10 Major WWE Rumors That Never Came To Pass
1. Global Domination
In the mid-2000s, the entire structure of WWE almost changed, and barely anyone ever found out about it. As reported in The Wrestling Observer at the time, the company was thinking about creating a series of affiliate promotions around the world, in areas in which wrestling was popular. There would still be a WWE running shows as a major entity in the United States, but there'd also be a WWE Mexico, a WWE Japan, a WWE UK, and whatever else they decided was worthwhile.
Would it have worked? It's hard to say. WWE produces a very specific kind of pro wrestling, and they're often blind to what makes wrestling culturally significant around the world. While the company is popular in Mexico and Japan, would it be able to compete with CMLL or New Japan on a regular basis, while halfheartedly trying to create a similar product?
On the one hand, it doesn't seem likely, but on the other, WWE has deep pockets. They could have feasibly afforded to sign up any native stars they wanted.
Ultimately, the plan was dropped - or was it simply delayed?
WWE may very well put a chokehold on the global wrestling industry yet.