10 Common Misconceptions About Modern Day WWE

It’s easy to be cynical about WWE’s recent expansion. Triple H himself has been particularly vocal in his desire for WWE to expand their horizons and form links with smaller promotions, and recent months have seen the company build new working agreements with companies like EVOLVE and PROGRESS. The pessimistic viewpoint is that WWE are only doing this for their own gain - so that they can cherry-pick talent and steal the independents’ buzz - but there’s little evidence to support this at the moment.

WWE’s relationship with PROGRESS allowed Finn Balor and Tommy End to appear on the company’s recent Birmingham show. EVOLVE, meanwhile, is fast en route to becoming a breeding ground for WWE’s next wave of talent, with the likes of TJ Perkins, Drew Gulak, Tony Nese, and Kassius Ohno all recently joining WWE.

Companies like PROGRESS produce an excellent product, but they’re never going to be a realistic threat to WWE. WWE have no incentive whatsoever to try and drive them out of business, and Triple H has spoken openly about the all-round importance of these companies thriving. That isn’t to say WWE’s incursions into independent wrestling won’t be without negative implications, but for now, they seem to benefit both WWE and the independents.