10 Problems WWE Has With Modern WrestleManias

The longer show times, the increase in adverts, the shout outs to sponsors; it’s all linked to a desire to increase revenue for WWE. The WWE Network is to blame for this.

Thanks to the WWE Network offering every PPV for $9.99 a month, PPV buys have decreased drastically, but the admin cost of running the Network has simultaneously eaten into WWE’s profit margins. WrestleMania 32 was one of the biggest events in WWE history, but because it cost so much to produce, and the average viewer was paying less than they previously would have to watch it, WWE wound up making less money than they did with WrestleMania 31.

Now, the WWE Network has made wrestling more accessible than ever before, and for all its quirks and flaws, it is a net gain for WWE fans. For WWE itself, on the other hand, it’s a double-edged sword, and could be actively reducing the quality of each WrestleMania event. In order to try and increase PPV buys from casual fans (presuming more dedicated fans pay for the Network, while lapsed or drifting viewers don’t), WWE will advertise older stars and more established names in favour of up-and-comers, regardless of their popularity. If they didn’t, there’s always the chance that WWE could wind up making a loss with each WrestleMania.

Somewhere along the line, things have reached a stage of imbalance - something that ought to be addressed if WrestleMania is to return to its glory days as a high quality and financially lucrative show.