WWNLive

{{short description|Professional wrestling promotion and online streaming website}}

{{distinguish|text=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}}

{{Infobox Wrestling promotion

|name =World Wrestling Network

|image =WWN Live.png

|image_size =160px

|acronym =WWNLive

|established =2001 (DVD company)
2010 (Governing body)

|style =

|location =United States

|founder = Sal Hamaoui

|owner = Sal Hamaoui

|parent =

|sister =

|formerly =

|website = http://www.wwnlive.com/

|}}

The World Wrestling Network is an American professional wrestling organization known for and branded after its video streaming service, WWNLive.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwnlive.com/about.html|title=About|access-date=22 July 2016|work=WWNLive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406112236/http://wwnlive.com/about.html|archive-date=6 April 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} WWNLive hosts content both from WWN's "brands", including Full Impact Pro (FIP) and Shine Wrestling, as well as content from third-party organizations.{{Cite web|url=https://wwnlive.com/brand-pages/|title=Brand Pages}}

History

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. In 2003, WWNLive began producing FIP DVDs.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/88371/evolve-heading-to-china-no-really.html?p=1|title=Evolve heading to China (no, really)|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=2014-09-19|access-date=2014-09-19|work=Pro Wrestling Insider|quote=WWNLive, the parent company of Evolve, Shine, FIP and Dragon Gate USA.}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_82092.shtml|title=Newswire: WWNLive announces long-term China plan, Ross talks importance of Tokyo Dome, New Japan's subscription goals, latest World Tag League standings, more|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2014-12-03|access-date=2014-12-04|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}

In 2015, WWNLive opened a training facility in Trinity, Florida named the "World Wrestling Network Academy".{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_83431.shtml|title=WWNLive news: Official new training facility announced|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2015-02-19|access-date=2015-02-19|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} That year, Evolve began a partnership with WWE. Evolve's wrestlers were featured on WWE.com,{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/evolve-wrestling-hottest-prospects-wwe-nxt-28054230|title=NXT's next breakout stars?: Meet the 5 Evolve wrestlers you need to know|last=Melok|first=Bobby|date=2015-10-15|access-date=2016-07-22|work=WWE}} while NXT wrestlers Sami Zayn, Chad Gable and Jason Jordan took part in Evolve events in non-wrestling roles.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2015/10/17/1017-evolve-49-results-gargano-zayn-more/|title= 10/17 Evolve 49 Results – Zayn, Gargano, more|date=2015-10-17|access-date=2016-07-22|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/01/11/wwe-nxt-gm-to-appear-at-evolve-show/|title=NXT GM & Tag Team to appear at Evolve show|date=2016-01-11|access-date=2016-07-22|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} In January 2016, NXT General Manager William Regal and WWE COO Triple H attended Evolve 54.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/evolve-54-ippv-results-hhh-william-regal-make-appearance-206176|title=Evolve 54 iPPV results: HHH & William Regal make an appearance|date=2016-01-24|access-date=2016-07-22|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} As part of the relationship, it was announced in March 2016 that Evolve would hold qualifying matches for WWE's Cruiserweight Classic.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/03/19/wwe-hold-gcs-matches-future-evolve-event/|title=WWE to hold GCS matches at future EVOLVE event|date=2016-03-19|access-date=2016-07-22|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320044916/http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/03/19/wwe-hold-gcs-matches-future-evolve-event/|archive-date=2016-03-20|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/flosports-announces-deal-wwn-live-launches-pro-wrestling-streaming-service-223311|title=FloSports announces deal with WWNLive, launches pro wrestling streaming service|last=Nason|first=Josh|date=2016-10-24|access-date=2016-10-24|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}

On November 22, 2016, it was announced that WWNLive would be debuting a new promotion named Style Battle on January 7, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/indies/wwnlive-debuting-new-style-battle-promotion-floslam-225111|title=WWNLive debuting new Style Battle promotion on FloSlam|last=Currier|first=Joseph|date=2016-11-22|access-date=2016-11-22|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} Also announced was the creation of the WWN Championship on April 1, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/106166/wwnlive-launching-new-title-new-brand.html?p=1|title=WWNLive launching new title, new brand|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=2016-11-23|access-date=2016-11-24|work=Pro Wrestling Insider}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2017/09/21/breaking-flosports-files-lawsuit-wwn-misrepusentation-ippv-vod-buyrates-wwn-planning-countersuit/|title=Breaking: FloSports files lawsuit against WWN for misrepresentation of iPPV & VOD buyrates, WWN planning countersuit (w/Radican's Analysis)|last=Radican|first=Sean|date=2017-09-21|access-date=2017-09-21|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/indies/evolve-events-pulled-floslam-schedule-243271|title=Evolve events pulled from FloSlam schedule|last=Currier|first=Joseph|date=2017-09-22|access-date=2017-09-22|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}} The following December, WWNLive launched a replacement streaming service, Club WWN.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/indies/wwn-launches-new-demand-service-248366|title=WWN launches new on-demand service|last=Currier|first=Joseph|date=2017-12-20|access-date=2017-12-20|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter}}

In July 2020, Evolve's assets were sold to WWE and Sapolsky left WWN.{{Cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/gabe-sapolsky-says-goodbye-to-independent-wrestling/|title=411MANIA|website=Gabe Sapolsky Says Goodbye To Independent Wrestling}} A few weeks later, WWN announced the creation of Grindhouse, a new brand promoted by Eddie Kingston.{{Cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/wwn-launching-new-brand-eddie-kingstons-grindhouse-debut-next-month/|title=411MANIA|website=WWN Launching New Brand Eddie Kingston’s Grindhouse, Will Debut Next Month}}

Brands

=Active=

class="wikitable"

!width="215"|Promotion

!width="100"|Key People

!width="100"|State

!width="100"|Years

|Sal Hamaoui

|2009–present

|Dave Prazak

|2012–present

=Defunct=

class="wikitable"

!width="215"|Promotion

!width="100"|Key People

!width="100"|State

!width="100"|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{{Cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/wwn-live-to-create-new-wwn-championship-to-be-defended-across-all-promotions/|title=411MANIA|website=WWN Live to Create New WWN Championship to be Defended Across All Promotions}}

Championships

;Active

class="wikitable sortable" width=98% style="text-align:center;"

!Championship

!Current champion(s)

!Reign

!Date won

!Days

!Location

!Previous champion(s)

WWN Proving Ground Heavyweight Championship

|Sage Scott

|{{dts|February 3, 2025}}

|{{age in days|February 3, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Krieger

WWN Multimedia Championship

|Richard Adonis

|{{dts|June 2, 2025}}

|{{age in days|June 2, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Sideshow

WWN Proving Ground Tag Team Championship

|The Miami Boyz
{{small|(Chris Malachite and Puma Johnson)}}

|{{dts|May 12, 2025}}

|{{age in days|May 12, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|L'Armeria
{{small|(Damian Jemini and TJ Brady)}}

WWN Proving Ground Women's Championship

|Scotti Sosa

|{{dts|June 8, 2025}}

|{{age in days|June 8, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Inaugural

FIP World Heavyweight Championship

|August Artois

|{{dts|December 10, 2023}}

|{{age in days|December 10, 2023}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Brian Brock

FIP World Tag Team Championship

|The Emerald Empire
{{small|(Devin Diaz and Jonathan Hudson)}}

|{{dts|June 8, 2025}}

|{{age in days|June 8, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|LJ Cleary and Rich Swann

FIP Florida Heritage Championship

|Steven Frick

|{{dts|January 12, 2025}}

|{{age in days|January 12, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Sideshow

Shine Championship

|Kelsey Raegan

|{{dts|March 9, 2025}}

|{{age in days|March 9, 2025}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Ivelisse

Shine Tag Team Championship

|Las Sicarias
{{small|(Evie De La Rosa and Labrava)}}

|1
{{small|(1, 2)}}

|{{dts|December 15, 2024}}

|{{age in days|December 15, 2024}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Kelsey Raegan and Lindsay Snow

Shine Nova Championship

|Kelsey Heather

|{{dts|July 12, 2024}}

|{{age in days|July 12, 2024}}

|Clearwater, Florida

|Amber Nova

;Defunct

class="wikitable"

!Championship

!Final champion

!Date retired

!Notes

WWN Championship

|Austin Theory

|{{dts|July 13, 2019}}