This Is The Most Expensive Mistake WWE Ever Made

Paul Heyman Eric Bischoff WWE
WWE.com

Pay-per-view wasn't dead as a model, either; WWE was simply fading as a pro wrestling promotion. There was a mentality that WWE had to do it. It was the direction everything was trending towards.

Since the advent of the Network, several events across boxing and mixed martial-arts have broken a million-plus buys. The record set in 2012 by Floyd Mayweather Vs. Miguel Cotto has been broken four times following the 2014 launch. The paradigm had shifted, yes, but even in the pro wrestling arena, AEW has proven, with a minimum of 100,000+ buys for every pay-per-view it has promoted thus far, that it remains a viable revenue stream. WWE thinks everything else is the problem, remember.

NXT just introduced the Capitol Wrestling Center because it was felt the absence of fans has helped AEW win a ratings war it was already winning handily pre-lockdown. Pressed by shareholders on the same topic, Vince McMahon shrugged and said "It's new" as an explanation that did not also explain the failure of NXT UK, incorporated in 2018. Ratings problems? We've had unfortunate luck with injuries plaguing our 200+ strong roster. We are reimagining our content with two new Executive Directors. We are now firing one of them because it was actually his fault. I can't be in the weeds any longer. Ah, sh*t, ratings are down again. Best get back in those weeds.

The same can arguably said of pay-per-view. Fans didn't want to pay all that money...was cited as the motivation behind the move.

...for WWE, was the detail WWE no-sold.

CONT'D...(5 of 6)

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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!