by Brian Davis

Created on: March 04, 2007   Last Updated: May 20, 2007

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. But I'll try to maybe try to answer from both points of view.

First of all, let's look at the positive direction that the WWE is heading. Ticket sales for live televised weekly and pay per view events are virtual sell outs. The amount of money made at the gate has to be at least $100,000 or more for the televised events. With WrestleMania 23 in Detroit being held at Ford Field, the amount of money made at the gate could be $10,000,000 or more given that there will be 20,000 floor seats with prices ranging from $200-$500.

Merchandising is at an all time high. From t-shirts, DVD's, posters and other items that can be purchased, fans can buy items to honor their favorite wrestler or wrestlers and to commemorate the event they have attended.

The internet has played a positive role in wrestling. Certain wrestling web sites have made it possible for wrestling fans to keep up with what is going on with their favorite wrestlers in and outside of the ring.

But negatively, the internet has ruined wrestling as well. We as wrestling fans lost "the element of surprise" when it comes to wrestling. Before the internet, we as wrestling fans were surprised to see wrestlers out of the blue appear from one organization to the next. Now with the internet, we're informed with what wrestler's contract is up, where the wrestler may be headed and what future story line the wrestler may be involved with.

Speaking of story lines, the story lines or "angles" that involves the wrestlers are very stale and weak. Sometimes, story lines are "recycled". For example, the John Cena/ Eric Bischoff feud from June 2004-November 2005 directly mirrors the legendary Steve Austin/ Vince McMahon feud from April 1998-April 2001. As a wrestling fan, story lines need to captivate one's imagination as well as make you feel that you can relate with how the story line goes.

Talent is at its all time best in the WWE, but if you don't know how to use or direct the talent, then it's bad. That falls on the promoter as well as the creative writing team, the bookers and the agents. The WWE misses someone like Steve Austin and The Rock because not only they know how to wrestle very well but with promos that they do, they know how to turn on an audience with a blink of an eye. They had the "it" factor, the charisma that you knew something special would happen when they get "air time". Even though John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Vince can capture an audience, it's not as responsive as Austin and The Rock was.

Last but certainly, not least, competition brings out the best in anything and everything that you do. When ECW went out of business in January 2001 and Vince McMahon bought WCW in March 2001, he eliminated the competiton although he only viewed WCW as competition because he often traded "talent" with ECW on many occasions. But with no competition, Vince and the WWE can run or go in any direction they want because they are the "only show in town". Even though TNA and Ring of Honor has great wrestling shows, they can't compete on their level, money wise that is. When WCW and WWE were in a ratings war from 1995-2001, the wrestling business was at an all time high because it brought out the best in both companies with the wrestling fans being the real winners out of all this.

So as you can see, there is no clear cut answer to the question. The answer really lies with the wrestling fans and with that, there is no clear cut answer with what direction the WWE or wrestling in general is heading.

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