10 Ideas That WWE Stole From Other Companies

2. The Live TV Format

Monday Night War
WWE.com

As with pay-per-views, WCW pioneered the concept of a live, primetime professional wrestling show. Raw may have debuted two years prior to Nitro’s first broadcast, but it was WCW’s Monday night show that set the tone, and proved that WWE’s usually pre-taped Raw shows were not long for this world.

WCW were willing to do almost anything to get one over on WWE in the Monday Night Wars/early days, and spoiling WWE’s pre-taped Raw results was one of Bischoff’s most frequently-used tactics. By ruining the show and removing viewers’ incentive to watch, Bischoff was successful in spiking Nitro’s weekly ratings while damaging Raw’s.

Eventually, WWE had no choice but to go live. Dwindling audiences forced McMahon’s hand, Raw went live for good in 1999, and WWE propelled to the top of the ratings war shortly afterwards.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.