The CW Network had no issue with the infamous ‘cocaine’ spot from NWA Samhain 2023, according to NWA President Billy Corgan.
The controversial spot saw ‘Sinister Minister’ James Mitchell snort a white powder during the October 28 event. While never explicitly stated during the broadcast, many saw this as the (staged) use of cocaine during the broadcast which sparked plenty of negative reactions.
At the time, the NWA was in talks with The CW to bring Powerrr to its network, but in the days following Samhain, it was announced that WWE NXT would be coming to the network instead. Many saw this five-deal with WWE’s gold brand as fallout for the NWA following the ‘cocaine’ spot. Speaking on In The Weeds, Corgan recalled the reaction at the time.
“After the ‘cocaine spot’ where Sinister Minister and his hot minions were snorting sugar off a table in Cleveland, that story took a life of its own… Certainly one of the top people at CW called me and said, ‘What is this all about?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. No one in your world has reached out to me.’ He said, ‘There is no problem over here.'”
Corgan added that rather than be outraged to the point of nixing a deal, The CW found the spot, and the backlash online, to be rather funny. Rather than be on TV, Episodes of NWA Powerrr are now available on The CW app. A new reality show ‘Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland‘ will also be part of The CW.