>>18489330
WWE is less popular than it's ever been, or at least less so than it has been for 20 years. The proof is the significantly lower ratings and the near zero cultural relevance. Hulk Hogan in the 80s was at a similar level of fame as Michael Jackson or Madonna. But now far more people outside the wrestling bubble STILL know old schools guys like Hogan, Savage, Austin, Taker, etc. than they do the "big" stars of today like Roman and Cody.
The reason WWE gets record profits is:
1) Brand name/value which was built on the success of, and nostalgia for, earlier eras.
2) Selling TV rights and PLE rights to desperate streaming/TV execs that foolishly think WWE can use a similar ad revenue model as live sports. This always fails but TKO/WWE is good at working the executive marks.
3) Foreign governments pay WWE tons of money for shows there, again based on nostalgia for better wrestling and bigger stars, especially evident with the Saudi shows.
Now this is the part where you cope by pretending it doesn't matter that TV ratings are in the toilet and the only recognizable stars are guys that debuted 20+ years ago.