WWE chairman Vince McMahon announced in January that he would be reviving the XFL - which lasted only one season back in 2001 - with plans to launch the league again in 2020.
Now, McMahon sounds extremely confident that the league can be a lot more successful this time around. But how confident are the oddsmakers feeling? Bovada (h/t eWrestlingNews.com), gives the XFL +200 odds (2/1) of folding by 2021, while -300 odds (1/3), that the league makes it to a second year.
The first XFL season in 2001 failed for many reasons, due in large part to massive ratings and both the WWF and NBC (the network that aired the games), losing $35 million from investments. NBC quickly got out of the broadcasting deal, and McMahon himself admitted that the league was a failure.
But in his news announcement about reforming the league, McMahon said there would be eight teams - with plans for the campaign to begin in January or February - which will be around the time the NFL season ends.
Other major announcements for the XFL by Vince included that players with criminal records will not be permitted to join the league, and that political gestures will not be allowed.
Oliver Luck - the father of Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck - was recently announced as the XFL's commissioner. Oliver played with the Houston Oilers of the NFL from 1982-86, and was an executive for NCAA.
By the time the XFL launches again, it will have been nearly two full decades since the league's inaugural season. It may have been a failure the first time, but Vince seems extremely confident that it'll work this time around.
The oddsmakers at Vegas don't seem to believe so, but we won't find out for another three years what the future will hold for the XFL.
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