10 Alarming Signs Over The Future Of The Pro Wrestling Industry

Is there anything left to look forward to?

On the surface, that's a wildly nihilistic viewpoint, but think deeply about it.

Which scenarios, in your wildest mid-2010s dreams, did you think were too good to be true - but idly thought about anyway, because it was better than watching the Authority feud with office favourite Roman Reigns?

If only Triple H could take over the main roster and rid us all of Vince McMahon for good. If only Steve Austin could make a comeback. If only CM Punk could make a comeback. If only WWE could bring back WarGames; why was such an awesome stipulation left to wither and die, when it wasn't as if there was a surplus of hot new gimmick attractions? If only we could hear outstanding unscripted promos. If only, and this is too wild to dream about, a billionaire could fund a new mainstream competitor and fulfil every naive fantasy of prestige TV-level long-term storytelling.

All of these things actually happened.

Every revered dramatic principle, every fabled institution, every impossible return: it all happened. It's not even hyperbole to state that, over the last five years, the North American pro wrestling industry evolved into a pipe dream production line.

All of this has happened, and generally, week-to-week, the fans in the buildings are actually quieter than they were when these dreams weren't even elusive but impossible.

What can even follow all of that?

AEW did everything the fanbase wanted. The millennial fanbase; and now that ageing fanbase appears to have had their fill, new ideas that aren't based around that they missed out on for all those years are needed. Triple H and Tony Khan, two aficionados of the territory era, might not be the men to drive wrestling into the future. Perhaps it won't be a man.

Perhaps a new way of presenting stars to the public, something we can't even think to imagine yet, is the true way forward - and that's if the platform will exist to enable that...