10 Big Questions About Future Of WWE’s UK Brand
4. What Are WWE's Motivations?
No question offers a more accurate glimpse into WWE’s British plans than that of their motivations. It’s incredibly difficult to predict what will happen in the United Kingdom until the company’s reasons for being there become apparent, and while the tournament’s success suggests that good things are on the horizon, it might be wise to temper your enthusiasm.
The cynical viewpoint is that WWE have no real ambition in the UK other than stifling World of Sport’s potential rebirth. If ITV push ahead with their plans, they’ll have a product that’s immediately available in every household in the UK. That’s a cause for concern for WWE, as Raw and SmackDown currently air in the small hours of Tuesday and Wednesday morning, and don’t attract huge audiences on Sky Sports.
On the other side, optimists believe that Triple H in particular understands the value of other promotions succeeding, and that WWE’s recent expansions are the result of a desire to foster mutually beneficial relationships with said promotions. It seems to be working well thus far, and WWE’s agreements with companies like PROGRESS and EVOLVE have only produced positive results.
If WWE are only in it to reduce WOS’s market share, then there’s little hope for a UK brand. They’ll soon forget about it, and the show will become an afterthought. If WWE are driven by more altruistic motivations, however, then big things could be on the horizon.