Is WWE Going Under?

Is WWE going under? That’s the question on many fans’ minds as the company’s stock continues to plummet. Could WWE be heading for a financial crash?

WWE’s Struggles

WWE is a publicly traded company and therefore, their financials are available for the public to see. In recent years, WWE has been struggling financially. Their tv ratings are down, live event attendance is down, and merchandise sales are down. So, what is the cause of WWE’s struggles?

WWE’s declining ratings

Since the early 2000s, WWE has been facing declining ratings. In 2000, the company’s flagship show Monday Night Raw drew an average of 8.1 million viewers per week. In 2019, that number had declined to 2.4 million.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to WWE’s declining ratings. The first is the increased competition from other entertainment options. In 2000, there were far fewer channels and streaming options available, so people were more likely to watch whatever was on TV. Nowadays, there are so many choices that people can be more selective about what they watch.

Another factor is that WWE’s target demographic has changed over the years. In the early 2000s, the company was targeting young adults 18-34 years old. Nowadays, they are targeting a younger demographic of 2-11 year olds. This is due to the fact that WWE’s main competitors – All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) – are targeting the 18-34 year old demographic.

WWE is also facing declines in popularity in some of their key markets, such as the United States and United Kingdom. In the US, Raw’s ratings have declined steadily since 2014. In the UK, wrestling’s popularity has been on a decline since 2005.

WWE’s financial struggles

WWE is a publicly traded company, and as such, their financials are available for anyone to see. Their 2017 annual report showed that the company lost $4.14 per share in 2017, which was an improvement from the $8.22 per share they lost in 2016. In terms of revenue, WWE brought in $729 million in 2017, which was a 9% decline from 2016. These numbers are not good, but they pale in comparison to the numbers WWE put up in 2015. In 2015, WWE lost $0.32 per share and generated $676 million in revenue. So, while WWE is not doing great financially, they are far from being on the brink of ruin.

WWE’s biggest problem is that their live event business has been declining for years. TV rights fees have been increasing ( thanks largely to the new deal with FOX ), but live event revenue has been declining. In 2015, WWE generated $172 million from live events. In 2017, that number had declined to just $140 million. That is a more than 20% decline in just two years. That trend continued into 2018 with WWE reporting that live event revenue declined again in the first quarter of 2018.

WWE’s Competition

WWE has been on top of the wrestling world for a long time. However, they are starting to see some stiff competition. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is a new promotion that is starting to get some attention. They are backed by the Khan family, who also own the Jacksonville Jaguars. AEW has already signed some big names, including Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes. WWE is also facing competition from independent promotions, such as Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

All Elite Wrestling

On October 2nd, 2018 it was announced that Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), and Kenny Omega had left WWE. This was a huge deal as these were some of WWE’s most popular stars. They decided to start their own company called All Elite Wrestling.

AEW’s goal is to be an alternative to WWE. They want to provide fans with something new and different. So far they have signed some big names like Chris Jericho, PAC, Jon Moxley, and Riho. They have also signed a deal with TNT to air their weekly show on Wednesday nights at 8pm EST.

Many people are wondering if AEW will be able to compete with WWE. Only time will tell but it’s certainly going to be interesting to watch!

New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1972 by Antonio Inoki. NJPW is one of the “Big Four” promotions in Japan, along with All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1. It was headquartered in Tokyo until 2012 when it moved its headquarters to Nakano, Tokyo.

Since 2007, NJPW has been in a partnership with the American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), considered by some to be a major competitor to WWE. In 2015, NJPW and ROH announced the formation of a new global non-profit organization called New beginning in Los Angeles, California.

Other recent competitors to WWE include Global Force Wrestling (which was founded by Jeff Jarrett in 2014) and Impact Wrestling (formerly known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling or TNA).

WWE’s Future

WWE has been on a downward trend for a while now. Their ratings are down, the company is in debt, and they are losing talent to other companies. WWE is a company that is in trouble and they need to make some changes if they want to survive.

WWE’s possible demise

In recent years, WWE has seen a decline in popularity and a loss in viewers. Many fans have stopped watching due to the company’s ever-changing product, which many feel is no longer entertaining. In addition, WWE has been facing increased competition from other wrestling companies, such as All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

While WWE is still the biggest wrestling company in the world, it is no longer the undisputed king of the industry. If WWE does not make some changes soon, it is possible that the company could go under.

WWE’s possible resurgence

In recent years, WWE has been facing declining ratings and a general lack of interest from fans. However, there are signs that WWE may be on the verge of a resurgence.

One reason for this is WWE’s recent focus on younger talent. The company has signed a number of talented young wrestlers to its NXT developmental brand, and these wrestlers are starting to make their way up to the main roster. Additionally, WWE has been investing more heavily in its female wrestlers, which has led to more entertaining and competitive matches.

Furthermore, WWE is currently in the process of launching its own streaming service, which will give fans access to a wider range of content. This move could attract new fans and help WWE retain its existing fan base.

Thus, while WWE faces some challenges at present, there are also reasons to be optimistic about the company’s future.