WWE And UFC: 10 Shared Values Of Sports Entertainment

7. The Cult Of Personality

One of the most interesting shared values of WWE and UFC is they're both headed by cults of personality. It's hard to imagine WWE without Vince McMahon, likewise it's difficult to imagine UFC without Dana White. They are the embodiment of what their business stands for, powerful and creative figures who lead with forceful personality. What we can learn from this is that a sports entertainment business needs a cult leader. Even WCW had it with Bischoff. By having a man who will put his neck on the line as the promoter, who will live his business, the company benefits greatly. The ambition of McMahon and White has dragged their business to success. McMahon did it in the 80's when he took a regional company and put it on a global scale via closed circuit broadcasting. White did it in the 2000's when he took a close to extinct cage fight concept and transformed it into a sport. The confidence and unwavering belief made both men multi-millionaires. By the end of 2010 however it was White who was by far the better promoter. More aware and in touch with his audience (literally on twitter) White has been able to promote a product that regularly answers fan expectations. McMahon meanwhile has been lost, but could be set to re-emerge and show White the way with the implementation of the WWE Network.