Ari Backs Paramount-WBD Merger | Grant Case Closed | SummerSlam | Pollock & Thurston
Ari Emanuel defends the Paramount-WBD merger in an op-ed, arguing that blocking it threatens competition rather than protecting it, while the Janelle Grant civil case against WWE/Vince McMahon concludes with dismissal to arbitration. Brandon Thurston and John Pollock discuss these legal developments, SummerSlam attendance projections, WWE Radio's controversial launch, and Brandon's ongoing court challenges to unseal merger case documents.
Summary
The episode opens with discussion of Ari Emanuel's Wall Street Journal op-ed advocating for the Paramount-WBD merger completion. Emanuel, CEO of TKO, argues that state attorneys general are misguided in blocking the deal and that antitrust law shouldn't be weaponized for political outcomes. He emphasizes that WBD's $29 billion debt burden necessitates the merger, though the hosts note the combined entity would carry approximately $79 billion in debt. The hosts analyze Nielsen viewing data showing YouTube leads with 13% watch time, Disney at 8%, and both Paramount and Netflix at 8%, arguing this contradicts monopoly concerns. They discuss the $7 million daily ticking fee Paramount must pay if the merger isn't completed by October 1, 2026, potentially adding $1.7 billion in late fees by June 1, 2025.
The Janelle Grant case concludes its civil phase with voluntary dismissal to arbitration. The hosts note this is technically a win for WWE/Vince McMahon as arbitration was their preferred venue, though they emphasize Grant's allegations remain serious and her case continues privately. They discuss the ring boy lawsuit's ongoing status and speculate about potential Vince McMahon documentary efforts. The conversation explores how public attention and media coverage impact litigation strategy despite not directly affecting legal outcomes.
WWE Radio's launch on Sirius Channel 156 generates significant backlash for removing AEW coverage from programming. The hosts analyze fan reaction as resistance to censoring competition discussion rather than mere preference for WWE content. They note this differs from launching fresh content—it represents a deliberate shift from Busted Open Radio's previous coverage model. The hosts debate whether WWE will gradually increase pro-WWE bias over time and whether this represents narrative control.
SummerSlam attendance projections show 33,740 for night one and 32,658 for night two at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, representing a notable decline from last year's 37,000+ projections. Get-in prices around $40-50 indicate lukewarm ticket demand. The hosts discuss WWE Radio's failure to access AEW Redemption coverage and note ESPN Unlimited will become accessible through YouTube TV subscribers next year, gradually expanding access beyond traditional pay-TV packages. They mention ESPN's removal of the first-hour broadcast window for SummerSlam.
Triple Mania's relocation from the 1,700-seat Luxor to the 13,000-seat MGM Grand Garden Arena reflects massive underestimation of demand, with secondary market tickets reaching $607. This serves as WWE's AAA audition for pursuing U.S. streaming rights. My AEW adds six independent promotions (Ultimate Wrestling Network, Metroplex Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Eve, RevPro, WXW, Wrestlecade Entertainment), expanding archived content and featuring live pay-per-view streams of CMLL cards.
Brandon Thurston's third legal challenge in the WWE merger case addresses unsealing pre-trial briefs and cited exhibits never filed with the court. The hosts detailed a complex dispute over whether citation of materials in pre-trial briefs triggers public access rights. Brandon argues that Leo Investments precedent establishes citation equals use, therefore triggering filing requirements and public access rights. WWE's defendants counter that materials were never admitted into evidence or used at trial (there was no trial due to settlement), so Leo Investments doesn't apply. Brandon filed a 995-word letter today arguing the joint pre-trial order specifically states cited materials in pre-trial briefs become part of the public record. The defendants filed a 990-word response arguing the pre-trial briefs merely previewed unadmitted evidence.
About this episode
<p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/iamjohnpollock.bsky.social" rel="nofollow"><strong>John Pollock</strong></a><span> and </span><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/brandonthurston.bsky.social" rel="nofollow"><strong>Brandon Thurston</strong></a><span> go through the latest headaches for Paramount and Ari Emanuel’s op-ed, Janel Grant’s case is officially closed, and WWE stages SummerSlam in Minneapolis.</span></p><p><strong>VIDEO VERSION: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/aZyDSHwbxK8" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://www.youtube.com/live/aZyDSHwbxK8</strong></a></p><p><span>Topics this week include:</span></p><ul><li><span>Janel Grant’s case officially closed, moves to arbitration</span></li><li><a href="https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/27/wwe-confirms-summerslam-2026-night-1-and-night-2-lineups/" rel="nofollow">WWE SummerSlam this weekend in Minneapolis</a><span> </span></li><li><a href="https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/28/youtube-tv-begins-rolling-out-espn-unlimited-access-ahead-of-summerslam/" rel="nofollow">YouTube TV to offer ESPN Unlimited</a><span> </span></li><li><a href="https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/30/wwe-moves-aaa-triplemania-34-night-one-to-mgm-grand-garden-arena/" rel="nofollow">TripleMania moves to MGM Grand Garden Arena</a></li><li><a href="https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/30/myaew-adds-revpro-eve-wxw-and-three-u-s-promotions/" rel="nofollow">MyAEW adds six more promotions</a></li><li><span>WWE Radio launches (no AEW talk, Thunder Rosa leaves)</span></li><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/busted-open/id1463861548" rel="nofollow">Paul Levesque on Busted Open Radio</a><span> </span></li><li><a href="https://www.postwrestling.com/2026/07/29/tkos-ari-emanuel-defends-paramount-warner-bros-merger-in-new-op-ed/" rel="nofollow">Ari Emanuel’s op-ed regarding Paramount-WBD</a></li><li><span>Plaintiffs file letter to court in WWE merger case</span></li><li><span>WWE & Thurston file letter re: public access question</span></li></ul><p><br /></p><p><em>Music courtesy: </em><a href="https://soundcloud.com/IAmBenTramer" rel="nofollow"><em>“Panic Beat” by Ben Tramer</em></a></p><p><strong>POST Wrestling</strong></p><p><strong>Subscribe: </strong><a href="https://postwrestling.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://postwrestling.com/subscribe</strong></a></p><p><strong>Patreon: </strong><a href="http://postwrestlingcafe.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>http://postwrestlingcafe.com</strong></a></p><p><strong>Forum: </strong><a href="https://forum.postwrestling.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://forum.postwrestling.com</strong></a></p><p><strong>Discord: </strong><a href="https://discord.com/invite/Q795HhR" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://discord.com/invite/Q795HhR</strong></a></p><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/POSTwrestling" rel="nofollow"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><span>/</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/POSTwrestling" rel="nofollow"><strong>Facebook</strong></a><span>/</span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/POSTwrestling" rel="nofollow"><strong>Instagram</strong></a><span>/</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/POSTwrestling" rel="nofollow"><strong>YouTube</strong></a><strong>: @POSTwrestling</strong></p><p><strong>Bluesky: </strong><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/postwrestling.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://bsky.app/profile/postwrestling.com</strong></a></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>Wrestlenomics</strong></p><p><strong>Subscribe: </strong><a href="https://wrestlenomics.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://wrestlenomics.com/podcast/</strong></a></p><p><strong>Patreon: </strong><a href="https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://patreon.com/wrestlenomics</strong></a></p><p><strong>Substack: </strong><a href="https://wrestlenomics.substack.com/" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://wrestlenomics.substack.com/</strong></a></p><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/wrestlenomics" rel="nofollow"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><span>/</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wrestlenomics" rel="nofollow"><strong>Facebook</strong></a><span>/</span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/wrestlenomics" rel="nofollow"><strong>Instagram</strong></a><span>/</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/wrestlenomics" rel="nofollow"><strong>YouTube</strong></a><strong>: @Wrestlenomics</strong></p><p><strong>Bluesky: </strong><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/wrestlenomics.com" rel="nofollow"><strong>https://bsky.app/profile/wrestlenomics.com</strong></a></p><p><br /></p><br /><br />Advertising Inquiries: <a href="https://redcircle.com/brands">https://redcircle.com/brands</a><br /><br />Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href="https://redcircle.com/privacy">https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>
Key Insights
- Ari Emanuel argues that blocking the Paramount-WBD merger threatens competition by potentially forcing WBD to sell key assets like TNT, TBS, and AEW to companies less committed to theatrical exhibition.
- The combined Paramount-WBD entity would carry approximately $79 billion in debt, not the debt-free scenario Emanuel implies, potentially limiting post-merger investment capacity.
- YouTube leads all platforms in television watch time at 13%, with Disney at 8% and both Paramount and Netflix at 8%, contradicting arguments that merging Paramount and WBD would create an anti-competitive monopoly.
- WWE Radio's removal of AEW coverage represents a deliberate shift from Busted Open Radio's previous programming model, not a fresh independent launch, which explains fan backlash.
- The state attorneys general's use of the $7 million daily ticking fee provides significant leverage to delay the merger, with potential added costs of $1.7 billion by June 1, 2025, creating financial pressure on Paramount.
- Janelle Grant's move to arbitration means the serious allegations against Vince McMahon and WWE will now be litigated privately, with public knowledge limited to potential settlement announcements.
- SummerSlam attendance projections of roughly 33,000 for each Minneapolis night represent a notable decline from prior years, with get-in prices of $40-50 indicating lukewarm market demand.
- Triple Mania's underselling at the Luxor resulted in secondary market ticket prices reaching $607, forcing relocation to the 13,000-seat MGM Grand Garden and suggesting WWE misjudged AAA's U.S. audience demand.
- Paul Levesque acknowledges tension between wrestler development benefits of increased house show work and injury risk management, suggesting WWE is exploring alternatives like indie partnerships rather than traditional house show expansion.
- Brandon Thurston argues that Leo Investments precedent establishes citation of exhibits in pre-trial briefs constitutes 'use' triggering public access rights under Delaware rules, even though no trial occurred.
- WWE's defendants counter that Leo Investments only applies after trial concludes and that pre-trial briefs merely previewed evidence that was never admitted, making the precedent inapplicable.
- The joint pre-trial order negotiated by both plaintiff and defendant counsel specifically states that exhibits cited in pre-trial briefs become part of the public record, creating a textual basis for Brandon's challenge independent of case law.
Topics
Transcript
Meet the Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer. It's one of the many new drinks out now. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire? Try them all, only at McDonald's. Brandon Thurston from WrestleNomics is up next, and we're going to follow Brandon with John Pollock from Post-Wrestle. Delivering on the returns, increasing our margins. Ladies, go down the toilet if I'm not here! All I do is simply put the math in my favor. We agree that Brandon and John do good work. The reason is simple wrestling economics. I've been told the Netflix numbers, I've been told the metrics a little bit, probably five different times. I still don't get it. There were respectable wrestling journalists who needed…
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