8 Big Lessons WWE Must Learn From 2018
6. Fox Wants Numbers
WWE executives George Barrios and Michelle Wilson are the two allegedly most responsible for brokering the incredible contracts that saw the company trouser around a billion dollars apiece for the next half-decade of Raw and SmackDown Live content on the USA Network and Fox Sports respectively.
These were obviously the exact right deals to make at the exact right time for WWE, and whilst USA will remain pleased to keep the flagship as something of a cornerstone, the blue brand offering reflects a potential change of tact for how the company have presented the product largely untested by those that air it.
The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer commented in December that Fox were looking for big numbers from their latest investment, not just the continued steady decline that passes for passable in this post-television age. Numbers are likely to creep up based on Fox's reach alone, but the channel wants an increase beyond what they can do for the company, and why shouldn't they? This isn't something WWE needed to be told in 2018, but Fox made noise about it anyway as if to ruffle the requisite feathers.
Vince McMahon has always been pretty good - or pretty mad - when forced from his comfort zone. His net profit could be a net gain for the viewership too.