I agree with Badgenome. At this point the WWE can't create stars, and they can't steal stars because there is no one to steal from... and they just keep getting in the of the people who create themselves. Outside Cena and Punk all the best stars now are old timers that hardly ever show up. (Rock, Undertaker etc.)
Zack Ryder got himself over, so they took over and ruined it... Somehow Fandango made his gimic work... WWE overplayed it and ruined it. Daniel Bryan got over and they've tried to ruin that.
As for MMA? I don't think that really is a factor. Boxing... Boxing is dying a faster death then wrestling, I'm shocked you know anybody who still talks about it.
Very few people ever watched Wrestling for the fake fighting... it was more for the rest of the drama. It's why action cartoons aren't just 100% fighting etc. It's the storytelling that pulls it all together (which has also sucked.)
