10 Reasons WWE Was Great In 2016
7. Willingness To Change With The Times
A women's Hell In A Cell match in the main event slot of a PPV, a rookie superstar winning the Universal Title, mat-based, physical and bloody contests similar to what one would see in the UFC- the WWE is changing before our eyes. Although NXT is admittedly better on average than the main roster shows, we have to admit that WWE is at least trying to evolve with the times.
In a year of huge MMA success where Conor McGregor had 3 PPV's of 1 million plus buys and the MMA popularity continues to rise, WWE has copied the formula by allowing more shoot style match elements to piggy back off of the star of UFC. It is more realistic to me for a wrestler to grab a Key Lock than 10 punch in the corner anyway.
In terms of the women, give credit where it is due: we are witnessing one of the best women's rivalries in history between two excellent performers in Sasha Banks and Charlotte. This "push" to feature the women also takes a page from UFC and the success of Ronda Rousey and her rise to the main event of the shoot style fight world.
WWE needs to stay relevant by adapting elements of real life fighting and other current events in order to not fall behind. Hopefully this trend continues.