WWE Plan More Cutbacks Amid Network Failure

WWE is said to be scaling back production costs after seeing its profit margins slashed during the first half of 2017, according to the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer (via Wrestling Inc).

The company is no longer using pyro at its shows, whilst several Network programmes are being culled in order to make savings.

News that Talking Smack - the post-SmackDown discussion show - was to be discontinued last month was poorly received by fans online.

But further cancellations are expected as the company looks to balance the scales after an expensive few months.

Speaking on his radio show, Meltzer told listeners: "So last year's profits were about $30 million. And this year we're about halfway through and - I don't have the exact numbers in front of me - but it's like five or six million, which means there's a lot of catching up to do."

"They're not in any financial trouble but the Network subscriber number is a genuine disappointment. The growth coming out of WrestleMania that would have been expected wasn't there."

He went on to state that the United Kingdom show ran by the company at the beginning of the year was a key reason for the increased costs.

Meanwhile, the company's decision to run two pay-per-views a month following the return of the brand extension - although not set to change - is said to have been another contributing factor.