Competition, not monopolies, is what breeds the most creativity and is what ultimately set the Attitude Era in motion. It took two, top-tier wrestling organizations battling for ratings supremacy to force Stone Cold, The Rock, DX, and the genesis of Mr. McMahon into the spotlight. Without that heated competition (and all of the talent poaching that came with it), there's a very real possibility that the WWE fizzled out, rather than enjoying the commercial boom that followed. It would be foolish not to credit Eric Bischoff at least a little for the Attitude Era. When WCW was at its peak, fostering in the nWo and cashing in on the name recognition of former WWE stars, Vince McMahon became more than a little desperate to get a win in the ratings war. Luckily for us, he channeled that desperation into fueling a more in-your-face product. But once WCW ran itself into the ground (and right into Vince's bankroll), the shine started to wear off the WWE product. It slowly diminished because, once you emerge the undisputed victor without any new challengers to keep you on your toes, it's easy to get soft. Yes, TNA is technically a competitor to WWE nowadays, but there's nothing close to resembling a rating's war happening there. TNA tried to compete alongside WWE on Monday nights for a few months, but ultimately ran back to its Thursday night slot once the people in charge realized they simply couldn't compete. We need another major promotion to enter the picture if WWE is ever going to get back to its prime.
