Television rights fees are key to WWE business, so logically wrestling matches and ratings should be important to Vince McMahon, but that isn't really the case. That's because contracts are already set in stone, having been agreed with USA Network back in 2014. Content and ratings won't really become a factor again until the time for renegotiation comes up. As it happens, Raw is still USA' crown jewel even with recent decline and rights fees are actually set to go up based on the current deal. As for the worldwide television, revenue is up 31% to $231 million in 2015. It is this area of business that is so important for WWE, but it is less about the content and more about the people at WWE HQ who are negotiating the deals and keeping the networks happy. That's why we have the PG rating and Roman Reigns on top: it looks good to people at the Networks who don't really know anything about professional wrestling/sports entertainment. Do you think bloody violence and the normal looking Dean Ambrose as WWE Champion would look good to corporate suits who are only concerned with image and the bottom line? That's why Vince makes his critical content secondary. Television deals are hugely important and the product needs to impress deal makers who don't necessarily watch WWE. PG, a guy that looks like Reigns - they are all good for business. As for falling ratings, the USA Network has declined in general. WWE is still the crown jewel, and that's why Vince McMahon hasn't yet panicked over the drop in viewers.
