10 Things WWE Are Secretly Telling Fans About Their Future
9. ONE FALL On Deaf Ears
Take a random deep dive into the WWE Network's archives and it shouldn't be too hard to find times in which Vince McMahon - in spite of his stubbornness - acknowledged the whims of his fanbase and changed the plotted course. Babyfaces were babyfaces and heels were heels and the business required the personas to resonate, so if audiences didn't respond appropriately the product was tweaked until supply met demand. It never stopped McMahon (somewhat justifiably) believing he knew what fans wanted more than they did, but his drive to deliver was motivated more by money than the combative element of his personality.
In the WWE Network era, McMahon has taken to wringing out every penny from his hardcore audience whilst serving masses of masters with the actual product. The old measures - gates, buyrates et al - are increasingly meaningless. SmackDown Live was the subject of billion dollar negotiations, yet the show routinely plays itself out in front of a half-empty building.
It still builds to a monthly supercard, but that show is technically already paid for by the two million or so Network subscribers even if most of them have only really signed up to watch the shows referenced in this entry's opening paragraph. Fans can't speak to McMahon's instincts anymore no matter how loud they shout - he's literally not even bothered if they don't show up.