10 Ways MMA Has Influenced Modern WWE

Here's something you never heard in the early years of the WWF/WWE: "your winner, by way of tap out..."

Yet recent submission victories in the WWE have utilized phrasing that, if you're an MMA fan, you'd be likely to recognize from the cage.

Contrast that with Bret Hart's 1992 victory over Ric Flair for the WWF title in Saskatoon, for example. Flair submitted, Hart took home the gold. Yet as Gorilla Monsoon said "lets get the official word" the only thing announced was "your winner and new World Wrestling Federation champion."

Why does the distinction matter? Well, if you're looking to push the reality angle, you want to underline that submission moves work in the world of the WWE. Which is why they're stressed a little more these days.