WWE's Most Controversial and Shocking Stories for the Week of June 9

WWE's audience is shrinking and getting older, similar to the aging process itself. Yet, somehow, things seem to be looking up. 

Samoa Joe/Brock Lesnar Light Pay-Per-View Build on Fire

Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar is set for Great Balls of Fire on July 9, and while many expect this to be a one-off match, per Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc), Samoa Joe is already doing everything in his power to create demand for a rematch down the line.

Joe shined in a spectacular segment where he was the beneficiary of a rare physical altercation with Paul Heyman, whom he choked out.

Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar has the feel of a UFC bout, and as a first-time matchup between two equally dangerous foes, it has the potential to overachieve and potentially force WWE to consider a sequel.

Current plans call for a WrestleMania 34 main event, per Meltzer (h/t Wrestling Inc) that pits Roman Reigns against Brock Lesnar, which is a no-brainer main event given their classic war at WrestleMania 31. But WWE's other Samoan main eventer very well could give Reigns a run for his money.

WWE, The Theme Park?

Forrec, an amusement park company, recently released concept art for potential WWE theme park that could range from licensed WWE-themed rides to a full-blown attraction.

Tourism hotbed Orlando, Florida, is an early front-runner to land the potential WWE theme park, per Ken Storey of the Orlando Weekly, which could lead to a physical building for its Hall of Fame. It's fair to question just how far into the future WWE intends on launching this highly ambitious project, as it currently has hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the pivotal WWE Network in addition to the embattled WWE Studios.

At the very least, a WWE-themed ride seems long overdue given WWE's generational push for a more family-friendly product in a post-Attitude Era climate.

WWE Audience Shrinks, Ages

WWE was one of many subjects of a study by John Lombardo and David Broughton of SportsBusiness Journal that worryingly revealed rising median ages of TV viewers who watch sporting events. WWE led all major sports with the highest increase in median age, which is a scary thought considering its aforementioned TV-PG appeal.

In a year that saw WWE's ratings dip to WCW Nitro levels, its annual struggles compounded with an aging audience does not bode well for WWE's future.

WWE isn't in any danger of going out of business as, through various revenue streams that include merchandise and live events, it is still valued at over one billion dollars.

But there is an evident disconnect between WWE's product, which often reeks of the Old Boys Network as evidenced by the recent naming of the Great Balls of Fire pay-per-view. John Cena's July 4 return will temporarily fix WWE's demographic problems, but major philosophical changes to the product will be necessary.

Ric Flair Fighting Warriors Fan? 

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair continued his second life as a TMZ Hall of Famer. His most recent apparent scandal saw the Nature Boy seemingly involved in an altercation with a Warriors fan in support of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom Flair has chosen as his new favorite team for now.

The former 16-time world champion, who is known to support sports teams on the rise in true bandwagon fashion, tweeted a picture of him with a cast and lesions on his face.

Flair was recently involved in an ugly argument with a bartender, per Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet, that was caught on camera. Past transgressions also involve fighting his daughter's boyfriend and claiming to have made love to Halle Berry on his Wooooo! Nation podcast, a comment that was later refuted by Berry's people on TMZ.

How it all will end for the 68-year old legend is anybody's guess, but at it's good to see the all-time great living life.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.