10 Compelling Pieces Of Evidence That Prove Wrestling Is Worse Than It's Ever Been

WWE defenders are quick to argue that TV ratings don't matter because WWE doesn't receive ad revenue, they are just paid by the USA Network to produce television and receive that money no matter what.

OK, fine...then what about live event attendance?

It's easy for wrestling fans to turn on a television and watch a show but it takes much more commitment to actually pay money to attend a live event. 

However, we're not talking about the 1980s here, when Vince McMahon was running almost a thousand live events every year (different rosters toured different cities on the same days to maximize exposure and revenue). The 80s were a different time when the main cash flow of a promotion came through live event attendance. Today, it's through television.

However, live event attendance is a great indicator of a company's health. At the height of the Attitude Era in the late 1990s, WWE was averaging nearly 10,000 fans per event and was selling out all over the country. Obviously, that indicated a surge in interest and that was reflected in television ratings.

Today, WWE averages around 5,000 fans per live event which is half of what they were drawing 15 years ago. This, also, is reflected in the television ratings.

Making matters worse is TNA who routinely draw houses so embarrassing that the internet has a field day spreading the pictures around. A house show in Beckley, West Virginia drew between 200-300 fans or about the attendance of your average wedding.