10 Things WWE Doesn't Want You To Know About Independent Wrestling

1. WWE Is Actively Trying To Kill It OUTRIGHT

Kenny Omega All In
WWE.com

WWE knows all of this, deep down. It just doesn't want you to know.

News emerged this past week that, in an attempt to butter up a returning Tommy Dreamer, WWE offered to pay him a sizeable sum of money to simply close down his indy league House Of Hardcore. Was WWE morally concerned with its violent output, or was even the slightest competition perceived as a threat to shut down?

WWE very hastily announced the United Kingdom Championship tournament of early 2017. It took place mere weeks after the World Of Sport relaunch aired on UK's ITV on New Year's Eve... a channel with far more reach than WWE's UK broadcaster Sky Sports. Ahead of the launch of NXT UK, WWE signed Wild Boar to an "extended tryout" deal. As part of the deal, he was unable to perform for WoS just in case WWE fancied signing him on a full-time basis. Spiting talent and competing promotions alike, this was the work of a company using the darkest arts to stem the tide.

The problem is that this tide cannot be stemmed; the surging attendances of indy shows and the reluctance of elite indy starlets to sign with WWE indicates that we are in the midst of a pro wrestling renaissance.

Long may it continue.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!