10 Reasons Why WWE's Stagnation Will Never End
8. No Incentives
WWE's purchase of WCW has turned out to be one of the worst things to ever happen to professional wrestling, as it ensured that Vince McMahon's company will never have serious competition again.
Their market position is infallible. Impact Wrestling, NJPW, the British indies: none have the necessary resources to ever topple WWE's ivory tower, and barring a sudden influx of mass investment, they'll never dent the McMahons' market share. It's just not realistic.
WWE know this, too. They're safe in the knowledge that they'll always be the industry leaders, no matter what direction they take their product, because the odds of ever going out of business are minuscule. This lack of legitimate competitors means that WWE have no incentive to take risks, listen to their audience, or push their product forward, and it's one of the biggest factors preventing them from advancing.
Vince McMahon won the Monday Night Wars because WCW's success forced him to adapt. Without that threat, the Chairman has no real reason to change his methods. The hardcore audience will never abandon him, and with revenue pouring through the doors in record volumes, him and his company are content to coast on inertia.