10 Most Desperate Ways WWE Got You To Watch

4. McMahon's Million Dollar Mania

Million Dollar Mania
WWE.com

We're struggling to create new stars. Developmental is a shambles.

There's no new John Cenas or Batistas in a pipeline blocked by big Johnny Laurinaitis and his bumbling incompetence. Any new star that does seem to connect to the audience doesn't look like they're juiced to the gills, a practise we've reluctantly banned, so their push won't last. Pal, one of these guys outright says they won't take anything, and it's a shoot. What a perfect poster boy for this brave new PG era!

But he looks too much like he isn't on anything, which while ideal for the latest promotional strategy is not what we're after, so let's put him in the midcard. Even though we've just strapped him up. F*ck it, it's only the WCW one.

Look, the whole thing is obviously an inscrutable mess, but stop whining: how about we just pay you to watch the f*cking thing instead?

^^^The above was the express purpose behind the 'McMahon Million Dollar Mania' disaster of the summer of 2008. WWE attempted to get you to watch by giving away money, a not exactly eye-watering amount at a time, undermining the entire point, and Vince couldn't even work the blower 14 years ago.

An anti-spectacle and a monumental self-own, it made WWE look pitiful.

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!