The WWE network will no longer be available in Russia
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have ended their partnership with a Russian broadcaster as a result of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The show was broadcast weekly in the Eastern European country on Match – however, the company announced on Thursday (March 3) that they had terminated its partnership with Russian broadcaster Match. As well as this, the WWE network will no longer be available in Russia.
“The move eliminates access in Russia to any WWE programming, including the company’s weekly Raw, Smackdown and NXT shows, its on-demand library, and all of its premium live events, including WrestleMania 38.”
The decision means that WWE shows and content will not be available in Russia moving forward, and comes ahead of the WWE’s biggest show of the year – WrestleMania – which is taking place over two nights in Dallas in April.
Wow. #WWE just announced it is terminating broadcast relationships with Russia and has ended WWE Network services in the country. pic.twitter.com/pjmBj7CRYJ
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) March 3, 2022
Former WWE superstar Rusev previously adopted a Russian hero character, with his manager, Lana, regularly referencing Putin.
Despite being from Bulgaria, Rusev said the gimmick – which was dropped in 2016 – was because of the ‘goings on’ in the world.
“It’s true, we keep up and Vince [McMahon] keeps up with what’s going on globally,” Rusev told Video DIRBG.
“He noticed that tension between Russia and America at the time and that’s when it was decided that I’ll go represent Russia and Putin and whatnot. But things changed, [Donald] Trump was elected as US President and he is a WWE Hall Of Famer etc.”
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