WWE Fans Can’t Ignore Ring Mat Ads; Jim Cornette Says Vince McMahon Would’ve Done It Too

Since WWE’s move to Netflix, the sacred canvas of the ring has turned into prime real estate for sponsors. Once pristine and central to the in-ring spectacle, the mat is now plastered with logos—a change that has divided fans and stirred debate among industry veterans.

Jim Cornette: Vince Would’ve Done It Too

On episode 599 of the Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette defended the strategy, pointing out that even Vince McMahon might have eventually gone down this road:

“Vince didn’t ever want to put the sponsor logos on the mat. He wanted to keep the mat clean… But if somebody had offered him $40 million to advertise on the mat 25 years ago, he’d probably put a p*rn site on it if he had to.”

Cornette noted that while Vince once had his “peccadillos” about keeping the ring uncluttered, the money available today makes sponsorships nearly unavoidable.

The Issue: A Clash Between Tradition and Business

The real frustration isn’t just about sponsorships—it’s about how WWE and parent company TKO are executing them.

Yes, TKO carries debt. Yes, they’re under pressure to maximize revenue streams. But do they really need to fill the very ring itself with logos when there are countless other avenues to make money? Between billion-dollar TV rights deals, international events, premium live events, merchandise, and streaming subscriptions, WWE hardly needs to cheapen the viewing experience.

During Raw on Netflix, many fans, including us here at Wrestling.news—couldn’t help but notice how distracting it was. The matches were overshadowed by logos, pulling eyes away from the action. On X, we even joked that the setup looked like the outfield in Major League II—when Roger Dorn owned the team and plastered ads everywhere as a running gag. Sadly, Raw felt like a modern wrestling version of that scene.

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There’s no denying the money is there—but at what cost? Wrestling’s magic lies in suspending disbelief and locking into the in-ring story. When fans can’t even focus on the match because their eyes are darting across a corporate logo maze, something’s wrong. WWE is supposed to sell its stories, not look like a NASCAR car hood. Yes, the company will climb out of debt eventually. But if they lose their audience’s trust and attention along the way, that cost might be far greater than any $40 million sponsorship deal.

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