WWE Survivor Series 2011: Wrestling Flirts with Mainstream as The Rock Returns

The Rock is a pretty good friend to have. At least, that is what Vince McMahon should be thinking at this point. 

The WWE could use a surge of energy and a heaping dollop of fan fare. The sport has waned a great deal with borderline fans in the past few years, and the return of a true Superstar is just what the biggest name in sports and entertainment needs right now. 

McMahon put the best spin he could on financial earnings in the start of November. Here is a summation of what was said, according to Wrestling Inc.

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Pay-per-view buys are slightly down as well—about four percent—a lot of less than in past. RAW television ratings remain flat to last year, which is good news. And most of our declines in key metrics support our view that we are gradually improving the general status of our overall financial health.

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Let me put an emotional spin on that. Things are still as lame as they were last year and we are barely getting any better. 

The sport needs an infusion of star power. The current Superstars are clearly not cutting it with the mainstream fans and they have largely tuned out. 

The legends of old are being asked to return to breathe some life into the WWE, and I am banking on it working. 

All you need is a star like The Rock to brink near record numbers of PPV buys for fans to see that the product is still very much what it was in the past and worth a second look. 

This weekend's Survivor Series is not just a star-studded card with promise of engaging matches—it is an effort to woo back fans who left and show them that the WWE deserves their attention once again.