Best For Business: 5 Times Vince McMahon Knew Better Than His Critics

3. Embracing A Streaming Platform

The concept of the WWE Network as a streaming platform didn't electrify everyone at first blush.

The WWE Network was a conversation piece for years before WWE fully realized their vision. Early conversations envisioned a proper cable network along the lines of The Golf Network or The Food Network that would air programming related to WWE, including tapping into the vast archives at the company’s disposal.

When WWE rolled out plans for the WWE Network in January 2014, the word that it would be streaming platform fell flat to some critics. After all, an extended version of WWE.com didn’t necessarily feel like a huge step forward. Would fans be willing to pay, not for a specific event, but to have access to a library and the promise of future wrestling events?

It turns out WWE was ahead of the curve, effectively taking a step away from the PPV model in favor of tapping into a similar ethos to a brand like Netflix. Rolling PPVs into the $9.99 per month pricing structure has felt like a bargain to fans and insulated the company against more expensive PPVs from other promotions. The vast library of not only WWE-produced, but WWE-owned wrestling content makes the Network a must-have for hardcore fans.