50 Ups & 50 Downs For WWE's Decade: The 2010s

By Michael Hamflett / January 1, 2020

19. The Death Of Nostalgia

Nobody wanted to really admit this one and WWE simply couldn't afford to, but the 2010s gave audiences so many opportunities to say hello the past that they were only too willing to say goodbye by its end.

A lack of stars created the thirst (and need) for older stars on WrestleMania cards, but the philosophy gradually extended to feature on other pay-per-views and eventually special editions of Monday Night Raw. By 2019, frontloading the red brand with old names was the only way to pop a rating but the company simply gave up trying to book them.

Smile and wave, Trish Stratus! Bury all our current stars, The APA! Do an entire opening Raw segment without saying a f*cking word, Stone Cold Steve Austin!