If it wasn't for the fans.....

By now we have all seen WWE go up in price in not only tickets to events but but in cost to watch their shows on streaming apps. Their programs span across multiple apps making it difficult to afford to watch in 2025. The HHH era was very fun to watch but it seems like that didn't last to long before it became the TKO era. The HHH era gave back to fans as WWE listened and made it happen. It was exciting and fun and appreciated by the WWE Universe. We finally felt we had a say in what happens with storylines and talent and things we would like to see. Since Endeavor purchased WWE and created TKO Group Holdings things have drastically changed. With Endeavor owning a majority controlling stake of 51% in TKO and WWE shareholders owning the remaining 49% we know who is calling the shots. It's also been reported that NXT will now have 8 PLE's a year alongside  2 days of Wrestlemania and 2 days of Summerslam. Wrestlemania 42 has been moved from New Orleans to Las Vegas and everything WWE does seems to be for money purposes. I understand. They have to make money. That is a given. But when the money becomes more important then the fans it becomes a problem for the fans.

One saying in wrestling that has been said by wrestlers from all promotions worldwide is "if it wasn't for the fans.....".  If it wasn't for the fans showing up to shows cheering and booing, if it wasn't for the fans buying merchandise, if it wasn't for the fans asking for autographs, if it wasn't for fans showing appreciation in every way possible. If it wasn't for the fans. Now in 2025 it's the fans being priced out. It's way to expensive to go to a WWE show. It's also too expensive to be able to buy all the apps required to watch their shows on tv. This isn't Triple H's fault or the fault of all the WWE superstars we love to watch. It's obviously the people who own 51%. Maybe UFC fans are willing to pay high prices for tickets to UFC events but wrestling fans are not those fans. I feel like TKO is trying to replace the wrestling fans with fans that resemble UFC fans who pay high ticket prices. Wrestling fans are kids and moms and families and grandkids and grandparents and teenagers who work a 9 to 5. Those are not the same fans you see at a UFC event. 70 bucks to 100 bucks for a nosebleed seat at Friday Night Smackdown isn't that bad. $509 for 1 floor ticket at Friday Night Smackdown is on the crazy side. Especially if you want to take your family. A little further back in seats tickets go for $109 which is expensive but worth it to save money for and possible. If you never been to a WWE event it's a whole vibe. Regardless of where you sit you will get caught up in the crowd chants and the overall feeling everyone there is apart of. WWE events are truly a very fun time. Us as fans who have attended WWE shows know that which is why the high prices hurt us and disappoint us. Some people might have to save money from multiple paychecks in order to buy a ticket. Others might be able to afford many tickets from one paycheck. What we can't do is sacrifice rent or a car payment or any kind of bills to buy a ticket or streaming service.

 Let's be honest, the wrestling community has never been big money, expensive cars, mansions and yachts. We have always been the people Dusty Rhodes was talking about in the Hard Times promo. But the twist is we are all Dusty Rhodes and WWE is putting hard times on us and TKO, you don't know what hard times are daddy.

Shadow La Fuente.