7 Uncomfortable Truths About WWE In 2026

5. Adverts Rule WWE

Sol Ruca WWE NXT WrestleMania 39 Cinnamon Toast Crunch
WWE

In keeping with the "profits over people" motif, WWE has gone overboard on its advertising. The idea of a Slim Jim's logo being on a table for added revenue felt like parody when it was first revealed, and now it's just part of WWE's tapestry. An episode of Monday Night Raw in 2026 can feel like adverts with a wrestling show as a sidebar. 

Things took a dramatic and unavoidable turn for the worst at this year's WrestleMania. There was such a lack of in-ring action on Night 1 that the online landscape felt as negative as it ever has. In a four-and-a-half-hour broadcast, under 90 mins of wrestling occurred, as adverts clogged up a severe amount of proceedings. Last year, The War Raiders were made to look goofy in their WrestleMania entrance to advertise Clash of Clans. This year, Penta's entrance was an ad for the new Mortal Kombat movie, and let's do our best to ignore how ESPN and Pat McAfee butchered the "15 years in the making" main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

This isn't even something you can turn a blind eye to. PLE's cost more and are interrupted by more advertising than ever. The ring canvas has sponsors all over it. Commentary will remind you that the match you're watching is presented by DoorDash, State Farm, Cornflakes, Durex, or anyone else who's willing to put money in their pocket. Fans would forgive a lot of this if it didn't disturb their programming, but ads are slowly making WWE unwatchable.

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