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Are WWE Fans Being Ripped Off By Sky-High Ticket Prices? Vince Russo Blames TKO Greed

Originally posted on Wrestling on SI | Last updated Mar 11, 2025 11:39 AM ET

There's no denying WWE ticket prices have skyrocketed in recent years.

Whether it's for SmackDown, Raw or a PLE such a WrestleMania, fans have taken to social media to express their frustration with the affordability of attending a WWE show these days.

Earlier this month, TKO President Mark Shapiro doubled-down on the companies goal of maximizing live event revenue by leveraging supply and demand along with dynamic ticket pricing. Shapiro said:

"WWE has just gotten into the business of dynamic pricing and having dynamic pricing tools. And keep in mind, some of that growth ... is going from 300 WWE events down to 200." He continued, "The scarcity is creating demand and the demand is giving us more pricing power."

On a recent episode of the Legion of Raw podcast, Vince Russo blamed WWE parent company TKO Group for the rise in prices, attributing it to greed, while noting that when Vince McMahon was in charge, prices were more affordable.

“It’s not even WWE greedy; it’s TKO greedy, it’s Endeavor greedy, and it’s Ari Emanuel greedy. I do not believe if Vince McMahon were in place, you would be paying these prices for tickets."Vince Russo

He added:

“I do not believe that because I swear I can tell you one thing: working for Vince McMahon, Vince really did care about the fans and the fanbase, and Vince was not looking to rip off his fanbase. So it goes beyond the WWE, man. It’s TKO, it’s Endeavor, it’s Ari Emanuel. It goes above and beyond the WWE.”Vince Russo

Is attending a WWE show still affordable for the average American?

This article first appeared on Wrestling on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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