Maven accuses wrestling industry of pricing out working-class fans

Former WWE performer Maven has renewed criticism of the professional wrestling industry, saying rising ticket prices and increased corporate commercialization are pricing longtime, working class fans out of live events and pay per views. Speaking in recent interviews and on a podcast, he contrasted today’s premium pricing with the more affordable shows of his youth, and questioned whether current strategies are building the same multigenerational fan base that once sustained the sport.

Industry figures show average ticket prices for weekly television events have climbed sharply over the past year, with one set of data indicating the average for flagship shows rose from about $75 to $118. Premium packages for marquee events have climbed even higher, with some two-night packages for a recent major event reported at around $38,000. At the same time, the company’s parent group has posted strong financial results under a higher-price model, and attendance has generally held steady or ticked up, suggesting the approach has succeeded commercially even as it fuels criticism.

Maven drew a clear line between those commercial results and what he called the traditional path to building...