Shapiro’s desire to continue to raise prices for WWE’s weekly programming and cut down on live events has led fans to question if the company would be better off with McMahon at the helm again. In addition, TKO’s constant sponsorship integration on WWE’s ring mats, barricades, tables and announces desks during programs such as “WWE Raw” or “WWE SmackDown” have continued to garner criticism from both fans and wrestlers alike. Although McMahon was never shy to host sponsored matchups, many feel that he would’ve refused to incorporate any branding on the ring mat, which is often viewed as the most sacred ground in professional wrestling.

Prices have not only increased for fans attending WWE events, but also for those watching at home, as viewers in the United States are required to be a subscriber to Netflix as well as USA Network on cable in order to watch the promotion’s weekly shows. Earlier this year, the current price of WWE’s tickets drew the attention of one of the company’s biggest stars when Randy Orton discovered that a floor seat at WrestleMania 41 cost $30,000. This prompted “The Viper” to call the price “embarrassing” and couldn’t believe fans had to pay that much for a single seat. Going forward, it remains to be seen if WWE can still sellout events heading into 2026 with ticket prices increasing, or if fans will finally say enough is enough and gradually decide to stop attending shows completely.