WWE first toured the country in 1996.[1][2] The next time WWE came to India was in November 2002, visiting New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.[3] The company returned to New Delhi in January 2016 for the two days event what was the first WWE event in India in 13 years.[4] On 9 December 2017, a house show titled WWE Live India Supershow was held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.[5][6]
WWE has had a broadcasting relationship with Sony Pictures Networks since 2002, most recently renewed under a five-year deal beginning in 2020. Alongside broadcasts of its main weekly programs, WWE has produced localized programming in Hindi for the region, including WWE Sunday Dhamaal, for Sony Max,[7] and WWE Now India with Gaelyn Mendonca for its YouTube channel.[8] WWE has considered India to be one its largest international markets; in 2019, WWE's Senior Director of Talent Development Canyon Ceman stated that that Raw and SmackDown had an average of 50 million viewers weekly on SPN.[9]
In January 2019, Triple H stated that the WWE would eventually open a Performance Center in India.[10][11] Two months later, the first ever WWE tryouts in India were held, in which approximately 60 men and 20 women were shortlisted.[12][13][14] For Republic Day, 22 January 2021, WWE produced its first televised event special targeting the Indian market, Superstar Spectacle, which featured matches showcasing current and developmental WWE talent of Indian heritage. It was simulcast with English and Hindi commentary across Sony TEN and Sony Max.[15][16][17]
A number of WWE performers have also visited India as part of promotional tours.
WWE have produced several television series for their Indian audience over the years. Since 27 February 2018, they have aired live telecasts of Raw and SmackDown in Hindi.[44][45] Live Tamil and Telugu language commentary was introduced in 2021.[46]
On 7 May 2007, a new WWE show for children named WWE 24X7 premiered on Jetix in India, which shown matches from their archives.[47][48]
WWE started airing taped shows on Ten Sports in January 2015. Through this deal, an exclusive localised Raw recap show was made for the Indian market.[49] The localised Raw show would later be announced as Raw Sunday Dhamaal, a short-lived show which was replaced by WWE Sunday Dhamaal.[50][51] The show was perceived well with audiences, gaining an 'upward swing' of viewers after it had launched.[52]
From 2015 to 2017, a recap show produced by the WWE named Action Mania, aired on Zee Cinema in Hindi exclusively in India.[53]
In 2020 Sony Pictures launched two Studio shows Blockbusters and Dhamaal League.[54][55]
In 2021, WWE taped a special India centric show WWE Superstar Spectacle on 22 January 2021 and aired it on 26 January, the Republic Day of India.[63] The second Superstar Spectacle event was held on 8 September 2023. Unlike the 2021 event, the 2023 event was a house show.[64] It was later aired as Namaste India on Sony Sports Network on 2 October 2023.[65]
Indian flag controversy
A 1999 episode of Sunday Night Heat was criticized for a segment featuring Kurt Angle and Tiger Ali Singh in which Angle blew his nose in the Indian national flag.[66] On 15 January 2016, days before the WWE arrived in India for their house show events in 2016, a group named Aadvanshi Veer Sena threatened to protest against the company's tour unless they apologised for Angle's incident.[67] Five days after their claims to protest if an apology was not given, WWE International's Executive Vice President, Gerrit Meier, apologised for the incident, saying: "This case is about 20-years-ago and we did not deliberately do that. We have a great respect for the country. We are sorry that it happened, but we had no intention of doing it. India is a reputable country and we apologise for this… We are extremely pleased that India is hosting the live events again. There are good number of fans and I am confident that they will enjoy it all. Nearly 14 years later, we are once again on the ground of India will play a WWE match."[68][69]
↑ Sadhu, Rahal (6 March 2019). "WWE is finally listening to its fans: Kofi Kingston". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2021. Kingston, who along with the rest of The New Day was in Mumbai to support India's first-ever WWE Tryouts, said that a lot has changed since the time he first came into the WWE.
↑ Singh, Robin (12 March 2019). "A date with WWE stars". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021. Sunday Dhamal is no exception. Ever since it was launched, its viewership has seen an upward swing.
↑ Sports Desk (22 January 2016). "Hockey déjà vu? WWE asked to apologise to India". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2021. Nearly 17 years ago, on March 7, 1999 to be precise, former wrestler Kurt Angle made his debut on Saturday Night Heat and blew his nose on the Indian national flag.
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