5. Long Term Future
In addition to digital media, the long term future of both WWE and UFC is tied in other ways. If they end up on the same Network which they could do with the WWE TV rights discussions ongoing, then there'll inadvertently be cross promotion and audience sharing just like 2005. The fact is that both UFC and WWE are still locked on the same target market, 18 to 35 year old males. The future is built around who best engages that audience. WWE might target PG but their ratings reflect they're still an adult audience. As both companies look to the long term future they'll continue to learn and adapt from each other. We've already seen this happening with UFC learning the power of feuds from WWE. Likewise McMahon is learning from UFC the importance of fans wanting a more hard hitting product - which if you take a look at WWE ring style from the last few years it's increasingly the 'in' thing to use MMA influenced move sets with stars like Punk, Bryan, Lesnar and Undertaker. Going after the same fanbase, UFC and WWE constantly have their eyes on each other whether they want to admit it or not. The future of WWE will involve more MMA style realism, meanwhile the UFC will try to recreate WrestleMania when they eventually book a supershow at Cowboys Stadium or Madison Square Garden when New York finally allows MMA.