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WWNLive

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Not to be confused with World Wrestling Network, the short-lived early-to-mid 1990s National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated promotion founded by promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. & owned by him & fellow promoter Paul Heyman.
World Wrestling Network
AcronymWWNLive
Founded2001 (DVD company)
2010 (Governing body)
HeadquartersUnited States
Founder(s)Sal Hamaoui
Owner(s)Sal Hamaoui
Websitehttp://www.wwnlive.com/

The World Wrestling Network is an American professional wrestling organization known for and branded after its video streaming service, WWNLive.[1] WWNLive hosts content both from WWN's "brands", including Full Impact Pro (FIP) and Shine Wrestling, as well as content from third-party organizations.[2]

History

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World Wrestling Network was founded by Sal Hamaoui and Tony Valamontes in 2001 as a DVD company before it later evolved into an internet streaming and video on demand business.[1] In 2003, WWNLive began producing FIP DVDs.[1]

In November 2014, Evolve Wrestling, Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA), Full Impact Pro (FIP) and Shine Wrestling held a tour of China under the WWNLive banner.[3] The following month, WWNLive announced a long-term deal with Great-Wall International Sports Management for regular tours of Asia, starting in the spring of 2015.[4]

In 2015, WWNLive opened a training facility in Trinity, Florida named the "World Wrestling Network Academy".[5] That year, Evolve began a partnership with WWE. Evolve's wrestlers were featured on WWE.com,[6] while NXT wrestlers Sami Zayn, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan took part in Evolve events in non-wrestling roles.[7][8] In January 2016, NXT General Manager William Regal and WWE COO Triple H attended Evolve 54.[9] As part of the relationship, it was announced in March 2016 that Evolve would hold qualifying matches for WWE's Cruiserweight Classic.[10]

On October 24, 2016, WWNLive and FloSports announced a new streaming service to launch on November 4. Through the service, subscribers can access both live streaming events as well as events from WWNLive's on-demand library, dating back to 2003.[11]

On November 22, 2016, it was announced that WWNLive would be debuting a new promotion named Style Battle on January 7, 2017.[12] Also announced was the creation of the WWN Championship on April 1, 2017.[13]

On September 21, 2017, it was reported that FloSports had filed a $1 million lawsuit against WWNLive for breach of contract and alleged misrepresentation of iPPV and VOD buyrates.[14] WWNLive, meanwhile, claimed that FloSports had failed to live up to their contractual obligations. Because of the lawsuit, FloSports pulled all future WWNLive events from its streaming service.[15] The following December, WWNLive launched a replacement streaming service, Club WWN.[16]

In July 2020, Evolve's assets were sold to WWE and Sapolsky left WWN.[17] A few weeks later, WWN announced the creation of Grindhouse, a new brand promoted by Eddie Kingston.[18]

Brands

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Active

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Promotion Key People State Years
Full Impact Pro Sal Hamaoui Largo, Florida 2009–present
Shine Wrestling Dave Prazak Ybor City, Florida 2012–present

Defunct

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Promotion Key People State Years
Dragon Gate USA Gabe Sapolsky Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2009–2015

(Library owned by WWE)

Evolve Wrestling Gabe Sapolsky Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2009–2020
Style Battle Gabe Sapolsky Ybor City, Florida 2017–2020
American Combat Wrestling 5th Avenue Entertainment Port Richey, Florida 2001–2021[19]

Championships

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Active
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days Location Previous champion(s)
WWN Proving Ground Heavyweight Championship Sage Scott 1 February 3, 2025 53 Clearwater, Florida Krieger
WWN Multimedia Championship Sideshow 1 December 15, 2024 103 Clearwater, Florida Steven Frick
WWN Proving Ground Tag Team Championship L'Armeria
(Damian Jemini and TJ Brady) 		1 March 17, 2025 11 Clearwater, Florida Vice and Violence
(Ray Elliot and Yuni Vice)
FIP World Heavyweight Championship August Artois 1 December 10, 2023 474 Clearwater, Florida Brian Brock
FIP World Tag Team Championship Annihilation
(Chungus and Syther) 		2 March 9, 2025 19 Clearwater, Florida The Metro Brothers
(Chris Metro and JC Metro)
FIP Florida Heritage Championship Steven Frick 1 January 12, 2025 75 Clearwater, Florida Sideshow
Shine Championship Kelsey Raegan 1 March 9, 2025 19 Clearwater, Florida Ivelisse
Shine Tag Team Championship Las Sicarias
(Evie De La Rosa and Labrava) 		1
(1, 2) 		December 15, 2024 103 Clearwater, Florida Kelsey Raegan and Lindsay Snow
Shine Nova Championship Kelsey Heather 1 July 12, 2024 259 Clearwater, Florida Amber Nova
Defunct
Championship Final champion Date retired Notes
WWN Championship Austin Theory July 13, 2019 The title was then retired without an official announcement.
ACW Combat Championship Danny Vincent August 27, 2023 The title was then retired without an official announcement.
ACW Cruiserweight Championship Tyler Uriah August 4, 2023 The title was then retired without an official announcement.
ACW Heavyweight Championship Lucky Ali August 27, 2023 The title was then retired without an official announcement.
ACW Women's Championship Myka Madrid August 27, 2023 The title was then retired without an official announcement.
ACW Trinity Championship Nooie Lee 2015 The title was then retired without an official announcement.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "About". WWNLive. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Brand Pages".
  3. ^ Johnson, Mike (2014-09-19). "Evolve heading to China (no, really)". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2014-09-19. WWNLive, the parent company of Evolve, Shine, FIP and Dragon Gate USA.
  4. ^ Caldwell, James (2014-12-03). "Newswire: WWNLive announces long-term China plan, Ross talks importance of Tokyo Dome, New Japan's subscription goals, latest World Tag League standings, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-12-04.
  5. ^ Caldwell, James (2015-02-19). "WWNLive news: Official new training facility announced". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-02-19.
  6. ^ Melok, Bobby (2015-10-15). "NXT's next breakout stars?: Meet the 5 Evolve wrestlers you need to know". WWE. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  7. ^ "10/17 Evolve 49 Results – Zayn, Gargano, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  8. ^ "NXT GM & Tag Team to appear at Evolve show". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2016-01-11. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  9. ^ "Evolve 54 iPPV results: HHH & William Regal make an appearance". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 2016-01-24. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  10. ^ "WWE to hold GCS matches at future EVOLVE event". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2016-03-19. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  11. ^ Nason, Josh (2016-10-24). "FloSports announces deal with WWNLive, launches pro wrestling streaming service". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  12. ^ Currier, Joseph (2016-11-22). "WWNLive debuting new Style Battle promotion on FloSlam". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  13. ^ Johnson, Mike (2016-11-23). "WWNLive launching new title, new brand". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  14. ^ Radican, Sean (2017-09-21). "Breaking: FloSports files lawsuit against WWN for misrepresentation of iPPV & VOD buyrates, WWN planning countersuit (w/Radican's Analysis)". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
  15. ^ Currier, Joseph (2017-09-22). "Evolve events pulled from FloSlam schedule". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  16. ^ Currier, Joseph (2017-12-20). "WWN launches new on-demand service". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  17. ^ "411MANIA". Gabe Sapolsky Says Goodbye To Independent Wrestling.
  18. ^ "411MANIA". WWN Launching New Brand Eddie Kingston’s Grindhouse, Will Debut Next Month.
  19. ^ "411MANIA". WWN Live to Create New WWN Championship to be Defended Across All Promotions.
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