6 recent times WWE helped the independent scene 

WWE is dominating the wrestling scene like anything these days. Earlier, they used to have stiff competition from the WCW, but, since its acquisition in 2001, WWE has monopolized the business.

But sometimes, they lent their helping hand to ensure they prosper further. From giving other promotions a platform to showcase their talent in WrestleMania Axxess, to acknowledging their work through their 'WWE Formerly Known As' episodes, the company has introduced their casual viewers to the much-larger independent scene in the best possible manner.

Here are six different ways WWE have boosted the independent wrestling scene.

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#6 WrestleMania weekend

Matt Riddle and Will Ospreay tore the roof off in their WrestleMania weekend match.

WrestleMania is one of the spectacles of WWE as viewers from all across the globe come to witness it. Other pro-wrestling promotions capitalize on it by hosting shows near the WrestleMania venue and draw a huge profit. This year was no different as Ring of Honor: Supercard of Honor XII, EVOLVE 102, and Impact Wrestling vs. Lucha Underground ensured the global audiences didn't go home disappointed from New Orleans.

This year, everything except WrestleMania was brilliant in the WrestleMania weekend. The fans who crossed the oceans to witness the event realized what they had been missing in the bigger picture of pro-wrestling. WWE acted as the perfect bridge to introduce them to the sport.

Furthermore, at this year's WrestleMania Axxess, various titles of other promotions like the WWN Championship and the Evolve Tag Team Championship were defended. On top of that, the superstars of other wrestling promotions defeated WWE contracted superstars in a WWE ring cleanly. If this isn't a sign that WWE is supporting the independent circuit, then only God knows what is.

#5 Airing Impact footage on WWE Network Originals

Impact footage was aired on the 'Table for 3' episode featuring Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, and Shane McMahon

WWE has struck a deal with Impact through which they can air Impact footage and reference in their WWE Network originals. It had all started with an episode of 'Table for 3', in which Shane McMahon, Kurt Angle, and AJ Styles discussed their careers. In that episode, AJ Styles and Kurt Angle's matches from the TNA were aired.

The Anthem in response said:

"IMPACT Wrestling collaborated with WWE on the project and sub-licensed the footage to them for use in their original productions. Accordingly, WWE issued a courtesy for GWN when the footage airs.”

The partnership hadn't finished there as Impact Wrestling sub-licensed footages of the Ultimate Deletion and Jeff Hardy's infamous match against Sting at Victory Road 2011 to the WWE for their WWE 24 documentary.

These footages were extremely important. You cannot discuss the legendary careers of AJ Styles and Kurt Angle without referencing their work in the TNA. Similarly, the addiction battles which the Hardy brothers fought would have been fragmentary if you excluded their work in the rival promotion. It is a win-win situation for both of them as the superstars' career are glorified, and the casual but loyal WWE audience is introduced to TNA.

#4 Covering the Street Fighter Bout

The Cleaner and the Valedictorian

Some of our readers might be confused as to how a video game match could result in helping the independent wrestling scene. If some unpopular independent wrestlers had been involved, it wouldn't make a lot of sense. But, if the wrestlers in question are the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega and the IWGP Tag Team Champions the Young Bucks, it surely does.

Xavier Woods and Kenny Omega had an altercation on Twitter involving their Street Fighter skills. The Street Fighter official account would interfere and make a 3-on-3 match between them at the E3 event. Mind you this is not the first time these two video game lovers squared-off in a video game match. They locked horns two times previously, but at none of the times did WWE acknowledge this in their website.

However, this time WWE referenced Kenny Omega and Young Bucks in their website. Furthermore, they even aired a promo of Kenny Omega during his Deep South Wrestling days in their official Youtube account. The whole wrestling community was surprised by the generosity of the WWE.

#3 Allowing NXT Championships to be defended on other promotions

Pete Dunne has defended his United Kingdom Championship on various British promotions

The only good thing which the WWE is doing in the British scene is making the NXT United Kingdom Champions, and recently the NXT Tag Team Champions, defend their titles against local British competitors. The lesser-known British wrestlers got a huge platform to showcase their talent and be in the good books of the WWE.

The Bruiserweight has defended his NXT United Kingdom Championship a total of 26 times in 401 days, a majority of them being on the British promotions. Recently, Adam Cole defended his NXT North American Championship in American soil for a non-WWE promotion. Furthermore, the Moustache Mountain won the NXT Tag Team Titles from the Undisputed Era in the NXT UK Championship taping at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

The WWE is like a giant in front of other wrestling promotions. Defending their titles on other wrestling promotions makes no sense whatsoever to the WWE if they want to make a profit out of it. The only winners coming out of it are the wrestlers and the promotions in which the titles are defended.

#2 Acknowledging other promotions's work in 'WWE Formerly Known As'

WWE reminisced about Seth Rollins' journey in their 'WWE Formerly Known as' show.

Previously, the WWE never acknowledged their superstars' background in the independent circuit. In the eyes of the WWE, other promotions belonged to a different universe, and the wrestlers had no connection whatsoever to their past.

However, things are changing slowly. They have started a new show named 'WWE Formerly Known As' on their YouTube and Facebook platforms. In the inaugural episode, WWE had reminisced about how Seth Rollins evolved from an uncharted Tyler Black wrestling in a pub, to become the present-day blockbuster Monday Night Rollins. Bayley, Harper, and Ruby Riott would follow the suit and recalled their dreams of becoming a WWE superstar in the subsequent episodes.

The last time WWE carried forward other promotions' storylines were in the 1990s during the Monday Night War. After an absence of nearly two decades, the WWE acknowledged the work of AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson as a single unit outside the WWE. It is a welcome change, and we hope that we see more partnerships in the near future.

#1 Allowing wrestlers to fight in their tournaments without signing a WWE contract

Kota Ibushi stood out in the Cruiserweight Classic Tournament.

Barring the WWE United Kindom Championship Tournament, WWE has allowed wrestlers from other promotions to compete in their tournaments without signing a contract. If they wanted to win the tournament, they had to pen the deal. However, the mere authorization to participate without signing a contract shouldn't be underemphasized.

Anyone who had witnessed the terrific in-ring skills of Kota Ibushi in the Cruiserweight Classic Tournament would have googled his whereabouts if they didn't know him earlier. It is sad that the adamant WWE fans will probably never witness the services of Golden Star again. The same can be said about Zack Sabre Jr. who advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament using his terrific submission skills.

Tournaments like the Cruiserweight Classic Tournament and the Mae Young Classic Tournament again showed the casual WWE audience what they were missing on by ignoring the independent wrestling. WWE's failure to sign these wrestlers has turned out to be a boom for the independent promotions. They must have grabbed the attention of a good share of the casual WWE audience through their own tournaments.