10 Reasons Conor McGregor Would Become WWE's Franchise Player
4. Unparalleled Popularity
It goes without saying that Conor McGregor is one of the most talked-about sportsmen in the world today. His presence has been a godsend to the UFC, particularly in the absence of Ronda Rousey, and he’s on course to break his own viewership record after UFC 205. Company president Dana White has confirmed that the event set a new live gate record of $17.7 million, and when the PPV buyrate is announced, it’s expected to destroy Conor’s own UFC 202 record - 1.65 million buys.
Put McGregor on WWE television and the ratings would spike immediately. While other special guests are typically met with eye rolls and apathy, Conor would attract disenfranchised wrestling fans, curious MMA viewers, and going by recent UFC events, half of Ireland’s population. He’s a gigantic draw, and while it’d be extreme to say he’d single-handedly solve WWE’s ratings crisis, he’d certainly help matters.
As such, McGregor would be treated like royalty by WWE. He’d become an immediate centerpiece, and the competitor around which everything else is built. Everyone would know who he is from the minute he walked through the door, and whether playing heel or face, his popularity would soar. If Vince McMahon loves anything, it’s a performer who can increase his viewership: McGregor is exactly that.