10 Times WWE Got Its Ass Kicked
Sagging ratings, financial catastrophes, and controversies aplenty.
Away from the squared circle, WWE is a world famously filled with ludicrous highs and terrible lows. Take here in 2020, for example. TV ratings are going from all-time low to all-time low, yet WWE is on track to bring in a staggering $1 billion revenue for the year – largely due to mammoth FOX and Saudi Arabia deals the company has penned in recent times.
Despite the successes achieved over the decades, WWE has likewise been beaten down at so many turns throughout those years. Sometimes justified, sometimes not justified. Sometimes due to their own behaviour, sometimes due to matters out of their hands.
These beatings have come in the shape of ratings battles, financial hits, or in some extremely serious accusations and controversies. And it’s only right to emphasise that, while some of the entries featured here are of the more light-hearted variety, some of the other topics covered are of a far more serious nature.
Rightly or wrongly throughout these black eyes on the company, Vince McMahon and WWE have continued to power forward in their usual stubborn, pig-headed way as they drive their own personal narrative - even though some of these issues and moments in time would’ve derailed so many other organisations.
With that in mind then...
10. The World Is Not Enough
Starting proceedings off on a lighter note, who'd have thought a 600-seater wrestling-themed eatery in amongst some of the best in the country would turn out to be a stupid idea? Clearly, not WWE.
From WWF New York to The World, WWE's decision to venture into the restaurant and nightclub business only served to deal the company plenty of financial headaches.
When Vince McMahon leased the Paramount Theatre in Times Square, the hope was to use this hotspot location to spread the brand message of the company and to bring new eyes to all things sports entertainment. And while WWF New York did have its upside and its fun moments, the concept was ultimately one destined to fail.
It's long been said that any sort of business housed in Times Square is one that will never turn a direct profit, and instead the location is best used as a PR tool - something that WWE found out the hard way with this business idea.
In the tax years ending April 2002 and April 2003, WWE lost a combined total of over $50 million on what had by that point been rebranded as The World. As such, it was no surprise whatsoever when the call was made to pull the plug in February '03 - with WWE having been financially kicked in the balls by this doomed venture.