10 Secrets Behind WWE's Stunning Current Success
6. The Bloodline
We are sadly long past the era where one story or character or feud can have a direct impact on business metrics, and WWE's bank balance is all the more secure for that. But if such things still existed, graphs would be pointing upwards thanks to the runaway recent success of The Bloodline.
The undulating months-long saga reached its latest earth-shattering apex at the Royal Rumble. An extended post-match segment designed to help get the story to Elimination Chamber in February (which itself will have huge WrestleMania ramifications) drew the type of pop rarely heard in cavernous stadiums, and spoke to how much audiences are engaged with the ongoing adventures of literally every person in the story.
Sami Zayn was known as the 'Underdog From The Underground', but neither of these descriptors were ever really true, no matter how much WWE enjoyed marginalising the independent scene he'd been a standout on when he signed in 2012. He wasn't an underdog - he was a Champion that was overlooked, but no more. He has Roman's attention, the fans' affection, and The Uso brotherhood divided in their loyalties towards him.
On the post-Royal Rumble Monday Night Raw, the company began folding in another important element of the whole thing and another huge reason why WWE can claim an awful lot of momentum...