10 Times WWE Got Its Ass Kicked

10. The World Is Not Enough

Starting proceedings off on a lighter note, who'd have thought a 600-seater wrestling-themed eatery in amongst some of the best in the country would turn out to be a stupid idea? Clearly, not WWE.

From WWF New York to The World, WWE's decision to venture into the restaurant and nightclub business only served to deal the company plenty of financial headaches.

When Vince McMahon leased the Paramount Theatre in Times Square, the hope was to use this hotspot location to spread the brand message of the company and to bring new eyes to all things sports entertainment. And while WWF New York did have its upside and its fun moments, the concept was ultimately one destined to fail.

It's long been said that any sort of business housed in Times Square is one that will never turn a direct profit, and instead the location is best used as a PR tool - something that WWE found out the hard way with this business idea.

In the tax years ending April 2002 and April 2003, WWE lost a combined total of over $50 million on what had by that point been rebranded as The World. As such, it was no surprise whatsoever when the call was made to pull the plug in February '03 - with WWE having been financially kicked in the balls by this doomed venture.