5 things WWE accomplished that would have been impossible five years ago

What a long, strange road it's been for the WWE.

It's no secret that WWE isn't the same company it was five years ago and while some might not see that as a good thing, it really is. WWE has made some pretty ballsy changes lately that previously wouldn't have even been possible, which is part of the reason they are a better place now.

IIt hasn't always been roses and sunshine, but the company has really done their best to move forward in several important ways. Interestingly enough, some of these are things that most fans never thought would be possible and are even still unbelievable accomplishments to this day.

With that being said, and the company entering a new era in storytelling, here are five things the company has accomplished that wouldn't have been believed , much less possible five years ago. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to tell us if we missed anything else the company may have accomplished.

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#5. Becky Lynch being Raw's number one pick

Becky Lynch changed the game in more ways than one.

Whether the results of the WWE draft are pre-determined or not, the person that the brand chooses as their first pick, much like a championship, is supposed to mean something. It's supposed to be that shock to the system that shows the company's hand a little bit and reveals to the audience who is poised to be the next big thing.

All that and more is the reason why Stephanie McMahon announcing Becky Lynch as the number on draft pick for Raw during the last draft was groundbreaking. Not only due to the fact that it was the first time that a woman was a the number one pick - for either WWE brand - but also what it meant for Lynch's career.

If nothing else, that announcement stood as a testament to the Women's Revolution and what it accomplished. Furthermore, it showed just how over Lynch was as a character and performer - and how much faith the company had in her. It was a beautiful moment for several reasons and it really showed exactly what the women's division was capable of.

#4. Moving on from John Cena

WWE moving on from John Cena was something that needed to happen.

Can you believe WWE finally moved on from John Cena?

While some in The WWE Universe might look back at Cena's stranglehold on the company as good times, it wasn't as well received when it was actually happening. Of course Cena's reign as "The Guy" was justified due to the connection he had with younger fans and his marketability, but it was still a rough ride for fans that preferred edgier content.

Fortunately for those looking for that type of content, WWE finally started to move on from John Cena in 2015, which was also the time that he won his last major championship. With that being said, fans were then introduced to new top guys like Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns, who all took the ball and ran with it.

In all honesty, this wouldn't have been possible five years ago. Not only is that due to the changing demographic that brought about a more adult audience to WWE, but also from just how long Cena had been on top for. It was a changing of the guard that was long over due and five years ago, it just wouldn't have been possible without severe financial repercussions.

#3. Running shows without an authority figure

What happened to WWE's use of authority figures?

Can you believe both WWE Raw and SmackDown have been run without an authority figure for over a year now? In fact, the last time that a authority figure was even relevant in weekly programming was when Shane McMahon feuded with Kevin Owens on SmackDown.

Interestingly enough, WWE has found a way around this kind of storytelling, and no longer has to rely on a villain authority figure to help get Superstars over. Maybe that has to do with plethora of personalities that make up both rosters and the brilliant writing by creative, but it is nice to see the company finally move away from that storyline trope.

In the end, WWE spent years of programming with the "authority figures holding babyfaces" tory down, and it just got old after awhile. There are seriously only so many ways you can tell that whole story and have it be interesting, which, honestly, is a limit the company seemed to have reached years ago. At least now they are able to move past it and allow the talent to shine though.

#2. NXT becoming the third brand

NXT going to USA Network really changed the game.

NXT shocked the world last year by becoming WWE's third major brand and announced that they would be airing episodes on The USA Network. Of course some of it had to do with the Wednesday Night War that would ensue between WWE and AEW, but this was also the company's big chance to make a third brand work again.

And they actually made it work! Just look at how NXT did during the WWE Survivor Series PPV last year, and you can see the company had some stock in that brand. Beyond that, the fact that NXT dominated Raw and SmackDown by several points was all the proof in the world that the company was trying to get the brand over.

In the end, this just would not have been possible five years ago . Not only due to the fact that the brand didn't have many established names at the time, but also due to USA Network not in need of more content from the company either. If nothing else, it was a perfect marriage of convenience and was a huge stepping stone for NXT.

#1. All woman main event at WrestleMania 35

An all Women main event at WrestleMania wouldn't have been possible without pioneers like Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

There's really no easy way to say this, but an all female main event at WWE WrestleMania would have been impossible five years ago. Not only is that evident by the lack of interest that fans had in The Women's division at the time, but also by the how little time the storylines were given to flesh out.

With that being said, it's really difficult to name any one factor that made an all women's main event impossible and all variables should probably be looked at equally. Of course one could try to say the company was to blame for not doing enough with the roster they had and not devoting enough time to the development of the division, but the fan interest wasn't there for it either.

In the end, the first ever all women's main event at WWE WrestleMania wouldn't have been possible without Superstars like Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Alexa Bliss showing just how talented this division is. It also wouldn't have been possible without the fans finally demanding that WWE finally give women a chance.