5 important things you need to know about the XFL

No, you’re not dreaming.

The XFL is returning to our screens more than a decade and a half after it ceased operations, and nobody quite knows what to make of it. Some people are happy and excited meanwhile others consider it to be a ridiculous idea, but either way, you can’t deny that Vince McMahon knows how to make the front page.

The chairman of the board announced the revival of the league during a press conference last night, and we here at Sportskeeda were lucky enough to be a part of the call.

Getting the opportunity to listen to someone like Vince was fascinating, and while we still have many questions that need answering, the building blocks are in place for what is sure to be one of the wildest rides in sports history.

So with all of that being said, here are 5 important things you need to know about the XFL.

#5 No Vince

Vinnie Mac will be taking a step back

Unlike the original XFL before it, this incarnation of the league will not feature any extended appearances from Vince McMahon or members of the WWE family. Vince himself confirmed on the conference call that he’ll be taking a step back in terms of being an on-screen member of the product, and that’s not just restricted to himself.

There will be no crossovers of any kind from WWE, which is something that McMahon has probably realised was a contributing factor to the XFL’s downfall the first time around. Many fans didn’t enjoy how strong the association was between the two brands, and moving forward, it seems like things are going to be much more professional.

#4 Strict Entry

Johnny Football may not be invited to the party

For those of you hoping to see Johnny Manziel take part in the new XFL, we’ve got some bad news. The former Texas A&M stand-out tweeted his interest in the formation of the league, only to realise that his issues with the law in the past mean that he probably won’t be granted access to play on a weekly basis.

That goes for anyone who wants to play, too, with Vince stating that even a DUI will lead to expulsion from the league. They seem to be more interested in the quality of the person as opposed to the quality of the player, and while that seems like a good idea on the face of it, some talented free agents could fall through the cracks as a result.

#2 Different Rules

Will nicknames be allowed?

Although this will officially be an alternative version of the gridiron, it seems as if there are plenty of other changes that will be introduced in the coming months. Vince hinted at eliminating halftime in addition to making the game ‘faster’, with many pundits speculating what exactly that was going to entail.

Things like the opening scramble for the ball and the nicknames on the back of jerseys from the first XFL will probably be considered too, although there was no confirmation one way or another. One thing is for sure, though, the XFL is going to look incredibly different to the National Football League that we all know and love.

#2 2020 Release

We've got two years of waiting ahead of us

As you can probably tell at this stage by the hashtag and the company’s official Twitter handle, the XFL will officially launch in 2020. That gives Vinnie Mac two years to put all of the pieces in place, and although that seems like a long way away, fans who were around for the first XFL will probably be thankful to hear about the time frame.

You see, the original incarnation of the XFL was announced just twelve months before things actually got underway. At the time it seemed like a silly idea and looking back on it, that’s probably an accurate statement. There were just too many problems with the league from the get-go, which is why it ceased operations so quickly.

#1 No Cities Confirmed

Will old franchises be revived?

For those of you hoping to see the Los Angeles Xtreme or the Memphis Maniax take part in the new XFL, you may be out of luck. On the call, Vince stated that they haven’t even begun to look into which cities or markets they’re going to explore, although he did confirm that there will be 8 teams which each having 40 man rosters.

When asked about whether or not old franchises will be revived, he appeared to lean towards wanting entirely new teams – unless the fans thought otherwise. So if you’re hoping that your city will get the nod, then you may have to wait a while until you get a definitive answer.

One thing we do know, though, is that the boss still has the biggest grapefruits in the business.