It’s no secret that WWE viewership is falling. However, even at its worst, millions of fans tune in to watch professional wrestling on a weekly basis because sports entertainment is still a way of life for hundreds across the globe.
While detractors describe WWE as ‘fake fighting’ and ‘staged combat’, fans still pack stadiums to watch these men and women lay it all on the line and send them back home, bearing a world of fond memories.
What are the factors that have caused WWE to remain such a cherished form of entertainment for fans even in 2017? Team Sportskeeda investigates the same.
#5 Unique characters
WWE very openly admits the fact that while it does have elements of sports, it is also an entertainment venture. As a result of the same, we have seen a variety of interesting characters in sports entertainment history through time.
While UFC does have its share of colourful characters such as Conor McGregor, it’s not the same as The Undertaker playing a dead man out for violent retribution. Similarly, while Ronda Rousey may be an intriguing personality, she isn’t nearly as strange as a flame demon from Hell like Kane.
Also read: 5 things UFC does better than WWE
Granted, some people find this rather ‘cartoony’ aspect of sports entertainment ridiculous; but it connects with fans who want a fantasy gateway from the rigours of the real world. In sports entertainment, they find their escape.
#4 Gimmick matches
We have seen many violent matches inside the octagon. In many of them, we’ve seen mixed martial arts practitioners put their lives and health on the line, to battle for championships and pride.
However, we’ve never seen MMA fighters being put through tables or jumping off Hell in a Cell.
Gimmick matches are still a huge draw in WWE. Since the workers involved are generally working with one another, and not working against each other, a lot of potentially life-threatening spots can be carried out in a safe environment.
This does change things up from your typical match and allows the performers involved to tell a compelling story that lasts the test of time. Cases in point- Undertaker vs Mankind in (actually on) Hell in a Cell, and Shawn Michaels vs Razor Ramon in the first ever ladder match in history.
The drama of gimmick matches helps keep WWE fresh!
#3 Safer environment
Despite the risks that WWE performers take every time they step through the ropes, it's not as dangerous as facing an opponent in the octagon who is baying for your blood. Each hit from a trained fighter can not only shatter you physically but emotionally as well.
Emulating a fight has its own share of risks for sure, but all in all, it's a much safer environment inside the ring than inside the accursed octagon.
Granted, there have been many examples of shoot fighting in WWE.
The Brawl For All Tournament of the 90s that pitted wrestlers in actual fights is one example. As is the usage of ‘strong style’ by Shinsuke Nakamura that dismantled workers like Austin Aries and Samoa Joe. However, they too pale in comparison to some MMA bloodbaths.
#2 Uneven contests
The UFC is characterised by different weight classes, with different championship titles for each, so as to be fair to the competitors involved.
With the exception of 205 Live, WWE has no such rules and regulations, considering that it is not a real sporting contest at all. As a result, we can see mismatched contests such as James Ellsworth taking on Braun Strowman or even Daniel Bryan going against the significantly larger Randy Orton and Dave Batista.
Truth be told, such mismatched contests sometimes make the best stories.
An ancillary point is that while every UFC fight is about sporting glory, WWE has different stories for every match, making them very interesting indeed. Moving on...
#1 Capitalising on legacy
Raw is one of the longest running episodic shows in the history of the entertainment industry. To a lesser degree, so is the blue brand- Smackdown.
The Royal Rumble, Summerslam, Survivor Series, and (especially) Wrestlemania are well-known properties not just for wrestling fans but even to casual fans around the globe. WWE has a rich tradition of being ingrained in the culture and the tradition of the common man,
The UFC has become a household name off late, and while it is ever growing, it is not as much of a cultural phenomenon as wrestling was during Hulkamania and the Attitude Era. Will it ever topple WWE? Only time will tell.
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