10 Things WWE Stole From The Indies

WWE's relationship with independent wrestling promotions has never been as interesting as it is today.

While Vince McMahon's promotion still go out of their way to no-sell many of their competitors' existences ('sup, Impact?), they've spent the last few years developing working relationships with several smaller companies. Former Ring Of Honor man Gabe Sapolsky's EVOLVE have provided WWE with a regular conveyor belt of talent since 2015, while British promotions ICW and PROGRESS continue working closely with the company, to the point where we may see both on the Network someday.

Despite this, WWE have always taken more from wrestling's lower reaches than they've given back, such is the nature of the business. WWE's indomitable market share means they're free to pilfer these promotions as they please, with no fear of repercussion, and they're as ruthless as ever in 2017.

While much of what happens on the sport's smaller stages isn't suited to mainstream audiences, plenty of it is. If WWE see something they like, they'll snatch it without second thought, and nothing's safe, whether it's a gimmick, storyline, or an entire promotion-wide concept.

Here are the fruits of their plundering.

The Usos are one of the best things in WWE at the moment.

Turning heel in 2016 has transformed them from one of the promotion's stalest acts into company-wide highlights, with their new personalities absolutely pivotal to the resurgence. Once a set of bland, smiley babyfaces, they've been reborn through menace, violence, and unpredictability, with their manic call-and-response promo style unlike anything else in the company.

As unique as this is within WWE, however, the act should be more than a little familiar to anyone with their eye on the independent circuit. It's not a total ripoff, but there are plenty of similarities between The Usos' current personas and what Ring Of Honor legends The Briscoe Brothers were doing many moons ago, particularly when it comes to promos.

Jimmy & Jey obviously lack Jay & Mark's country-fried drawl, but there are times when it sounds like they're reading from an old Briscoes script, particularly when they get frenzied. Their attire, too, is remarkably similar to the Briscoes, though the ROH duo have undergone several image transformations since they last decked out in black tank tops.

This shouldn't detract from your enjoyment of The Usos, but their influences are clear.