The World Wrestling Federation is going to the mat with a new music label.
The WWF is launching Smackdown! Records early next year with a compilation of rap and rock music, as well as tunes used to introduce wrestlers during their televised matches.
“The music is an important element in the whole television and live-arena wrestling experience,” said Ron McCarrell, president of the new label. “We have made music in the past, and it has done very well with our fans.”
The label is expected to release two to three titles a year, McCarrell added.
The first release, to be distributed by Sony, is expected to hit record stores sometime this winter and is aimed at young adults who enjoy a combination of music and wrestling.
“Setting up a record label seems like a pretty obvious thing to do,” McCarrell said, pointing out that the WWF has released records in the past to much fanfare, such as its annual compilation of songs played at live events.
“It’s geared to wrestling fans who enjoy a certain type of music and want the whole arena experience.”
The WWF, a $1 billion sports and entertainment empire, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, runs a theme restaurant in Times Square and is poised to launch the XFL, a new football league, in February.