PRESS RELEASE:
It’s May 2018 and WM 34 has just taken place. Out of nowhere a new concept in wrestling has hit the world. The World Wrestling League combines what you know about wrestling with a real-world sports league concept. In season 1, the WWL was specific to wrestlers on the WWE roster. The centerpiece of the WWL is the Team Challenge League. Teams of 3 compete in a series of matches. There is a singles match, a tag match, and a 6-person match. Points are given for wins in each individual match (1 point for singles, 2 for tag, 3 for 6-person). Points were also given for the overall winner of the series. 3 points for a series win. There is a total of 9 points possible if a trio sweeps the other trio. A relegation system was put in place for the tiers.
The seasonal champions in the top tiers of the Men’s, Men’s Tag, Men’s Team Challenge League, Women’s, Women’s TCL, Cruiserweight, Cruiserweight TCL were also awarded the WWL World Championship for that league. The Men also had an IC, UC, NXT, NXT NA, and NXT Tag Leagues. The Women also had an NXT league. The Cruiserweights didn’t have any other tiers but they had some unique rules. ALL of the Cruiserweight matches were competed under triple threat rules with the winner receiving 2 points and the person not getting pinned receiving 1. In the TCL league both the tag and 6-man matches were competed under tornado tag rules.
Season 1 took place from July-September of 2019
During season 2 (Jan-Mar of 2019), the WWL had a huge expansion into the UK and signed deals with Impact, ROH, NWA, and NJPW to use some of their wrestlers while they still competing for their “home” league. During season 2 a new league (AEW came into the scene. Superstars that had signed on for the WWL were allowed to sign with AEW if they wanted to as long as they fulfilled their requirements with WWL)
As for individual leagues in the WWL, the Men’s NXT NA tier was made into one conference in the NXT League and NXT UK Conference was added. The NXT leagues were split into two conferences consisting of NA and UK conferences. The Team Challenge Leagues Expanded their number of teams and split into two conferences as well. The seasonal champions in the top tiers faced off with the reigning World Champions for the World Championship in their leagues.
Prior to Season 3, the WWL and AEW began working towards a working relationship but it has not been a full one like the other leagues. They have agreed that any wrestlers that were in the WWL already may remain in the WWL and continue to wrestle there as well as AEW if they so choose. New superstars were not allowed to sign at this moment.
Season 3 (Jul-Sep 2019) saw the biggest change of all so far. Everyone was split into two brands and EVERYONE would be in a trio. A draft was held. The first 5 rounds the two GMs drafted complete trios, rounds 6-10 were singles stars who did not have a full trio yet, rounds 11-15 were tag teams, and rounds 16-20 were wild card rounds in which they could draft anyone (trios, singles, tag team). There were weeks of signings and wrestlers having tryouts during the off season. Each league (men’s, women’s, and CW/JrHW were split into tiers in their brands). Only world champions, defending seasonal champions, and former world champions were guaranteed a spot in the top tier of each. Even though the league has gone to full trios teams there will still be individual and tag titles at each tier in each league and those will be determined by the individual matches that take place during the season. The Men’s League will have 4 tiers (World, IC, US, NXT), the Women’s will have 3 tiers (World, IC, NXT), and Cruiserweight will now have multiple tiers for the first time (World, NXT).
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