7 Things WWE Can Learn From Saturday Night Live

WWE and SNL is a more logical connection than you might think.

At some point in 1984, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon probably met Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels as NBC chairman DIck Ebersol began the process of brokering the deal that brought Saturday Night's Main Event to broadcast TV. Then ten years into SNL's iconic 40 year run, there are those who are TV pundits (in the way that What Culture writers are wrestling pundits) who would claim that Michaels is to TV what McMahon is to wrestling. Both are leaders who are synonymous with their brands and oftentimes referred to as creative geniuses. As well, the businesses of wrestling and comedy are similar in that both are unique disciplines that require a particular skill set that can only be honed with time and experience. Therefore, WWE taking lessons from SNL not only has historical context, but also a more logical connection, too. Over Saturday Night Live's 40 year run, the company has had as many ebbs, flows, successes and failures as World Wrestling Entertainment. However, due to some very key differences between WWE and SNL, the late night programming juggernaut may be able to right itself, whereas WWE may be in for a bumpy ride ahead. There are likely much more than seven things WWE can learn from Saturday Night Live. These are likely the best seven of those lessons.
Contributor
Contributor

Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.