After watching NFL punter-turned-popular-sports-media-personality Pat McAfee get choked out on Netflix’s Monday Night Raw…
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.
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.
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:
1. ????️ Politics = Performance
Funny enough, Donald Trump used to show up to WWE events, but that was just the beginning.
Politicians today appear on comedian podcasts, create TikToks, and attend Coachella, as seen with Bernie Sanders.
Their media playbooks are built for engagement first, and governance second.
2. ???? Creators > Celebrities
MrBeast has a greater reach than movie stars, Logan Paul is both a boxer and a beverage mogul, and YouTube creators generate billions of views annually.
3. ???? Sports Leagues as Entertainment Products
Power Slap, ChessBoxing, and SlamBall are real (and funded).
Tech giants like Netflix are doubling down on sports content: Drive to Survive, Quarterback, Full Swing, and now WWE Raw.
Even traditional sports like baseball are innovating to cater to the new generation of fans.
4. ???? Athletes = Entertainers
Travis Kelce hosted SNL and dozens of NBA players host podcasts during the season.
Leagues are also catching on to this trend (consider how the NFL utilized Taylor Swift to attract more viewers and fans).
5. ???? CEOs = Characters
Elon Musk’s tweets move markets. Ryan Reynolds is turning soccer teams into a viral hit (Wrexham FC). Dave Portnoy built Barstool on personality, not publishing.
Founders are becoming faces of the brand — and often the product itself.
6. ???? Education = Edutainment
Podcasts are the new universities.
Creators like Lex Fridman, Joe Rogan, Ali Abdaal, and Alex Hormozi teach with personality.
GenZ wants to learn from characters, not textbooks.
7. ???? Investing = Influence
Private equity investors are looking to back startups with distribution baked in. Attention gets you capital faster than a pitch deck.
This is especially true with many new sports companies.
One of the best assets in 2025? An audience that listens.
The Paradox of “WWE-Entertainment”
Here’s something I find strange…
As the world becomes more unhinged and performative…
It’s also becoming less forgiving:
- Everyone has a camera
- Every soundbite is permanent
- Fake AI content is swarming the internet
- One wrong move and you’re clipped, memed, or cancelled
So we’re manufacturing chaos, but very carefully. It’s scripted madness in a world that punishes spontaneity.
Just like the WWE.
Looking Ahead
Expect more of this WWE-ification across the board:
- Founders acting like content creators
- Investors underwriting attention, not just TAM
- Athletes launching businesses before going pro
- Startup CEOs building personas before building product
In the broader tech world, two notable developments occurred this week…
- a16z acquired Turpentine media (showing they value audience)
- John Coogan, an EIR from The Founders Fund is going full time on his new business & tech show, TBPN
This shift isn’t just for entertainment — it’s a massive opportunity for founders.
How Can You Win in This WWE World?
In a WWE world, attention is leverage (and personality drives performance).
- Founders who build in public are raising faster.
- Startups with character-led brands are standing out in noisy markets.
- Distribution-first models (like Logan Paul’s PRIME or Kim K’s SKIMS) are growing faster than product-first ones.
The takeaway?
Don’t just build a company. Build a “show”, or hire others around you that can.
This is the golden age for founder-led companies, creator-native startups, and narrative-driven brands.
You just have to step into the proverbial ring…just like the WWE.
