1 Concerning Trend That Will Wreck WWE's Future

As WWE Wrestlepalooza went back-to-back with AEW All Out last Saturday, one glaring concern stood out during a packed weekend of pro wrestling.

Considering the biggest selling points for WWE's debut on ESPN's new direct-to-consumer streaming platform, it's hard not to recognize the company's overreliance on stars of the past.

The event boasted a stacked card with household names such as John Cena, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, and the return of AJ Lee.

However, isn't it a little troubling that the global juggernaut still seems so compelled to trot out Brock Lesnar as a draw in 2025? Despite the controversy surrounding him, the 48-year-old remains popular, but this insistence on reintroducing him every few years is indicative of a growing age problem.

Many of the company's top stars range from their late-30s to mid-40s, and it still prioritizes part-timers like Lesnar and Cena. The most prominent star of this era, Roman Reigns, is 40 years old, and his appearances have become sparse over the last few years.

That isn't to say this is a new problem because wrestling often relies on nostalgia and established names. Still, it makes you wonder if this aging roster and the lack of a sustained emphasis on younger main eventers will harm WWE in the future.

An Inconsistent Effort To Create New Stars

Conversely, it would be inaccurate to say WWE hasn't made a concerted effort to find and develop new stars. NXT has refined its pipeline to the main roster, and the NIL program and WWE ID are the latest attempts to recruit talent from collegiate sports and independent wrestling.

In this regard, there are several irons in the fire, so to speak, and it has had success stories like Roxanne Perez, Tiffany Stratton, and Oba Femi. Bron Breakker is also primed to be the next big thing as one of the breakout stars of NXT 2.0 and a two-time intercontinental champion.

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This isn't exactly a problem WWE can solve overnight, and it has made real strides to address it. Nevertheless, there are still confounding setbacks that make us wonder why the current regime hasn't taken more risks or capitalized on rising stars.

For example, Rhea Ripley has emerged as one of the most popular young stars on the roster, but she hasn't been present on many premium live events this year. Honestly, much of her booking since her face turn last year has been a headscratcher despite her immense popularity outside of the wrestling bubble.

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To put this in perspective, one of the best-selling artists in the world, Drake, called her his muse during the premiere episode of Not This Again with Bobbi Althoff. Yet Wrestlepalooza featured the rapper's single "Nokia" as its theme song, but Ripley didn't have a match on the card.

Yes, the 28-year-old did compete in the main event of the following episode of Raw, and she's a part of a compelling story with Asuka and Iyo Sky now. Regardless, it's tough to understand why WWE wouldn't utilize her during the first outing with ESPN when she is among the most searched Superstars on the roster.

WWE Will Continue to Hold the Winning Hand

This trend clearly isn't going to change anytime soon, either. Following the announcement that WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, expect to see more of the same names in the main event scene.

Past events in Riyadh have relied heavily on nostalgia, and sports adviser Turki Alalshikh reportedly wants The Rock to headline the upcoming show. WWE is also raking in record ticket and merchandise sales with Reigns, Rhodes, Punk, and Jey Uso.

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As the adage goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The long-term effects of leaning on the current crop of top stars are distressing, but the company is still in the midst of its most lucrative period ever.

Why elevate anyone else when you've found a golden goose and it continues to pay dividends, right? Nonetheless, it's an issue that could progress sooner than we think. Hopefully, Triple H has the foresight to see that his aging roster isn't a good sign for the stability of the company and make moves to remedy it.

This current boom won't last forever, and WWE needs to be prepared to weather the storm when it ends. There are enough bright, young stars to invest in for the meantime, but we will never know if they can eventually step up if the company keeps depending on Lesnar and stars of old.