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The WWE-ification of the World

Everything is Becoming "Scripted Entertainment" (including all other sports) + a quick history of the $5B WWE

Andrew Petcash's avatar
Andrew Petcash
Apr 24, 2025
∙ Paid
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The WWE-ification of the World
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After watching NFL punter turned media-personality Pat McAfee get choked out on Netflix’s Monday Night Raw…

Gunther chokes out Pat McAfee during "WWE Raw"
image via WWE

I’m convinced the entire world is starting to resemble a WWE storyline.

And probably because it is:

  • Politicians going on comedian podcasts.

  • TikTok pranksters launching 8-figure CPG brands.

  • 10% of U.S. women aged 18–24 now on OnlyFans.

  • New sports leagues and investment funds popping up weekly.

  • Creators having more cultural weight than Holleywood celebs.

It’s a chaotic, entertainment-driven universe…

And the WWE wrote the playbook.

Let’s Dive In 👇

A Quick History of WWE’s Rise

The WWE (formerly WWF) was never really about wrestling.

It’s all about entertainment:

  • Scripted storylines.

  • Clear villains and heroes.

  • Loud entrances, betrayal arcs, fan engagement.

  • High-risk moves paired with drama that keep people talking.

It gained momentum in 1982, when Vince McMahon Jr. acquired the company from his father and leveraged unique personalities, such as Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and The Rock, to achieve mainstream success.

How Vince McMahon First Started Out In The Wrestling Business, Explained

That playbook has now become a $5 billion media product after…

The WWE sold its Monday Night Raw rights to Netflix — the largest single content deal in the streaming giant’s history.

The debut of Raw on Netflix was met with significant viewership success.

The premiere episode garnered approximately 4.9 million global views, including 2.6 million households in the U.S., marking a substantial increase from previous averages on cable television.

Netflix announces WWE Raw premiere averaged 2.6 million U.S. households |  TV ratings, attendance analysis & more - Wrestlenomics

The line between entertainment and reality is gone…

And now everyone’s borrowing from the same script.

Everything is Becoming Entertainment-Infused

The WWE proved that narrative is more effective than competition in driving fan engagement.

And when you take a step back from media (socials, TV, streaming platforms, etc) you start to see some clear similarities…

Here are 7 important trends that stand out to me at the intersection of sports, media, and entertainment:

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