a partner that he will reveal in due time for a tag match against them at Slammiversary.
– Alberto El Patron came out. He cut a babyface promo and talked about all of the countries that he’s wrestled in. He talked about all of the titles he’s won and said that he was going to win the Impact World Heavyweight Championship at Slammiversary. Bobby Lashley cut him off and they went back and forth.
Bruce Prichard then entered and said that they should both defend their titles in India tonight. Alberto wanted to face Lashley, but they had to take on different opponents. They wanted to know who their opponents would be, but Prichard said that they’ll find out like everyone else when they walk down that aisle.
– Impact World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley defeated Grand Champion Moose to retain his title
Moose was revealed as Lashley’s opponent. They had a competitive match until Lashley gained the upper hand. Moose fought back, but Lashley eventually countered the Game Breaker into a spear to retain.
– GFW Global Champion Alberto El Patron defeated Chris Adonis (w/ Eli Drake) to retain his title
Adonis was revealed as Alberto’s challenger and came out with Eli Drake. Alberto won after hitting a double foot stomp. Drake and Adonis attacked him after the match, but Moose cleared the ring. Alberto and Moose then celebrated after.
– Sonjay Dutt defeated Low Ki to win the X Division Championship
Dutt finally became X Division Champion after hitting the Hindu press to defeat Low Ki. He was in disbelief after winning the title. Shera and others came out with champagne to celebrate. Dutt spoke in Hindu, saying this wasn’t for him but was for the entire nation. Shera thanked the crowd and said they were awesome.
TNA will be announcing shortly that the scheduled 12/2 to 12/4 tour of India has been canceled.
Talent that had been booked on the tour were contacted more than two hours ago stating the tour is now off. TNA had planned the semifinals of its world title tournament as well as a live PPV in India during the three nights.
TNA claimed to talent the tour was being postponed to 2016.
Talent was told the tour was canceled due to safety concerns. They were scheduled to leave this weekend. Everyone is scrambling now to find bookings for this weekend on short notice.
The tour was being promoted by TNA’s broadcast partners, Sony Six, and TNA had already done advanced work for the tour as well as spent months pushing Mahabili Shera for its partners.
