- Pre-orders for the WWE ’13 video game continue to be much higher than they were last year. As of last week, they were up 171% – which is 170% on Xbox 360, 189% on Playstation 3 and 84% on the Nintendo Wii. The numbers are being attributed to CM Punk’s involvement with the game and the recent segment on RAW, the game’s Attitude Era features and the social media push that has been behind the game.

- WWE is likely earning several million dollars per year from the Ion Network for the new Main Event TV show that premieres in October. WWE’s costs to produce the show will be minimal since most of the costs of the taping are already fixed since the crew and talent have to be in for the main tapings anyway.

The show will likely do ratings a bit better than Superstars was doing on WGN America. Ion averages a 0.7 rating in primetime but only a 0.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 1.1 million viewers. Among broadcast networks, Ion is the 8th most popular in the United States.

More Backstage News on a Feud for Ambrose, CM Punk’s Future as WWE Champion, Vince Flips Out on Current WWE Title Holder and Lots More…

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter