FCW closing?

[Andy]

Wuff. That's good to know. I hate it when you get those really bogus rumors going around. FCW has a pretty decent roster too, so I would've hated for it to have been cut.

 

[Chris]

WWE EVP Triple H refutes false reports of FCW's closing

Straight from WWE themselves.

 

[Deezy]

Monday night, an unreliable online news source published an erroneous report that WWE was shutting down operations of our developmental facility, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). In order to set the record straight, WWE.com interviewed WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent, Paul Levesque (also known as WWE Superstar Triple H) to address this issue.

“It is absolutely not true. FCW is not closing,â€￾ Triple H said. “I don’t know how the rumor started but I believe it’s a situation where the ‘dirt sheets’ want to believe they have the scoop on everything. If anything, we are in the process of ramping up our entire developmental system. It’s the lifeblood of our company. It’s what feeds our future and in no way are we going to close it down.â€￾

Levesque also addressed plans to relocate training or FCW TV tapings out of its home of Tampa, Fla.

“There are plans in the works, but nothing definitive I can discuss right now,â€￾ he said. “Shortly after WrestleMania, there will be a major announcement about our developmental system.â€￾

He continued, “WWE’s developmental system is being revamped, not shut down. If anything, it’s going to get bigger and better than ever. WWE Developmental cultivates the future talent of WWE. By no means is it going to get smaller or shut down.â€￾

Straight from the source.

 

[Chris]

That's exactly what I just posted except for I linked to it.

 

[Deezy]

That's exactly what I just posted except for I linked to it.

So everyone wins.

But with all that said, WWE needs a better place for young up and comers, since putting young men and women in party central is like giving a hobo 10 dollars.

 

[John McHenry]

That's exactly what I just posted except for I linked to it.

On some of the skins a link doesn't show up so great so best to just post it in quotes in my opinon. I couldn't tell you'd made a link.



So moving it is still a possibility... But to where?

 

[Rated R Superstar]

I really dislike the internet for this reason. FCW has some really promising talent, and it would have been a shame to see them just get cut off like that. Glad this isn't actually happening.

 

[Chris]

Well, the talent wouldn't have been cut or anything if FCW closed. And Triple H really didn't dispel any rumors, he said that the developmental might be moved sometime after Mania, which would basically be closing down FCW.

 

[John McHenry]

If WWE pulled out of FCW TNA would most likely pick them up and drop OVW makes since. Though maybe they wouldn't want to be so close to a training ground with the same production value as them.

 

[AZUCAR!]

Looks like we may see a developmental system in Stamford too:

In the latest on the WWE developmental system, sources are confirming that the company intends to open up something related to developmental in Stamford, CT in the next few months and that they are far enough along in the process that they have someone in mind to head it up.

The idea would be to have a small group of wrestlers working directly with the company to prep them for their TV debut. One idea is to integrate it with their latest production facility so everything is under one roof. One source claimed the idea would be to provide a "middle ground" between developmental and TV so performers have a better chance of connecting with the audience once they debut.

With that said, sources continue to claim there are no plans to shut down FCW, citing that just within the last week they were discussing new potential locations in FL to shoot TV.
The company was extremely angry about reports of FCW closing, which is what sparked Triple H's comments on the WWE website. The FCW closing reports had several officials "furious" according to one person I spoke to this morning.

 

[Chris]

I wouldn't mind that. They'll probably just ease into it being in Stanford, have two for a bit, then fully move there. They kinda' did that with FCW and the developmental they had after OVW didn't they? Wasn't it DSW?

 

[SAIYANS]

Yeah they had DSW and OVW going at the same time.

I don';t read that report as the system being that though. I personally read it as going from FCW when you are ready to a televised mini camp like the original ECW or AWA.

 

[Dale]

I'm not entirely sure what they could have them do at the Stanford facility but if it gives them a greater chance of succeeding when they hit the main roster then that can only be a good thing for the future. I guess that's why they have the guys tour the house show circuits, but I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be to go from the little dinky FCW arena to a RAW or SmackDown show.

 

[Troy]

First I am stunned that HHH actually come out and addressed these rumours, I can't remember the last time that WWE directly responded to an internet rumour. I am glad that FCW is sticking around since it seems like they are about to produce a decent batch of main roster guys. I like the sound of the facility at Stanford to work as the bridge between FCW and the main roster. They can bring over guys that they are about to debut and they can get them set up with their new gimmicks and work out the kinks before debuting them on television.

 

[The New F'n Show]

This is good news. FCW needs to stay in place, but buliding a buffer between the two by corporate makes sense as well. Triple H had to come out and say something because current FCW talents and staff were probably freaking out upon hearing the rumors.