WWE continues to expand its social media reach with Royal Rumble

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Category: Sports

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. wrestling / ˈrɛs lɪŋ / (n.) – a sport where two people compete in physical fights often by pushing each other so one would fall to the ground
    Example:

    Many people prefer wrestling as an entertainment show, especially because the participants act out roles and follow a script.


  2. dwarf / dwɔrf / (v.) – to make something appear very small or less important in comparison to something else
    Example:

    The company’s revenue from online shopping dwarfs its earnings from physical stores.


  3. merchandise / ˈmɜr tʃənˌdaɪz / (n.) – items that are sold, particularly related to a brand, event, or company
    Example:

    The basketball team’s official merchandise will only be sold in selected stores for a limited time.


  4. viewership / ˈvyu ərˌʃɪp / (n.) – the number of people who watch a particular show or movie
    Example:

    The TV show’s viewership greatly increased thanks to the exciting new episode that attracted more people to watch.


  5. domestically / dəˈmes tɪ kəl i / (adv.) – relating to or happening within one’s own country rather than abroad
    Example:

    The movie was a huge success domestically and internationally.


Article

Read the text below.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) continues to expand its social media reach, as its successful blend of wrestling and celebrities took center stage at its Royal Rumble premium live event.


The sports entertainment company said that this year’s Royal Rumble set a record for most social video views in the event’s history. An encounter in the ring between wrestler Bron Breakker and popular streamer IShowSpeed became the most-viewed Royal Rumble social post of all time, with more than 300 million social views in less than 24 hours.


IShowSpeed, who has appeared at other WWE events, including WrestleMania 40, has more than 35 million subscribers on YouTube. Logan Paul, who also participated in the men’s Royal Rumble match, has more than 23 million YouTube subscribers.


WWE currently has more than 100 million subscribers on YouTube. That easily dwarfs the National Football League, which has nearly 14 million subscribers; the National Basketball Association, with more than 22 million subscribers; Major League Baseball, with 6 million subscribers; and the National Hockey League, which has close to 3 million subscribers.


Merchandise sales, which were in partnership with Fanatics, soared more than 95% compared with the prior Royal Rumble record set last year. And sponsorship revenue jumped 94% compared with the previous record set in 2024.


The premium live event, which was broadcast on Peacock in the United States on February 1, set a Royal Rumble viewership record, up almost 14% domestically from a year earlier.


This year’s Royal Rumble, which saw Jey Uso win the men’s namesake match and Charlotte Flair win the women’s, was held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as part of a partnership with Indiana Sports Corp. Aside from the Royal Rumble, the deal, announced last year, will bring WWE’s SummerSlam and WrestleMania to Indianapolis in future years.


WWE, which is part of TKO Group Holdings, previously said that WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble have a combined economic impact of more than $300 million.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • How does WWE compare to real wrestling sports like sumo wrestling or Olympic wrestling? Do you think the mix of entertainment and planned fights makes WWE more fun to watch than real wrestling? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • WWE has many more YouTube subscribers than big sports leagues like the NFL or NBA. Do you think this is because people enjoy different kinds of entertainment, or is there another reason? Would you rather watch WWE or a real sport? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • What makes people want to buy merchandise from sports teams, bands, or artists? Do personal interests or trends influence these decisions? Would you buy merchandise from your favorite team, band, or artist? Why or why not? What kinds of products would convince you to buy their merchandise? Discuss.
  • Can someone be a true fan even if they don’t buy any merchandise? Why or why not? Aside from buying merchandise, what else can fans do to support their favorite sport, artist, etc. (ex. attending live events or shows, sharing positive content on social media)? Discuss.